Radio Name Game - Ed

"103.3 Ed FM" KDRF is an Adult Hits station in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Previously an Alternative station known as "103.3 The Zone," they flipped to their current format in 2004 and became "Fred FM."  Unfortunately for them, XM Satellite Radio had a trademark on the name "Fred" for their Classic Alternative channel (their call letters are Fred spelled backwards...sort of) so they switched to "Ed FM."  XM's threatened lawsuit apparently doesn't affect Canadian Freds.

Radio Sticker of the Day Mailbag - KRRG

Yesterday the mailman delivered a glorious stack of stickers courtesy of the ever-generous Dan Sys in British Columbia.  Wow!  What a package...including this beauty from KRRG "Big Buck Country" in Laredo, Texas.  Thanks a LOT Dan!

Radio Sticker of the Day Mailbag - Radio la Isla

Yesterday I received a package of decals from a radio sticker collector in Milan, Italy.  Thanks Dario!

My favorite is this one from Radio la Isla in San Fernando, Spain.  It's promoting a sports program "El Chapuzón" ("the splash" or "the dip.")

At some point Radio la Isla moved from 107.2 to its home at 107.4 FM as seen on these stickers with their current logo.

Radio Name Game - Frank

 WFNK "107.5 Frank FM" is a Classic Hits station licensed to Lewiston, Maine.

WORK "107.1 Frank FM" is a Classic Hits station licensed to Barre, Vermont and is co-owned with WFNK by Nassau Broadcasting.

Radio Name Game - José

KXSE "José 104.3" is a Spanish Adult Hits station licensed to Davis, California. 

Radio Name Game - Max

In all likelihood, none of these stations intend(ed) their station's branding to be a persons name so much as a short form of maximum. But Max is a name, right?....  In fact, most Max stations actually go by "The Max."

 "Max FM 98.3" CHER is a Classic Hits station licensed to Sydney, Nova Scotia.

"Max 93.5" KMKX is a Classic Rock station licensed to Willits, California.

Philadelphia Pennsylvania's "Max 95.7" WXXM was a Modern Rock-leaning Hot Adult Contemporary station that existed from 1997 to 1999.  They then flipped to R&B Oldies as WEJM and are currently another "name station" Adult Hits "95.7 Ben FM."  Sister 7 were a Rock/Funk band from Austin, Texas who were promoting their album This The Trip when this sticker was printed.

Radio Name Game - Wayne

CKWY "93.7 Wayne FM" is a Variety Hits station licensed to Wainwright, Alberta.

Radio Name Game - Doug

WDRQ "93.1 Doug FM" is a Variety Hits station in Detroit, Michigan.  WDRQ has carried this format since 2005 after flipping from Top-40/Rhythmic CHR.

Radio Name Game - Mike

A temporary tattoo from Adult Hits WMKK "Mike FM" in Boston, Massachusetts.  93.7 carried this format from 2005 to 2011 before switching to Sports as WEEI-FM, a simulcast of WEEI 850 AM.  WMKK was licensed to Lawrence, MA.

Radio Name Game - Fred

A magnet from CFRK "92.3 Fred FM," a Classic Hits station in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

Radio Sticker of the Day Mailbag - KAMX

Today I received a package of radio stickers, keychains, and a couple of lanyards from Luke in Amarillo, Texas.  Thank you!!

One of the more unique promo items I've ever received--an eco-friendly seed card that would grow wildflowers if soaked in water and planted.

"Mix 94.7" KAMX is a Hot Adult Contemporary station licensed to Luling, Texas near Austin.

Radio Name Game - Donna

Radio Donna was a pop music station based in Brussels, Belgium.  They were on the air from 1992 until 2009 on seven different frequencies in the Flanders region of the country.  The station has since re-branded as MNM.

The Radio Donna Network was based in Milan, Italy according to what somebody wrote on the back of this sticker.

Radio Name Game - Charlie

WCHY "105-1 Charlie FM" is a DJ-free Adult Hits station licensed to Waunakee, Wisconsin.

Radio Name Game - Bob

 CFWM "99.9 Bob FM" is an Adult Hits station in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  They were the first station in Canada with this format and are credited/blamed for inspiring the rash of "Jack FM" stations.

 KCTY "Bob FM 106.9" was a Variety Hits station licensed to Plattsmouth, Nebraska.  The frequency is currently home to Rhythmic Contemporary "Power 106.9" KOPW.

"Bob FM 103.5" KBPA (K Bob Plays Anything) is a Variety Hits station licensed to San Marcos, Texas near Austin.

Radio Name Game - Sam

KQSM "Sam 98" was a Country station licensed to Bentonville, Arkansas circa 2006.  98.3 FM is currently a Rock station known as "The Keg" which used to be at 92.1 FM (and is where the current station with the KQSM call letters resides as a Sports station branded "The Ticket.")  Sam 98 seems to be living on as an internet-only station.
I have no proof that "Sam 98" was named after Sam Walton but I don't think that it's a coincidence that the multi-billionaire founder of Sam's Club and Walmart was also based in Bentonville.

Radio Name Game - Simon

WSMW "98.7 Simon" is a Variety Hits station licensed to Greensboro, North Carolina.

Radio Name Game - Alice

People-branded radio stations have been around since at least the 1960s when unlicensed pirates Radio Caroline and Radio Jackie broadcast from the waters around England and Radio Veronica anchored off the Dutch coast. However, the vast majority of "name stations" have popped up in the last decade after the success of the Jack FM "playing what we want" format starting around 2002. For the next two weeks or so I'll be featuring stickers from every different "name station" that I have a decal from. We'll start with Alice which first started appearing in the mid-1990s and all seem(ed) to use the same typeface and "@" signs.

WALC "Alice@104.1" was a Modern Adult Contemporary station in St. Louis, Missouri circa 1997. They are currently an Urban Contemporary station "Hot 104.1" WHHL.

"Alice@97.3" KLLC is a Hot Adult Contemporary station in San Francisco, California.

"Alice@107.7" KLAL is a Top-40 station licensed to Wrightsville, Arkansas.

Radio Sticker of the Day Mailbag - Galaxie 95.3

A reader of this blog from France sent me a nice selection of radio stickers today.  Thank you Stephane!  I'll be sending you some stickers in return soon.

According to Wikipedia, Galaxie 95.3 is the first French radio station entirely dedicated to Electronic music including Dance, Techno and House.  They went on the air in 1981 and are based in the city of Wattrelos in northern France near the Belgian border.

2XX

1377 AM 2XX was from Paraparaumu, New Zealand.  The station now broadcasts on FM and is part of the More FM network.

88 Acht

88 Acht broadcasts from Berlin, Germany.