Not that anyone but me cares, but here’s some recent news on the WCLZ/WCYI sale front. Via Fybush:
One more Maine note: WCYI (93.9 Lewiston), still for sale by the Citadel-spinoff Last Bastion Station Trust, has dropped its simulcast of WCLZ (98.9 Brunswick), as that station heads for Saga ownership. WCYI’s now running an automated all-blues format while Last Bastion seeks a buyer. And the “Greetings from Area Code 207″ local-music show that was heard on WCLZ under Citadel ownership is staying with the company; it’s moved to WBLM (102.9 Portland).
I actually heard this “automated all-blues format” on 93.9 the other night on the way back from work. There were no DJ’s no voice tracking, hardly any station promos aside from announcing the frequency and call letters at the top of the hour. It was like listening to a blues fan’s iPod on shuffle or something. It’s a shame it most likely won’t stay that way, because it’s really cool to hear something different on the radio.
Between that, the full moon clearly visible in the pre-sunset sky, and my impending change of job/career/industry, the carpool home Wednesday night felt like something altogether new, alien, and exciting.
Oh, and…RED SOX FTW! ‘Nuff said.
24 comments
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November 1, 2007 at 10:11 am
Jim
I read a comment on WLCZ’s blog that implied that the station had gone off the air, but I think the poster just misinterpreted the post. Anyway, I went searching for more information on the impending WCLZ sale and came across your site. I’ll have to check out the new, albeit temporary WCYI while I can. I haven’t really enjoyed WMPG’s Evening Sun block lately, perhaps this will be different? I hope so. Thanks for the information!
November 1, 2007 at 11:56 am
Meet the new WCLZ « Isn’t the Light OK?
[...] by Andrew under Uncategorized | Tags: radio, WCLZ | Only days after 93.9 FM switched to an automated, announcer-free blues playlist, WCLZ appears to have been taken over by Saga Communications/Portland Radio Group. Not much has [...]
November 1, 2007 at 2:38 pm
The Sounds Inside My Mind » Blog Archive » Radio Ga-Ga
[...] silver lining: I discovered through this blog post that because of the new ownership taking control of WCLZ, the simulcast on WCYI is no more. That [...]
November 6, 2007 at 6:33 pm
Angie
About a week ago, I came across 93.9 WCYI and my radio has, for the most part, stayed on that station. I love it. I wouldn’t mind if it stayed just how it is. Probably not practical….but, I can wish.
November 6, 2007 at 6:36 pm
Chris
It’s about time! Finally there is a radio station worth listening to. I have not changed my radio station, or listened to a CD since I’ve discovered the new format of WCYI.
November 8, 2007 at 5:18 pm
Isn’t the Light OK? » Blog Archive » Meet the new WCLZ
[...] days after 93.9 FM switched to an automated, announcer-free blues playlist, WCLZ appears to have been taken over by Saga Communications/Portland Radio Group. Not much has [...]
December 12, 2007 at 10:07 am
Elmo
Citadel still controls the programming for WCYI even though the station is in the LB Trust. When the station finally sells, it will naturally be in competition with Citadel. My belief is they selected the blues format because its absolutely the last programming option a new operator interested in making a buck would choose going forward. That way, there’s very little chance they’ll be helping the new owners gain any momentum. So enjoy it while you can, its bound to change, probably to yet another bland, safe, middle-of-the-road tripe.
December 13, 2007 at 8:59 am
GARY
MESSAGE I SENT TO WCYI 93.9 = PLEASE….PLEASE keep the BLUES coming on 93.9 WCYI !!! We’ve been listening to it lately and it’s the best BLUES anywhere! We’ve listened to the Sirius, XM and the Time Warner Blues channels at work, and IMHO yours is head and shoulders above them.
REPLY I GOT=
… on November 1st, the Portland Radio Group acquired WCLZ (98.9) but 93.9 was not part of the sale. The station is for sale and is actually still in a trust (being operated by Citadel Communications). I hope your wish is granted and you get all the blues you want! Happy Holidays!
