Project 9-6-1 becomes Power 96.1, a top 40 station
[UPDATE: August 31, 2012: Cumulus is shifting its 98.9 signal to a Project-like sound starting at noon on Saturday, Sept. 1. It has been 99X at 98.9, an alternative rock station. The signal is relatively weak but at least it can fulfill the desires of active rock fans inside the Perimeter.]
With pop music having a powerful year, Clear Channel Atlanta has dropped active rock station Project 9-6-1 for a top 40 format it’s dubbing Power 96.1.
The change happened just after 7 p.m. The final song that Mediabase 24/7 reported as a Project song was at 7:02 p.m.: Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird.” That’s when the station began playing a bunch of top 40 hits before making an official announcement at 8:05 p.m. and launching with LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthem.” It promised 9,600 songs in a row, which equals about four weeks of commercial-free music.
Dunwoody High School graduate and media mogul Ryan Seacrest made a surprise appearance at the Jennifer Lopez concert Wednesday night at Philips Arena to make the announcement, noting that his mom will be able to hear him regularly again in Atlanta. (He started his career at Star 94 and has been on that station in syndication in recent years.)
Clear Channel nationwide has some seriously powerful top 40 stations, including Kiss in Los Angeles, where Seacrest airs his morning show and syndicated show, and Z100 in New York, where Wild 105.7 syndicated morning host Elvis Duran is based.
Starting Sept. 4, Power is bringing Duran from its existing rhythmic top 40 station at 105.7/96.7 called Wild, followed by Seacrest in syndication mid-days.
Now we know why Clear Channel got rid of its Wild program director a couple weeks ago. Wild is likely going to go away or shift its format so not to directly compete with Power. I hear Mami Chula, the key local personality on Wild, is staying put for now.
Could they bring a modified version of Project 9-6-1 on another signal? (Clear Channel owns 105.3 and 105.7, too.)
Program director Chris Williams, in a text this morning, said no. It’s over. On Facebook, someone posted this:
96.1 has been Atlanta’s rock destination since 1974. The Project Family is so proud to have carved out our own chapter in the rich legacy of WKLS. The radio dial will sound much different after today. We can never thank you enough for all your support and passion for Project 9-6-1 over the past 6 years and for 96rock the years before us. We consider ourselves among the luckiest each and every day we were allowed to enter this studio and create a radio station that made us proud. Thank you for inviting The Project into your cars, jobs and homes. Thank you for Living Loud and Playing Hard, please don’t stop. Most of all, thank you for being Part of the Project!
Project had a good run. It came to be courtesy of Williams, who first launched Buzz 105.3,a younger-leaning rock station. In late 2006, long-standing classic rock station 96rock became Project, an odd name that suggested an ephemeral existence. But Williams brought the spirit of the Buzz over to Project, which lasted more than five years, becoming a formidable player among younger listeners who liked the mix of older and current harder-edged rock by acts such as Guns ‘N Roses, Metallica, Slipknot and Five Finger Death Punch. It regularly finished in the top 5 among 18 to 34 year olds.
Some local radio folks who know Williams think he is pulling a deliberate “New Coke” move here. There will be such an uprising by Project fans via social media that Clear Channel will be “forced” to bring Project back on a different signal. If that’s the case, Project fans, get the petitions out! Here’s one page already out there. As of Labor Day, there are 3,600 names. Another one has more than 5,000 names. And a petition also has more than 5,000 names.
In the evening, it had a cool Jelli “Remote Control Radio” concept, where viewers could vote for what song to play next. And Aly was a stalwart presence in mid days. Project had trouble finding a solid morning show in its early years, Kidd Chris was starting to make inroads among younger men listeners after debuting last year.
Lately, top 40 and similar formats have been on a roll locally and nationwide. Q100 and Star 94 are both experiencing strong ratings. So was Wild. And B98.5 has freshened its sound to be closer to the other stations. All four are doing well.
