Posted on 01/12/2005 1:51:08 PM PST by Wahoo4Bush
At noon today, Infinity flipped long-time Modern Rocker WHFS/Washington, D.C. to "El Zol" 99.1. The new format will play "a mix of salsa, merengue and bachata" Caribbean and Central American dance music music. Spanish Broadcasting System consulted and advised Infinity on the new format. The two companies announced an alliance last October.
"We have made clear our desire to expand into this burgeoning market and believe this move marks an important step in our commitment to Spanish radio," said Infinity President/CEO Joel Hollander. "There exists a tremendous opportunity for Infinity to launch a Spanish-language format in Washington, D.C. where almost 10% of the population is not being directly served. El Zol will be the most powerful Spanish radio station in the area and will provide listeners with the music, entertainment and information relevant to the many segments of the Latino culture."
In the official statement, Infinity notes that the Hispanic population in the nation's capitol has grown more than 25% in the last four years to over 400,000.
An Infinity spokesperson told FMQB the company is working to place as many WHFS employees at other positions within the company and will be seeking a new program director for the station.
More on this story as it develops...
Come on everybody come and do that Conga!
Maybe all their advertizers will pay them in pesos now.
Como?
Is there a MIX? I thought there was only ONE Latin song and ALL Latin stations played it ALL the time...
According to Radio-Locator.com, there are 54 radio stations in close listening range and 28 more that should be available to anyone with a decent antenna:
http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/locate?select=city&city=Washington&state=DC&sid=&x=12&y=3
El cielo está cayendo.
Problem is I used to listen to their morning radio (The Sports Junkies) and Loveline in the evenings; actually didn't listen to music.
The same thing happened here in Houston a couple months ago. The best rock station went Latin, no notice, just gone one morning. Big uproar, now the station wants to come back under the same company at a different dial setting. I say screw them it's to late now. First they snub us for a potential market segment and lose money in the deal, now they want to come back. They cant have it both ways.
Pfffft. There are more Spanish than English radio stations in L.A.. Isn't it fun?
Incidentally, New Orleans still has Walton & Johnson but they have switched stations here. You can have our oil industry and our jobs, we'll take your morning drive radio show.
Try WOXY.com... I listen every day at work!
Well, if you're in Texas, they play Tejano. Which sucks, because it's polka music.
I'd like to hear some salsa and merengue for a change. Especially some tropicale and flamenco. But you can only get that on satellite radio here.
What, modern rock or merenge?
"Who cares? WHFS had deteriorated so badly in the past ten years that anyone male without tattoos, ear rings, or sore butts could not listen to it anymore."
Coincidentally that is when I stopped listening. I thought it was marriage, children, talk radio etc that made it hurt my ears. Great station when you could hear U2, Chris Isaak, 10,000 maniacs and Camper Van Beethoven
HFS -- started in a basement in Bethesda. Anyone remember Weasil? He's laughing the laugh just now I bet.
Too bad for dedicated on the station, as were the old-school DJs there. When the corporate types brought in the Sports Junkies, I figured it was all over.
Not much to cry over here (in HFS terms, spilt bong water), but what a shame what was done to a great station.
HFestival? A bajo!
Rock and Roll is a dying genre anyway. It is going the way of big band music. Are there any big band stations left?
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