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'''WODS''', known on-air as "Oldies 103.3," is a radio station in [[Boston, Massachusetts]]. The station plays music from the sixties and seventies, and is also involved in the organization of several concerts and events within the Boston area. WODS is a [[CBS Radio]] station. |
'''WODS''', known on-air as "Oldies 103.3," is a radio station in [[Boston, Massachusetts]]. The station plays music from the sixties and seventies, and is also involved in the organization of several concerts and events within the Boston area. WODS is a [[CBS Radio]] station. |
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==History== |
== History == |
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WODS began as WEEI-FM in 1948. It ran CBS's "The Young Sound" format beginning in 1965 after [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]] regulations forced it to cease to be a 24-hour relay of the [[AM broadcasting|AM]] side (WEEI 590). After going through several formats (such as soft contemporary music, [[soft rock]], [[CHR]] (with a callsign change to WHTT after [[WEZE|WEEI (AM)]] was sold, WEEI-FM is now the call for the [[Westerly, Rhode Island|Westerly]]/[[Providence, Rhode Island]] relay of the current [[WEEI|WEEI (AM)]], now on 850), and [[Adult contemporary music|adult contemporary music]] (as WMRQ) before settling on the current format in 1987. |
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Today's WODS, “Oldies 103.3”, started life in 1948 as WEEI-FM. Like most of the FM radio stations of the day, WEEI-FM simply rebroadcast the same programming of its sister station WEEI 590. |
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In 1965 WEEI FM, along with CBS' sister FM stations, switched to a music format called “The Young Sound”. This was a younger leaning easy listening format. In 1969 along with most of the other FM CBS owned stations, WEEI FM tried a Progressive Rock format but evolved to Adult Rock and then ore of an Adult Contemporary/Soft Rock format by 1975. |
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In 1981 WEEI FM gradually evolved from Soft Rock to Top 40 (by then known as CHR standing for Contemporary Hit Radio). By 1982 WEEI FM was using a modified "Hot Hits" format. Unlike sister stations WEEI FM played a few non current songs. The Other Hot Hits stations evolved to what WEEI FM was doing by the end of 1982. Also more high-energy jingles were introduced with “HitRadio 103 FM” being used to identify the station in lieu of WEEI-FM. |
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When WEEI(AM) was sold to the Helen Broadcasting in 1983, FCC rules did not then permit the FM station to keep its callsign. So, in February of that year, WEEI-FM became “Power 103” WHTT. The CHR format lasted three years. By 1986 ratings were decent but Kiss 108 and WZOU were doing better. CBS determined that CHR was hard to sell unless the station had very high ratings. So in the Summer of 1986 WHTT became WMRQ “Q-103”, “Boston's Quality Rock”. It was an adult rock format focusing on hits and album cuts from rock albums that were not very hard. The station even mixed in a few jazz songs. WMRQ was to be very short-lived, however. Ratings for this station were very low. |
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In early October, 1987, CBS opted to drop the album adult rock format for traditional oldies spanning from 1954 to 1969, and WMRQ became “Oldies 103” WODS. The station played a very deep oldies format of over 1500 songs. They used the phrase "All Oldies All The Time". John Gehron was the general manager and Dave Van Dyke was Program Director. Their lineup included Austin Davis aka Austin Of Boston mornings (from the WMRQ days), Paula Street (middays), Rick Hunter (WMRQ holdover) afternoons, Sandy Benson (WMRQ Holdover)evenings, Mike Finnegan (WMRQ Holdover) late nights, Jay Gordon (WHTT/WMRQ holdover) overnights. Weekends included Frank Kingston Smith, Tom St John, Doug Taylor, Bill Lawrence, Joe McMillan, Steve Kelly (WHTT/WMRQ holdover), and Little Walter. Little Walter had a request show Saturday nights mixing regular rotation with lots of doo wops along with his Time Machine Sunday Nights playing only pre 64 oldies and doo wops. Other specialty shows included Elvis Only with Jay Gordon, Back Seat Memories, Blue Plate Special, Night Train, Top 20 Oldies Countdowns. |
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In 1988 WODS added some music from 1970 to 1973 playing about one every other hour. In 1989 Rick Hunter would leave and Mike Adams would join for afternoons. Since going oldies, WODS has been one of the few consistent ratings performers in the market, pulling a steady 4 to 5 rating in book after book after book. Dave Van Dyke would become General manager and Harry Nelson became Program director in 1989. In 1990 Nelson was replaced by Tommy Edwards and then Steve Allen in 1993. Ted Jordan is the General Manager today. Pete Falconi is the program director while Joe Cortese is the Assistant Program director. |