Rock on the other hand has been in a death spiral nationwide. Atlanta has managed to air five rock stations, which combined, were barely pulling in an audience bigger than R&B/hip hop V-103. But Dave FM last month announced it was going sports talk this fall.
The gallery image on Project's Facebook page
And now Project is gone, leaving Rock 100.5, 97.1/The River and 99X at 98.9.
Project’s departure could really benefit all three of those remaining stations, especially Rock 100.5, which has underperformed when the Regular Guys were not on. And even the Regular Guys’ numbers have dropped off the past two years. There is limited up side for 99X given its weak signal but Dave’s departure could help it. And the River will likely pick up listeners from both Project and Dave.
The last time the name Power was used in Atlanta was Power 99 in the late 1980s and early 1990s, also a top 40 station. It became alternative rock station 99X October 26, 1992.
So far, Power 96.1 sounds very much like Wild 105.7/96.7, which was edging more towards straight top 40 in recent months after focusing more on hip hop in its earlier days. (Earlier days being late 2010 and 2011.)
TV and billboard ads are scheduled to start next month promoting Power.
UPDATE Thursday, August 30, 8:26 a.m.: This morning, Wild is now playing more hip hop though it’s not quite Hot 107.9. No more Carly Rae Jepsen and Gotye. Will Clear Channel keep Wild? Hard to say.
A sampling of 10 songs new Power 96.1 from 9:30 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. Wednesday, August 29, 2012
David Guetta “Titanium”
Carly Rae Jepsen “Call Me Maybe”
Chris Brown “Don’t Wake Me Up”
Kesha “We R Who We R”
Katy Perry “Wide Awake”
LMFAO “Sexy and I Know It”
Pink “Blow Me (One Last Kiss)”
Bruno Mars “Grenade”
Rihanna “Where Have You Been”
Maroon 5 “Payphone”
The last ten songs on Wild 105.7 from that same time period.
Gotye “Somebody That I Used to Know”:
David Guetta “Titanium”
Ellie Goulding “Lights”
Havana Brown “We Run the Night”
Justin Bieber “As Long As You Love Me”
Calvin Harris “Let’s Go”
Katy Perry “Wide Awake”
Rihanna “Where Have You Been”
Usher “Scream”
Flo Rida “Whistle”
Q100 had a more pop feel with the songs it played during that time:
Train “Drive By”
Carly Rae Jepsen “Call me Maybe”
B.o.B. “Nothing On You”
Neon Trees “Everybody Talks”
Britney Spears “Til the World Ends”
Fun. “We are Young”
All-American Rejects “Gives You Hell”
Rihanna “Where Have You Been”
Mike Posner “Cooler Than Me”
Flo Rida “Wild Ones”
Join my Facebook fan page and Twitter.
By Rodney Ho, Radio & TV Talk
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437 comments Add your comment
aubrnhrdgrl
August 31st, 2012
8:24 am
AS SOON AS I COULD LOAD THE BULLETS INTO MY COLT MUSTANG 45, I SHOT MY RADIO TODAY!
Calling It Like It Is
August 31st, 2012
8:45 am
As much as everyone is complaining, you don’t realize that the petitions, hate mail, Facebook posts, etc. don’t mean squat to Clear Channel. They are a “media and entertainment” company whose job it is to buy up frequencies in markets and hire Program Directors to program the stations. The true management could care less about everyone’s hate mail. The fact that they have gotten you fired up…they have accomplished what they have set out to do. They think they can grab a piece of the pie, because they don’t have a Top 40 presence in Atlanta. And being one of the top station owners in the country, they have to take a shot at the hottest demographic. Unfortunately, for everyone else, they flip formats. Same thing Dave is doing. The listeners are the ones who lose out.
Being as big as they are, they can throw alot of money at promoting or building the brand of the station.
