Daily Dose
Local hip-hop music radio station B96 changed format today, moving away from it’s rap and hip-hop roots and instead becoming a Top 40 music station. At noon Wednesday B96 became the new “96.3 Now”, and played it’s first song of the new format, Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the USA”. B96 began broadcasting in early 2000 and quickly became a favorite for Twin Cities hip-hop fans. In 2007 the station was purchased by the Pohlad family for $28 million. 96.3 Now’s programming director Sam Elliot says the change came from market research showing music tastes have changed in the past year. “Look at the Billboard Top 100. A year ago 35 of the top 100 songs were hip-hop,” Elliot said. “Today, only 4 of the top 100 songs are hip-hop. And 2 of those songs are by the same artist.” Elliot says B96 is not just changing formats, though. He calls the switch “creating a new radio station”. Part of that process means radio talent from the old B96 is now out of work. Elliot says 4 of his on-air staff no longer have jobs thanks to the format change. Evening DJ Peter Parker, who held the 7pm—11pm timeslot on B96 from 2004 until this morning, is one of the most visible members of the B96 on-air staff to be let go. Parker made the announcement on his Twitter page this morning. “As with any change in a business environment, this switch means we have had to let people go who were tied, specifically, to the old format,” said Elliot. “We won’t be filling those positions right away. We’ll be more music focused as we establish the new format. But, we will be filling those positions and we hope to hire local talent in those positions.” The format change puts 96.3 Now in direct competition with market Top 40 giant 101.3 KDWB, a fact that Elliot doesn’t dismiss. “Our personalities are different. Our promotions are different, and, really, our music is different. We will still be much more dance—focused than KDWB. They play a lot of what I like to call “Disney pop”. We won’t play that. And the rock stuff like ‘Nickelback’ won’t be on 96.3 Now either.”

Local hip-hop music radio station B96 changed format today, moving away from it’s rap and hip-hop roots and instead becoming a Top 40 music station.

At noon Wednesday B96 became the new “96.3 Now”, and played it’s first song of the new format, Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the USA”. B96 began broadcasting in early 2000 and quickly became a favorite for Twin Cities hip-hop fans. In 2007 the station was purchased by the Pohlad family for $28 million.

96.3 Now’s programming director Sam Elliot says the change came from market research showing music tastes have changed in the past year.

“Look at the Billboard Top 100. A year ago 35 of the top 100 songs were hip-hop,” Elliot said. “Today, only 4 of the top 100 songs are hip-hop. And 2 of those songs are by the same artist.”

Elliot says B96 is not just changing formats, though. He calls the switch “creating a new radio station”. Part of that process means radio talent from the old B96 is now out of work. Elliot says 4 of his on-air staff no longer have jobs thanks to the format change. Evening DJ Peter Parker, who held the 7pm—11pm timeslot on B96 from 2004 until this morning, is one of the most visible members of the B96 on-air staff to be let go. Parker made the announcement on his Twitter page this morning.

“As with any change in a business environment, this switch means we have had to let people go who were tied, specifically, to the old format,” said Elliot. “We won’t be filling those positions right away. We’ll be more music focused as we establish the new format. But, we will be filling those positions and we hope to hire local talent in those positions.”

The format change puts 96.3 Now in direct competition with market Top 40 giant 101.3 KDWB, a fact that Elliot doesn’t dismiss.

“Our personalities are different. Our promotions are different, and, really, our music is different. We will still be much more dance—focused than KDWB. They play a lot of what I like to call “Disney pop”. We won’t play that. And the rock stuff like ‘Nickelback’ won’t be on 96.3 Now either.”

Posted 2 years ago