Source: Merlin To Flip WRXP To News/Talk

[DavidEduardo]

No, because it's an LMA at first while the details are sorted out for the sale.  As soon as the LMA is signed and approved by both parties, Merlin can program the station.

However, many sales never have a prior LMA period. They run as (ab)normal until the FCC approves, and then there would be a period of about a month in which a formal " closing" has to be made to comply with the FCC approval. So a takeover could sometimes occur some time after the FCC approval. In practice, the closing is often the last day of the month in which the approval grant is issued. 

[disney fanatic]

I don't listen to WRXP this much anymore, because it was a huge flop since day one since they pulled the plug on the smooth jazz craze back in 2008 when it was WQCD's "CD 101.9" or the former WPIX-FM from the 70's and 80's. RXP is a clone of WDST in Woodstock, NY. I hope 101.9 should go to a news/talk format to go after those few of the great AM news/talk stations in the land like WOR, WABC, WNYM and WWRL. It's not going to be a hot talk station like WNEW and "Free-FM" did, it's something different.

If you want better rock music that WRXP after the format flips, you have a choice of listening to other stations including WAXQ's "Q104.3" or some stations outside of New York City like WPDH, WDST and WBPM.

I hate to see the station go, in the mortal words of Porky Pig "Th-th-that's all folks!"

Good luck with the new format. Hope to see them coming!

[radioguy39nj]

I hope 101.9 should go to a news/talk format to go after those few of the great AM news/talk stations in the land like WOR, WABC, WNYM and WWRL. It's not going to be a hot talk station like WNEW and "Free-FM" did, it's something different.

Markets of all sizes outside NY have talk stations that are mostly live and local.  KFI Los Angeles, KGO San Francisco, KIRO-FM Seattle, WGN Chicago are but a few examples.  It is unbelievable that locally oriented talk has been absent from NY for so long! 

If 101.9 plays its cards right, WOR, WABC, WNYM and WWRL could be in trouble.  WABC has been the #1 talk station in NY because it has the national talk superstars and the other stations don't offer anything different.  WABC effectively has had no competition, but Randy Michaels is about to change all that!  I sure hope he does!

[DToTheJ]

Update: WEMP, the former WRXP, as well as WWWN (WRQX) and WLUP in Chicago, are now 100% owned by Merlin Media LLC, according to Emmis:
http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=49568

"While it is difficult to part with these stations, we are pleased to remain involved as an investor in Merlin Media. The proceeds of the sale allow us to significantly delever the company and evaluate a variety of exciting opportunities for the next era of growth at Emmis," said Jeff Smulyan, Chairman & CEO of Emmis.