Instead of focusing on the negativity, everyone should focus on either Clear Channel or their competitors (CBS, Lincoln Financial Media, or Cumulus) into creating a strong signaled Rock Station. Create the petition to bring a Rock Station back to Atlanta, instead of bring Project back. The ideal scenario is to bring something new and build that station from the ground up. Don’t reference 96 Rock, Project, Dave, Z93, or any of the old brands. Create a new brand. As far as they are concerned, those old stations are just that…old. They are looking for something that will make them money and presenting them with the 1,000’s of signatures or likes (if it’s a Facebook page), they may be more apt to listen. We need something completely different that 100.5, River, and 99x. I can hear new taglines already “Atlanta’s New Home for Rock”, “Atlanta’s Real Rock Station”. Keep the format different from Rock 100.5, River, and 99x. There can be some overlap, but there needs to be some differentiation, otherwise you are creating a competitor.
Rock is in a cloudy state these days. The lines between Rock, Alternative, and Metal are blurred and need to be clarified. A Rock station needs to be that…Rock.
ExWKLS Employee
August 31st, 2012
9:23 am
If you are looking for rock, here is what SiriusXM offers. I started listening to satellite three years ago, and have never looked back.
Channel 21
Underground Garage
Little Steven’s Garage Rock
23
Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead 24/7
24
Radio Margaritaville
Escape to Margaritaville
25
Classic Rewind
’70s & ’80s Classic Rock
26
Classic Vinyl
’60s & ’70s Classic Rock
27
Deep Tracks
Deep Classic Rock
28
The Spectrum
Adult Album Rock
29
Jam_ON
Jam Bands
30
The Loft
Comfortably Eclectic
33
1st Wave
Classic ’80s Alternative
34
Lithium
’90s Alternative/Grunge
35
SIRIUS XM U
Indie Rock
36
Alt Nation
New Alternative Rock
37
Octane
New Hard Rock
38
Boneyard
Classic Hard Rock
40
Liquid Metal
Heavy Metal
41
Faction
Action Sports/Punk/Ska
Engineer
August 31st, 2012
9:47 am
What a shame, I always enjoyed listening to 96.1 as driving in the Atlanta area. Unfortunately, Clear Channel has been doing this region-wide; I don’t think they like anything rock related. Pretty much all the Rock stations in south Georgia are gone (other than a couple classic rock stations and there is rock 103 in Columbus)
Nick
August 31st, 2012
9:55 am
Kidd Chris was a little annoying a lot of the time, but he was at least better than those d-bags on Rock 100.5 in the mornings. I always listened to the Project in the afternoon’s though, even though I would prefer to listen to 99x. Just can’t get 99x unless your right next to the antenna I guess though. Seriously, get a new antenna.
Brent
August 31st, 2012
10:06 am
I want an oldies station at least one that plays the incredible songs from the 70’s . The River is a complete joke as well. CC, Cox, and Cumulus are all disasters that have ruined radio.
MegaMan3938
August 31st, 2012
10:15 am
Another weak Pop station for little teeny boppers to listen to. Screw Seacrest. Time for the Wolf Pack to exact some revenge, hint, hint
Atlanta loses a good rock radio station- Project 9-6-1 - Stormfront
August 31st, 2012
10:41 am
[...] this change but the odds of the station coming back are practically nil. Read some of the comments. Project 9-6-1 becomes Power 96.1, a top 40 station | Radio & TV Talk __________________ One person with a belief is a social power equal to 99 who have only [...]
L
August 31st, 2012
10:43 am
This is crazy. So, for alternative music we only have one station – 99x – which is a great station but ever since they booted them off of 99.7 frequency, the signal is so weak you never know when you’ll be able to pick it up! And Dave FM is going to be sports talk???? …. great. I am going to have to do a lot of reprogramming of my presets. Yeah, it’s nice being able to hear the Falcons games on Sundays if I am not able to watch, but beyond that I do not want to hear a bunch of people dissecting sports 24/7/365. If I wanted that I would get ESPN radio. What the heck is going on with radio in Atlanta?!
