Formats You’ll Flip Over
• Something WiLD is happening in Redding, CA — after five days of looping Tone Lōc‘s tender love ballad, “Wild Thing,” Mapleton Communications flipped KQMS-FM from News-Talk to Top 40 as WiLD 99.3, sporting some “Wild” new calls, KWLZ. The News-Talk format remains on KQMS-AM and a new FM translator. Regional PD Tommy Del Rio will program WiLD 99.3 from the Mapleton corporate office in beautiful Monterey, CA.
Commenting on the flip, Del Rio said, “We launched WiLD using two amazing voices — Saint John and Vanessa James. They have great chemistry and will definitely add to the vibe and lifestyle we will create for the market with this new station. On-air personalities will start in February followed by a new morning show set to debut in March.” The new station is currently doing something truly outlandish — playing 10,000 songs in a row, commercial free!
• iHeartMedia is launching a Spanish Tropical station in Jacksonville — Rumba, #1 Para Éxitos y Música Variada will be heard on a translator at 106.9 and WQIK-HD2. “I’m so excited to bring Rumba to the iHeartMedia Jacksonville family and share our Latin music, culture and heritage with the local Hispanic community of listeners,” said PD Raymond Torres. “We can’t wait to start growing our family and creating community-based projects in our new hometown.”
Market President Nicky Sparrow added, “The Rumba format has a proven track record of success among Hispanic listeners, and the appetite for this music and programming is quickly growing in Jacksonville. I’m excited to make Rumba a staple among our Spanish-language community.” Beginning Monday, January 23 Rumba will begin airing the Enrique Santos Show weekdays from 6-10am. The full programming lineup will be announced at a later date.
