Dept. Of Call Letters & Formats
• Beasley Media Group Tampa has installed shiny new WPBB call letters on its two-month-old AC outlet, b98.7, the former WBRN. Please make a note of it. The move accomplishes two immediate goals: a) folks say they do pair nicely with the station’s new b98.7 moniker, and b) it eliminates the final vestiges of Bubba The Love Sponge. As you no doubt recall, the station was boldly branded as “Bubba 98.7” when it was running the syndicated personality’s show. That relationship later soured after Bubba ran into some (still ongoing) ratings trouble with Nielsen, and his name was subsequently scrubbed from the slogan, which was changed to “No Rules Rock.” Last December the station parted company with Bubba, and, after some festive holiday stunting as “Santa 98.7,” the company on January 5 performed the palate-cleansing format flip to AC. Now you are up to date.
• iHeartMedia Washington, DC just launched a new radio station that has been specially bred to temporarily bloom only for the duration of one of America’s most beautiful annual events — the Cherry Blossom Festival. 104.7 Cherry Blossom Radio is now on the air through the end of the Festival on April 16. The station will be your soundtrack for the Festival and feature music, fun festival facts, a calendar of events and interviews from attendees, participants and historians.
“iHeartMedia is extremely proud to partner with one of DC’s greatest traditions,” said Michael Preacher, President iHeartMedia Washington, DC Region and Government Initiatives. “104.7 Cherry Blossom Radio will celebrate the history and the incredible memories while becoming the soundtrack to this year’s festival.” iHeartMedia’s Washington stations will also participate in Festival events — Country WMZQ will be on-site for the SAAM Cherry Blossom Celebration on March 25; Classic Rock WBIG (BIG 100) will participate in the Blossom Kite Festival on April 1; AC WASH-FM will be on-site for the Cherry Blossom Parade on April 8 and Top 40 WIHT (Hot 99.5) will be highly visible during the Southwest Waterfront Fireworks Festival on April 15.