JK in Acworth
August 31st, 2012
11:00 am
I got a feeling the management group at CBS radio is scrambling to change their mind about this sports talk stuff, or kicking themselves for going that route now that the project is dead. This would have been a perfect oppourtunity for them to revamp their playlist and see a jump in their listenership. Luckily I live far enough northwest to pick up a good southern rock station out of Rome called “The Rebel” on 104.9!!!
bob
August 31st, 2012
12:07 pm
There is a reason more and more people are going over their bandwidth limits on their data plans, Pandora and slacker FTW!!!! Quit cramming music on the public that only kids and blonde bimbos find entertaining, there is a reason new music sales suck, hint: its not because of downloads.
Laura
August 31st, 2012
1:32 pm
Ok.. No one gang up on me.. I think the only “improvement” the Project needed was the absence of KiddChris. Or atleast someone to watch his “tantrums” and disparaging remarks about things happening around town.. or away for that matter. My family fell victim to some of his commentaries and jokes. We were going through a horrible time and this man jokes about it.. I was crushed. Being a member of the underground and an avid fan for YEARS (since the time when it was only nighttime album rock) I felt betrayed. I called the station to talk to the OC.. Chris Williams.. I got a voice mail.. I left the message, in tears, mind you.. and never heard back.. I wont comment on his jokes about what he has said about other tragic events.. HE NEEDED TO GO.. Now all of em are gone…
MadKemist
August 31st, 2012
1:34 pm
Who the heck is 99X?? OH…that’s right. I didn’t listen to them because Project 9-6-1 was better. Good thing I have Pandora. That’ll be all I listen to now…so much for local advertising. I wonder what that will do to Clear’s bottom line once Clear’s fan base plummets and it shows in the polling process?
blochead
August 31st, 2012
2:05 pm
I am 49 years old ,and I listen to 96.1 rock from1974 and did till thay took it off the air .I will not listen to this to the new 96.1 evey again.thank you for you for your time
Dward
August 31st, 2012
2:42 pm
This is a crying shame. That generic garbage from the so called “top 40″ on yet another station. The people responsible are garbage
lurch313
August 31st, 2012
2:46 pm
It’s hard to live loud and play hard when there is nothing to listen.
Nani, Mark & Cameron
August 31st, 2012
3:05 pm
The Project Family wants our station back, hell any frequency will do…..we just want our music & our Family Hosts back.
hannah ochoa
August 31st, 2012
4:34 pm
i want project 961
kenny riffle
August 31st, 2012
4:42 pm
We don’t need another top 40 station. Clear water sucks! Bring back 96.1
Brandi Bernard
August 31st, 2012
4:46 pm
Today’s the day I threw my radio away….screw you Clear Channel Worldwide.
Sam
August 31st, 2012
5:57 pm
Clear Channel can go to hell! Please tell my why adding yet another pop station makes the radio better????? There are already like 3 or 4 stations playing the same crappy music. 96.1 was basically the only one playing rock, and a great one too! They’ve been my favorite station for at least 10 years when I got into rock music. Clear Channel needs to stop appealing to the teeny bopping sluts.
Adriana
August 31st, 2012
6:00 pm
Tired of all this pop crap, I just want my rock music back.
WHITE GUY
August 31st, 2012
6:15 pm
Are you kidding me, I got in my car this morning and i heard some Bubble gum/Pole smoker music.
This is unexceptable to the Rock and Roll Fans whom are not part of the Dirty ATL.
Night at the Roxbury Music….BS
Sjay
August 31st, 2012
7:19 pm
ANOTHER pop station – oh joy. How sad and disappointing
Trudy
August 31st, 2012
7:19 pm
the fight is on
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-Project-961/341832772578393
Sebastian
August 31st, 2012
7:33 pm
THE PROJECT WILL NOT DIE! WE WILL FORCE CLEAR CHANNEL BRING IT BACK, AND ON IT’S PROPER BAND 96.1! WE ALREADY HAVE WAY TOO MUCH OF THIS POP CRAP TO STAND FOR THIS, 96.1 HAS BEEN THE PLACE TO GO FOR ROCK FOR 38 YEARS, WE WILL NOT LET THIS “power” SURVIVE!
