1350 WZGM Black Mountain - The Format Count Rolls On!!

[eacalhoun1]

Guess what, boys and girls? WZGM has flipped from oldies to southern gospel. I scanned by WZGM yesterday and heard this, so I do not know when the change took place. First, I must preface this by saying I'm a Christian and I do like southern gospel -- but from a professionalism viewpoint what is HRN thinking? And, how long will southern gospel last before they flip again? Does consistency mean nothing anymore? It seems HRN has had the most frequent format flips since they've owned 1350 -- but this frequency has seen several different formats prior to HRN. I hate to say this, but I almost think this frequency should go dark and be put out of its misery.

Eric

[vchimpanzee]

I think Southern gospel is about as pointless a format as that market could have.

How many religious stations are there, anyway?

The only difference would be that they sort of have a nighttime signal right there in Black Mountain. That nighttime signal is the problem. They have a great daytime signal.

First Asheville gets rid of its one standards station and then the only real oldies station too? Don't count WTZQ because they can barely be heard in Asheville (not at all at night) and they're pretty much worthless musically.

Is Clear Channel still doing talk on WMXF? That's even worse considering they have no signal problems whatsoever with WWNC.

[Z-100]

Their move was totally based on 'how easy, and cheaply can we make money"! Line up the preachers, and the cassettes, and let it roll. $35 here, $50 there, $100 here! Basically The Wilkins Radio model! Are there listeners? Uhh...not important to them.

[eacalhoun1]

Their move was totally based on 'how easy, and cheaply can we make money"! Line up the preachers, and the cassettes, and let it roll. $35 here, $50 there, $100 here! Basically The Wilkins Radio model! Are there listeners? Uhh...not important to them.

Why then doesn't HRN flip WLON, WOHS, WGNC, and WADA to southern gospel with paying preachers and church programs and not care if there are listeners in the NC southern Piedmont? HRN has had 1350 since what, 2003 or 2004? It's basically been a new format a year ever since. Is ONE year long enough to determine a winning format or not? I think their talk format was a winner as they were able to program talkers not heard on WWNC like Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham. Also, I guess GT (Glenn Trent) is no longer at WZGM?

[HadYourPhil]

Do they still have that guy with the spooky low voice? He could be the Devil...

[LaidBackJack]

It's hard for some to understand why some stations make change after change- that is, until you're the one who has to face the pile of bills to be paid every month. Billing has to at least equal expenses, just like any other business. If, after a year, you're not seeing the kind of growth that can sustain your operation, it's time to make a change, popular or not. Lots of stations have made changes in recent times.

[KE4KLS_Radio]

Perhaps they switched to Southern Gospel since WFGW went all-talk (but still carries Southern Gospel on the Web)?

[SuperQ]

Maybe just maybe, WFGW is going to end up LMAing them since they now share the same tower.  Maybe WFGW told them they'd pay the power bill at the shared site if they would put gospel on.  The station has been for sale virtually since it was upgraded and until they come down on the price, it will continue to be a black hole to throw money down.