WROR/WBMX

[Eli Polonsky]

> > From: "Lou" <lspin@comcast.net>
> CC: 'Boston Radio Group'
> <boston-radio-interest@rolinin.bostonradio.org>
> To: "'Bill O'Neill'" <me@billoneill.us>
> Date: Tue, 7 Aug 2007 19:52:42 -0400
> Subject: RE: WROR/WBMX
> 
> I was really surprised when 105.7 picked up the 
> WROR call letters, telling its listeners that it 
> was resurrecting a piece of Boston Radio History.  
> I was probably hoping they would have picked up 
> WMEX, or something crazy like that.  

I can think of a few good reasons why Greater Media
would not have wanted to christen 105.7 as WMEX.

#1): They tried it ten years before on 1150 AM, and
though it was fun to listen to, it wasn't ultimately
successful. Granted it was a fairly weak AM signal
which couldn't survive once WODS came on the air, 
but that brings me to the next reason.

#2): The original WMEX was always an AM station,
WROR was FM. For those who remember Boston radio,
an FM revived as WROR seemed more "authentic" than
reviving an AM-only call on an FM station.

#3): People who remember listening to the original
WROR may remember doing so from the late '60s right
through the '70's and into part of the '80s. That's
a somewhat younger demographic than listeners who
would remember the original WMEX which was all done 
as a Top 40 and music station by the mid '70s.

At this point I don't think the call letters matter
a heck of a lot. Any nostalgia for "heritage" calls
wears off quickly, then the station must stand on
the quality of the programming that it is offering
currently. That's what gives it ratings in the long
run, not nostalgia for old call letters. 

EP