The importance of local talk radio

[A. Joseph Ross]

On 23 Nov 2008 at 20:42, Kevin Vahey wrote:

> I was told years ago by Dick Booth (Donna is he still on planet?)that
> WLLH-FM and the success of WORL going Top 40 made RKO General take the
> plunge with WRKO-FM which then paved the way for WNAC to flip to WRKO.

As I recall, the FCC's new rule requiring separate programs on AM-FM 
combos caused RKO General to try top-40 music on WRKO-FM.  They did 
this automated think called "Arcomatic," which was probably the 
cheapest thing they could get for the hours that they had to have 
separate programs.  Its ratings success apparently was a big surprise 
to them and stimulated the AM flip.
 
> WLLH-FM (simulcast) sounded to this 15 year old as good as WMEX.
> Summer of 65 WORL also sounded good and broke new music quicker than
> WMEX or WBZ. I don't know if Ken Carter owned WORL yet but as soon as
> WRK0 came along they became WRYT.

I never heard WORL as a top-40 station.  I think the only time I ever 
listened to them was somewhat earlier, when they had a children's 
program on Sunday morning, just after Children's Playhouse on WHDH.   

After WCOP flipped from top-40 in the summer of 1962, I generally 
relied on WKBR-FM from Manchester, simulcasting the AM, for top-40 
music in the evening.  WBZ was doing talk shows and WMEX reception in 
Bedford (Mass) was pretty bad.  I suppose I might have tried for WPTR 
or WKBW, but since I had an FM radio, I went with WKBR because it had 
a better and more reliable signal.

-- 
A. Joseph Ross, J.D.                           617.367.0468
 92 State Street, Suite 700                   Fax 617.507.7856
Boston, MA 02109-2004           	         http://www.attorneyross.com