Sebastian
August 31st, 2012
7:49 pm
this site sucks by the way, my second comment was deleted because I wrote F ) U( C* ki / n /g and instead of telling me to censor it, my message was deleted. It was long as H e ll and I don’t remember half of what I wrote. F KC U you access atlanta!
projct1&only
August 31st, 2012
9:38 pm
BRING THE ROCK BACK!!! I LOVE PROJECT 96.1 !!!!
Live Hard Play Loud
August 31st, 2012
10:09 pm
Hey rockerboy I’m part Nigerian (who’s blacker than Africans), and I can’t stand these stupid, modern raps (except white raps like Limp Bizkit) ; I love bands like Papa Roach, Chevelle, Linkin Park,Sound Garden to name a few. We have TOO many pop stations in Georgia. Now that 96.1 I have no more UNDER THE COVER WITH ALY:( I’ve got two Radio stations left: Dave FM (92.9) and 99x- barely hangin’ on to 99x. I don’t mind a few pop songs but a normal human can’t just listen to that and be happy.
Live Hard Play Loud
August 31st, 2012
10:14 pm
keep living hard and playing loud
Scott M
August 31st, 2012
10:16 pm
Who made that call.PLZ we want our station back …….your staff at project is the best in the buissiness as far as i see.You don’t know or realize what you have done to the ppl in this town.that station is our release for stress.All for your rateing”that aren’t bad”.guess we all should listen to rap or pop rt.that would not be who we are.We are the project w/ the staff.that awsome staff both chri’s ally thomas,dubbs.you are killing a generatio, not at frequency.
James W
August 31st, 2012
10:30 pm
It is obvious the “idiots” at Clear Channel don’t care about these post or what we of the Atlanta area think. If they did they would did a “study” or performed a survey to see if this was a wise move, however, they didn’t. So it is obvious to me and a lot of other people that they don’t really care. Believe me, having dealt with people at CC myself through the company I work for in recent years, I can say “firsthand” that they are truly IDIOTS!!!
Denise
August 31st, 2012
11:20 pm
Atlanta sux i am just going to satellite for the metal I desire. Project 961 was the only station I listened to locally so I am off to satellite. No fun for talk and opinions though…This is the worst decision ever!
tammy
August 31st, 2012
11:55 pm
This sucks…. this was the only good rock station up here and poof it’s gone… just what we need more pop music…. thanks a lot for taking the only good rock station away… you have lost me as a listener
gsutommy
September 1st, 2012
12:19 am
First let me say… Clear channel Sucks!!!!!!! This is the last straw. My radio listening days are finally over!!! Even if they bring back the format to another station, dont they realize that 96.1 has been a rock station since 1974? Ever seen the movie Airheads? The people of clear channel remind me of that total a$$ clown in that movie. Clear channel cannot look past its corporate strategies to see what the people really want. They have ran 96 rock into the ground. I will never listen to radio again!!!
HAAHAA!
September 1st, 2012
12:25 am
Still dont get it eh? Here’s what you do….watch the movie “Equilibrium” like 4 or 5 times, let it really sink in and just except that you all are not going to have what you want. O.K. so then, read about 500 books, or how ever much you can read before you die, Then except the fact that your bodies are going to be absorbed back into the enviroment someday real soon, dont ever vote again, and watch the truth unfold…YOU CAN’T WIN BACK SOMETHING YOU NEVER HAD, PROJECT 961 WAS JUST A PROJECT AND IT DIDN’T WORK. MOVE ON !!! START ANOTHER PROJECT!!!
Cp3
September 1st, 2012
12:36 am
I hope the power 96.1 fails because it sucks a duck. Bring back 96 Rock or project 96.1. I hope the power fails there. I finally had to change the channel the other day when that crap was playing.
