Press
Party to become Venus
October 4, 2005
By Chris Lewis, Nashville City Paper
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| Party to become Venus |
By Chris Lewis, clewis@nashvillecitypaper.com
October 03, 2005
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As the game of musical chairs continues in the Nashville radio market, the party’s over.
Sometime this week, Cromwell Radio Group plans to ditch WQZQ’s top-40 pop format, known as “The Party,” on 102.5-FM and replace it with Venus FM, a hot adult contemporary (AC) station geared to women, Operations Manager Jim Patrick said.
“The rap, hip-hop and a lot of the real clicky top-40 novelty songs will not be present on Venus,” he said. “The way we like to describe it, it will be hip and cool and fresh, but it will be very adult.”
Although the station will still reach out to a wide variety of listeners, Patrick said, it will be targeted to females in the 18-49 age group, with songs by such artists such as Kelly Clarkson, John Mayer and Matchbox 20.
Patrick said the format change of WQZQ fills a void left when Cumulus Broadcasting in May switched “Star 97” on WRQQ-FM from hot AC to Oldies 97.1. That move was in response to WMAK-FM changing its oldies station to the new 96.3 Jack-FM.
The Venus will move morning on-air team of “Lulu, Trish & Brad” to the afternoon drive time. In the morning slot will be a syndicated show called “Bob & Sheri,” which features discussions of relationships and pop culture.
The Party has operated for nine years, but it languished in the Nashville market ratings the past several months.
Robert Unmacht, a Nashville-based radio consultant, said he doubts Venus will be able to compete effectively against Clear Channel’s “The River” at 107.5, which plays a mix of hot AC and top 40. He said Star 97 couldn’t pull it off.
“Clear Channel has got a lot more money for staff and marketing and a much better signal,” Unmacht said. | Return to Press Index
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