WMAR-FM Hot Hits 106 Baltimore - Jim Payne - 1983 - Radio Aircheck

Courtesy: Nicholas Lemonakis

In the late 1970s & very early 1980s, many radio programmers thought Top 40 radio was dying, or already dead. Many Top 40 stations, who were primarily on AM radio, were sounding more like Adult Contemporary stations. They were kind of soft, low energy, and, kind of dull. In the 60s & 70s, the format was exciting & full of energy, but now, they had become pretty boring. That trend began to reverse itself, when CBS Radio hired Mike Joseph, who was already consulting the Philly AM, 1210 WCAU. They wanted Joseph to bring some rating to it’s FM, Mellow Rhythm 98 WCAU-FM. Joseph decided the station should go Top 40, with lots of fast paced excitement, high energy jocks, and the top current songs , with lots of jingles. Joseph coined the term, “Hot Hits” for his format. The new format took off in Philly like a rocket! The format was installed on other radio stations like WHYT Detroit, WBBM-FM Chicago, WNVZ Norfolk, and the station heard on this recording, WMAR-FM 106.5 in Baltimore. WMAR-FM ran the hot hits format for a couple of years, but had trouble getting traction because of crosstown rival, B104 WBSB, which had already owned that space.

This Hot Hits 106 aircheck features Jim Payne.

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