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The format was modified in the 1990's to include slightly more 70's music and somewhat less pre 64 oldies but these were very slight changes. The airstaff had an occasional change as well. After CBS was purchased by Westinghouse in 1996, WODS moved from its own studios on Winter St. in Downtown Crossing to the newly-renovated WBZ/WBZ-TV complex on Soldiers Field Road. Since that time, the new CBS and Infinity, and then the new CBS and American Radio, have each announced and completed mergers, all of which left WODS unaffected. |
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As the 21st century began, the changing demographics of the oldies format, the “O word” was used less. The pre 64 oldies were gradually phased out almost completely. By this time, the playlist had drifted significantly into the '70s and even a few 80's songs, leading to slogans like “the greatest hits of the '60s and '70s”. Little Walter's Time Machine was gone and replaced by The Lost 45's 70's show focusing on deep 70's cuts. Dale Dorman fromerly of Kiss 108 would also take mornings. |
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When CBS later merged with Viacom, WSBK-TV moved out of its long-time home on Birmingham Parkway to share facilities with WBZ. After the old building was renovated for radio, WODS made the half-mile trek to its current studio facility. In 2005, WBCN moved in with Oldies 103 on Birmingham Pkwy. So WODS is currently in the former WSBK building. A few original WODS personalities still are on the station. |
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==Airstaff== |
==Airstaff== |
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Pete Falconi |
Pete Falconi |
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== Reference == |
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*{{Web reference |
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|title = WODS(FM) |
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|work = The Boston Radio Dial |
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|publisher = The Archives at BostonRadio.org |
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|author = George, Peter (in part) |
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|url = http://www.bostonradio.org/stations/9639.html |
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|publishyear = 2005-03-27 |
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|date = 2006-02-20 |
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}} |
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== External link == |
== External link == |
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Revision as of 17:28, 20 February 2006
| File:WODS-FM.jpg | |
| Broadcast area | Boston, MA |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 103.3 (MHz) |
| Branding | Oldies 103.3 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Oldies |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | CBS Radio |
| History | |
First air date | 1948 |
Call sign meaning | WODS OlDieS |
| Technical information | |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 16,000 watts |
| Links | |
| Website | www.oldies1033.com |
WODS, known on-air as "Oldies 103.3," is a radio station in Boston, Massachusetts. The station plays music from the sixties and seventies, and is also involved in the organization of several concerts and events within the Boston area. WODS is a CBS Radio station.
History
WODS began as WEEI-FM in 1948. It ran CBS's "The Young Sound" format beginning in 1965 after FCC regulations forced it to cease to be a 24-hour relay of the AM side (WEEI 590). After going through several formats (such as soft contemporary music, soft rock, CHR (with a callsign change to WHTT after WEEI (AM) was sold, WEEI-FM is now the call for the Westerly/Providence, Rhode Island relay of the current WEEI (AM), now on 850), and adult contemporary music (as WMRQ) before settling on the current format in 1987.
Airstaff
Weekdays
5:30-9 AM Dale Dorman - June Knight - Mauzy Stafford - Jimmy Del Ponte
9 AM-2 PM Paula Street
2 PM-6 PM Karen Blake
6 PM-9 PM Patrick Callahan
9 PM-1 AM Mike Finegan
1 AM-5:30 J.J. Wright
Weekends
Barry Scott
Jay Gordon - Elvis Only
Scott Roberts
Mauzy Stafford
Norm Thibeault
Pete Falconi
Reference
- George, Peter (in part) (2006-02-20). "WODS(FM)". The Boston Radio Dial. The Archives at BostonRadio.org.
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External link