Clear Channel Atlanta has debuted WKLS-FM Power 96.1, the area’s new mainstream CHR station. It will compete directly with Cumulus’ WWWQ-FM and Lincoln Financial’s WSTR-FM. Atlanta’s own Ryan Seacrest officially launched the station’s broadcast 8/29 at 8 p.m. onstage at the Philips Arena during the Enrique Iglesias and Jennifer Lopez concert. Power 96.1 launched playing 9,600 commercial-free songs in a row.
It replaces Active Rock “Project 9-6-1,” which replaced Heritage Classic Rock “96 Rock.” WKLS’s longevity as 96 Rock allowed it to claim to have the longest-running format on an FM station in the Atlanta market.
To unveil Power 96.1, Clear Channel Atlanta launched a multi-media campaign utilizing Clear Channel’s Digital Outdoor displays in Atlanta combined with unique television support to introduce the new station to Atlanta listeners. Power 96.1 will offer the Atlanta market exciting listener experiences through unique promotions, like exclusive concerts and up-close VIP experiences with their favorite artists, as well as, top personalities including entertaining local and national programs.
Elvis Duran and the Morning Show will move from Atlanta’s WILD 105.7 & 96.7 to Power 96.1 weekday mornings from 6 – 10 a.m. To kick-off the station’s promotions, Elvis Duran and the Morning Show will be giving away an exclusive VIP backstage experience with Duran at the sold-out iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas. Power 96.1 will also feature On Air with Ryan Seacrest, weekdays from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. beginning Tuesday, 9/4. The complete programming line-up will be announced soon.
“Our goal with the launch of the new Power 96.1 is to bring Atlanta a new and exciting hit music station with entertaining personalities, unique artist interaction and a fun connection to everything that’s going on in Atlanta,” said Tom McConnell, EVP/Operations for Major Markets East, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment.
Yet another reason for me to stop listening to radio in Atlanta. Clear Channel has a monopoly, and they suck.
Who’s big idea was this, every other station plays Usher,
Madona remakes,Justin Beaver, Taylor Swift, cheesy little teeny bop music who is gonna play NickleBack, Shinedown, Seether,Skillet, and other modern rock and hard rock. Not Star 94, or 92.1 these are the woosy stations. We are not all pop music, rap and country. Fine if you don’t want the morning guys talking, but we want the music.
Bad move. Now we just have one more sucky radio station in Atlanta. 96 rock was great. Project 96.1 was okay, but the morning show sucked. The only thing that mattered was the music. Thank God for satellite radio. Clear Channel is an evil corporation.
Your new show sucks! Bring back the project!!!
Wegot enough monkey stations in Atlanta bring back the project
That is what we get when the FCC allows one company to control too much of the limited natural resource known as the broadcast spectrum. No company or person should be able to have more than one FM plus one “AM” (SDM) plus one TV station in each market. Licensees should be limited to fifty “AM” (SDM), fifty FM, and fifty TV stations in the United States.
This was a horrible move. There are several stations playing the same pop crap. Why take off a classic favorite? I can’t believe they will get more listeners. I took the station off my presets so I wouldn’t accidentally go there. Time to get Sirius so I can keep rocking?
This was the worst thing that could happen to Atlanta radio! I have kept my radio off since they pulled the plug on the Project 96.1 and it will stay that way until the Project is back on the air. It really shows how much community interest means to Clear Channel, they have none.
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