A little over a year ago Windsor/Detroit longtime alternative station CIMX (89X) flipped format to Pure Country.  Taking a page from CKLW AM, 89X enjoyed a ratings and revenue bump for many years from listeners and advertisers across the river in Detroit. The station became so popular two other Detroit area stations changed their formats to alternative within a few years of the 89X debut in May 1991.  Neither of these stations were successful.

When CIMX moved to Pure Country in November 2020, Detroit's WDZH immediately dropped their Christmas music the minute that CIMX made the move.  WDZH had been a much hyped "Breeze" music format station for only a year, and immediately went all alternative music. They also got rid of what few announcers worked at the station.  

So far the new format has not been working out well for ALT 98.7 with an audience share of 1.5-1.8.  The station has been roundly criticized for having no local announcers and a lack of local music on the playlist, and too much repetition in music and artists.

The moderator of the Michigan Radio and TV Buzzboard among others have been suggesting that ALT 98.7 needs to play (wait for it) more cancon!  Others commented that ALT 98.7 needs to bring back cancon cuts from Tragically Hip, Our Lady Piece, Big Wreck, Billy Talent, Crash Parallel and others that 89X played for years.  Detroit listeners know these artists.  Another poster mentioned that the station has got to get back breaking new Canadian and Michigan area bands like 89X did for so many years.

Surprisingly cancon comes up a bit on this radio forum out of Detroit (mostly positive other than a crank from Windsor)  and some posters are fans of CKWW, FM 96 London, and Windsor Virgin 93.9.  Many are quite knowledgeable about the radio in Windsor/London and Toronto.  The moderator did a listening tour of Southern Ontario radio a few years back and was a big fan of our rock radio stations.  Contributors also have a lot to say not only about the ownership conglomerates in the US but also will take shots at Bell, Rogers and Blackburn Radio.

 

Last edited by paterson1 (January 13, 2022 8:52 pm)