No More 99x In Atlanta

[NashVegas]

Huge changes began behind closed doors Friday (Jan. 11) at Cumulus/Atlanta, which witnessed the surprising exit of longtime WNNX (99X) PD/"Morning X" anchor Leslie Fram, her co-host Jenners and longtime 99X APD/midday talent Steve Craig, ahead of a pending frequency swap with top 40 sister WWWQ (Q100).

The swap, which will reportedly be announced Monday (Jan. 14), would upgrade Q100's 13kw signal at 100.5 to the far mightier 100kw stick at 99.7, which would immediately vault the station from toaster-oven to the blowtorch status that it has craved since it signed on in 2001 and succeed in leveling the playing field with 100kw Lincoln Financial top 40 rival WSTR (Star 94).

Through several sources, R&R has learned that the timeline leading up to the swap will look like this: On Monday, Jan. 21, Q100's morning "Bert Show" will begin simulcasting on both frequencies, but the formats will remain separate until Friday, Jan. 25 at 10 a.m., at which time Q100's top 40 format will move over to 99.7 and a revamped rock format will launch on 100.5. R&R has also learned that market vets the Regular Guys (Larry Wachs and Eric Von Haessler, formerly of WKLS) will replace Fram and company in mornings on 100.5. The longtime 99X alternative format will continue to breathe online at 99x.com, as well as on an HD-2 channel at 99.7.

In a related story, Q100 welcomes new APD/MD/afternoon talent Johnny O, inbound from PD/afternoons at WYOY/Jackson, Miss. Mr. O, who lands Jan. 28, will fill the shift formerly held by ex-Q100 PD Dylan Sprague.

http://www.radioandrecords.com/

I was living in Vermont when 99x signed on. From what I was reading in the trades, they were playing a lot of B-52s and other great alternative music. They became one of the powerhouses of alternative radio, but they also fucked it up when they added and promoted Silverchair. I guess it all went downhill from there.