Will Worthan
September 1st, 2012
12:46 am
The people that made this change should kick rocks bare footed! We won’t the project back
Will Worthan
September 1st, 2012
12:47 am
I’ve heard nothing but rock on 96.1 for almost 28 years you people suck for stealing that from me
nCNhonky tonk man
September 1st, 2012
4:31 am
Rocker boys dont be ignoramuss puss ,Its certainly not racial. I am a man of color crying about us black against white,stupid. I m pushing for 96rock to return.
Rock Rochester
September 1st, 2012
7:06 am
You sorry SOB’S !!!!! What a sad day for Atlanta. I grew up in Riverdale in the 60’s,70’s and 80’s and I remember the day 96 Rock took the air. What more do you wigger’s want to take from white Atlanta ?
tom hawkins
September 1st, 2012
9:16 am
TO NATHEN DEAL
I’m 44 and Moved here in 1986 after I graduated high school. I have raised a family in the state of Georgia and have five teenagers. Since I have lived here, Atlanta has always had a Rock station to listen too. 96 rock was first, and 99x then it changed to project 96.1 The Family. Clear Channel killed the radio station at 8:00pm Thursday 29th 2012.I listen to all types of music, however I prefer rock. Power 96 with Ryan Seacrest replaced it. MORE POP MUSIC, WOW….Stations we have are already Great.
Please consider bringing in a rock station to Atlanta of some sort,If anything gets passed by you or your staff.
For now I will steam music in Augusta and Columbus Georgia, and wait for the long time Atlanta Dj’s to do something with 99x on line. You had some of the best DJ’s in the business. You would make the community happy, easy feather in your cap . clear channel wasn’t considering city of Atlanta at all with this poor decision.
DeathB4Dishonor
September 1st, 2012
9:54 am
As a long time listener, I am not pleased! And what’s worse, they did it with no warning- I will not be listening to pop, sorry, I like music that requires a little talent, but most of the pop I’ve seen is garbage! See Ya!
Mitt Romney
September 1st, 2012
10:36 am
More proof that I know longer have any say so in the day to day operations at Bain Capital. There’s no way Mitt Romney would have retained that idiot John Hogan as CEO once the sale to Bain went through. John Hogan might have fooled the moronic Mays brothers but he would have been fired quicker than a dying cancer patient by Mitt Romney. I’m sure Power 96.1 will be as successful as all the other losers launched by John Hogan in Atlanta, right up there with MIX, MAX and Lite FM.
J
September 1st, 2012
11:08 am
This is terrible news!
Proud of Project
September 1st, 2012
11:49 am
Kinda makes you wonder who has stake in XM or Sirius radio as I know of a lot of rock fans that will now be converting over… With the death of metal being played on the radio in Atlanta now, how will this affect the FEW metal concerts that still come here?? Sad day indeed.
~Live loud, play hard!!
JASon
September 1st, 2012
11:55 am
“Rock on the other hand has been in a death spiral nationwide.”
This is true only because rock stations have been playing the same 30 songs for twenty years. There is a world of beautiful rock music out there, and the radio has done nothing to introduce us to it.
Lindsay
September 1st, 2012
12:06 pm
My radio permanently turned off when 92.9 played Kid Rock a few weeks ago. MP3s and Spotify for me. WTG corporate radio! It’s too bad, I love listening Mara, Sully and Steve, and they love Atlanta.
no need
September 1st, 2012
12:32 pm
I am very sad of this. Im 49 years old and have thoroughly enjoyed this station. not fair. didnt say it wasnt the right move….but was it? I will so miss the music in this area. this station was the best. right next to pop music. rock will never die. its a part of our everyday history. god bless us all! you will be missed
Jake
September 1st, 2012
1:42 pm
This is terrible! I was a big fan of Project 9-6-1. The new station is godawful. And now 92.9 Dave
FM is going to be gone. There are already 2 sports talk radio stations here. Why do we need another
on FM? Rock 100.5 is pretty lame. They play the same tired classic rock songs into the ground.