Yes WHP 97.3 in Harrisburg PA did play Beautiful music for many years up untill about 1990. They were also a member of the CBS radio network for at the hour they did the bong then the news.
I miss the beautiful music format too. Mine in Detroit was WJOI (now WXYT-FM) at 97.1 on the FM dial... "Joy 97."
Incidentally, there is today an "Easy 101" (not "Eazy" however) that still does play easy listening music... but it's in Ontario and is on 101.3. They stream. If you like the "traditional" beautiful music (mixed with adult standards) WKTZ in Jacksonville FL is an excellent choice, and they stream too.
When I worked at Y100, they had one of those radios in the jock lounge... re-tuned to 100.3 :-) Right after Eazy 101 started distributing the radios, Kiss 100 started giving away tool kits that allowed people who had them to retune them to Kiss 100. Good stuff!
In my pre-teens, I would hate to sit in a doctor's waiting room - because they all played EAZY 101... I would think to myself.... "This is what older people listen to".. and the old man in the commercial helped sell it that way too. Now I actually think back to EAZY 101 when I hear Led Zeppelin over Cadillac commercials. The Future is Here - and the Establishment Rocks!
I was the Program Director and morning man at EAZY 101 from 1981-88. We were number one in Philadelphia throughout a lot of that period, but a major focus survey showed that the younger audience wasn't going to listen to that kind of music, so they changed format. Although I personally preferred blues and rock and roll to beautiful music, I find in my dotage I've come to appreciate that format, and am sorry it disappeared. Also, I was the one who commissioned that jingle. Good to hear it.
The one arrangement that irritated me the most was the one for The Entertainer. Strings in place of trad jazz winds.
I'm just a guy out in the audience, but I think this and the MOR format for WUSL(US1)could have lasted longer if they sought out an older/more affluent audience and the advertisements that suited them(the last MOR station within earshot, 100.7, Lehigh Valley, signed off in '98). Correct me if I'm wrong.
I believe the one in Lehigh Valley was WQQQ 99.9 Easton. I have their airchecks from Jan. 1982. I remember "You're on US1" for WUSL and have a studio aircheck (scoped) from Nov 80.
Yeah, I remember those radios. The college I went to in the late 80s was Beaver (now Arcadia University), and in one of the college's offices, they had two of those radios. Then two years later, one of my professors had a radio like that, and I borrowed it for one night. I don't know how much these radios sell nowadays, but I think younger people will enjoy listening to B101 on these radios.
Patrick O'Neal for EAZY 101,or as we locals used to jokingly call it SLEAZY 101.
saml760 7 months ago
And the Formatt has not totally disapeared. KAHM 102.1 in Prescott, AR to this day since 1981 has not changed at all and they stream. kahm.info
PGMEagle 1 year ago
Yes WHP 97.3 in Harrisburg PA did play Beautiful music for many years up untill about 1990. They were also a member of the CBS radio network for at the hour they did the bong then the news.
PGMEagle 1 year ago
I miss the beautiful music format too. Mine in Detroit was WJOI (now WXYT-FM) at 97.1 on the FM dial... "Joy 97."
Incidentally, there is today an "Easy 101" (not "Eazy" however) that still does play easy listening music... but it's in Ontario and is on 101.3. They stream. If you like the "traditional" beautiful music (mixed with adult standards) WKTZ in Jacksonville FL is an excellent choice, and they stream too.
Superbook4Eva 1 year ago
Patrick O'Neal -- Mister Relax....yeahhhhhh!
magbast9 2 years ago
When I worked at Y100, they had one of those radios in the jock lounge... re-tuned to 100.3 :-) Right after Eazy 101 started distributing the radios, Kiss 100 started giving away tool kits that allowed people who had them to retune them to Kiss 100. Good stuff!
DStroyerPA 3 years ago
In my pre-teens, I would hate to sit in a doctor's waiting room - because they all played EAZY 101... I would think to myself.... "This is what older people listen to".. and the old man in the commercial helped sell it that way too. Now I actually think back to EAZY 101 when I hear Led Zeppelin over Cadillac commercials. The Future is Here - and the Establishment Rocks!
TheKillerWithinNJ 3 years ago
I was the Program Director and morning man at EAZY 101 from 1981-88. We were number one in Philadelphia throughout a lot of that period, but a major focus survey showed that the younger audience wasn't going to listen to that kind of music, so they changed format. Although I personally preferred blues and rock and roll to beautiful music, I find in my dotage I've come to appreciate that format, and am sorry it disappeared. Also, I was the one who commissioned that jingle. Good to hear it.
Coolerators 3 years ago
Thank you for writing!
TechnerVideo 3 years ago
Beautiful music is truly a great format. Now the only place I can listen to it is on XM Escape and a few stations with it still exist here and there.
FanMNS 3 years ago
The one arrangement that irritated me the most was the one for The Entertainer. Strings in place of trad jazz winds.
I'm just a guy out in the audience, but I think this and the MOR format for WUSL(US1)could have lasted longer if they sought out an older/more affluent audience and the advertisements that suited them(the last MOR station within earshot, 100.7, Lehigh Valley, signed off in '98). Correct me if I'm wrong.
fgldnglbs 2 years ago
I believe the one in Lehigh Valley was WQQQ 99.9 Easton. I have their airchecks from Jan. 1982. I remember "You're on US1" for WUSL and have a studio aircheck (scoped) from Nov 80.
TechnerVideo 2 years ago
@TechnerVideo I remember when WFMZ 100,7 in Allentown use to play beautiful music
PGMEagle 1 year ago
@PGMEagle, yes, I will upload some of my WFMZ beautiful music airchecks when I can get a chance.
TechnerVideo 1 year ago
@Coolerators Thats very cool, I used to love that station, as well as WFMZ 100 plus they used to say. Also, WHP FM 97.3
smokinj721 1 year ago
@smokinj721, I believe that WHP-AM 580 carried a simulcast of the beautiful music format overnight. I used to listen to it.
TechnerVideo 1 year ago
Yeah, I remember those radios. The college I went to in the late 80s was Beaver (now Arcadia University), and in one of the college's offices, they had two of those radios. Then two years later, one of my professors had a radio like that, and I borrowed it for one night. I don't know how much these radios sell nowadays, but I think younger people will enjoy listening to B101 on these radios.
tmq800 4 years ago
tmg800, do you remember the radios that Eazy 101 gave away that could only tune in Eazy 101?
TechnerVideo 4 years ago
I've been waiting to hear that jingle for years!!! Was an EAZY 101 listener for most of the 80s.
tmq800 4 years ago