Well I knew it was too good to be true. Apparently the blues station is in limbo as it is being sold. It used to simulcast with WCLZ (which is/was a good station too) but SAGA bought CLZ and did not want CYI. I suspect this great commercial/talk/news/sports free blues format is only temporary until CYI sells and then we’ll get another crappy radio station that plays just some more “NOISE” .
December 22, 2007 at 8:42 am
Chris Biggar
WCYI’s All Blues All the time is great!
It should stay even if advertising does come in!
December 22, 2007 at 9:33 am
Roland Racine
Yes leave it on
December 22, 2007 at 7:03 pm
Ken bluesbass Gray
A dream come true — not just for blues lovers but for anyone who likes music that speaks from the soul with a twist of sadness and joy. Keep it on; I turn more friends on to it every day!
This news is spreading by word of mouth — just think what a little advertising could do!
December 22, 2007 at 7:04 pm
Ken bluesbass Gray
Does anyone know what they are asking for as a price?
December 28, 2007 at 8:18 pm
Gerry Lavoie
I have never before enjoyed radio so much! Commercials and DJs would barely detract from the great programming! This shouldn’t have to end.
December 29, 2007 at 6:10 pm
Judy Lowell
Please give this Blues format a chance…I have had more people tell me that they just discovered this great blues station. Word is spreading. We’d listen to it even with advertising. It’s on morning to night and we were just saying what a difference it make to our day to have a local blues station..no listening to DMX…No shuffling through cd’s
January 27, 2008 at 7:23 pm
boothy
Found the station by word of mouth and listen to it all day. We really enjoy it and hope it will stay for sometime. I also enjoy WUMPG but do not get to list much because of timing of the show. Keep the blues in Maine we love it!!!!!!
February 3, 2008 at 9:49 am
B Armstrong
Like many others here, I found this all blues station flipping channels one night and the channel hasn’t moved since. I operate a snowplow in a small town near Lewiston and this format has kept me entertained through many long nights plowing snow this winter. I heard a cover of Hendrix’ Hey Joe the other night. Best version of this classic I’ve ever heard, with some seriously smokin’ guitar licks. Anyone know who that was? I need to know!!!
March 2, 2008 at 3:34 pm
gomez blueslover
93.9 is the very best thing happening on the airwaves.In the last week ive walked into two separate stores both tuned in to the blues on 93.9. It would be such a shame to lose the blues.
March 10, 2008 at 8:49 am
SB
There is tremendous interest in that blues format and we have been paralyzed listening to it in the kitchen; it’s so great.
Happy to advertise on it / donate money to keep it afloat.
We think it is the best station we’ve ever heard in Maine.
Who do we write to support it? That information is MISSING!
March 13, 2008 at 7:21 am
Jeanne
I agree with SB I’ll send money to support such a great station! My husband and I can’t stop listening to it, we’ve been complainting for a while now how there aren’t any good stations up here in Maine. I don’t want oldies or Country I want BLUES!!!!
March 28, 2008 at 10:54 am
Anita
Finally an all blues station! I found it by accident and my husband and I want to listen to it all the time. I hope it is here to stay!
April 5, 2008 at 5:59 pm
irit levy
My husband and I also found this station by accident and listen to it all the time when we’re in Waterville Valley, NH. It’s our favorite station by far ! But, we’d love to receive it in Beverly, MA, where we live.
Hats off to the one (s) responsible for putting those selections together…keep up the great work.
irit
April 14, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Mark
Great blues station!!! sorry to hear your leaving the airwave.The concept (no DJ’s )is great. I like listening to music not talking. some DJ’s like to go on & on &on you get the point.One thing you could change,let people know the song names, I hear a great song but don’t know the name of the song. hope you come back.
April 15, 2008 at 11:30 am
Boothy
Hey they have an ad on now that the station will change soon. But the blues project will be online and streamed. Contact Bill Ivy at WBLM for info. I have seen a email and I hope this is the right one thebluesproject@yahoo.com.
Good luck and good listening. Don’t forget the evening sun on WUMPG at 5PM to 7 Monday thru Friday!!
April 16, 2008 at 1:39 am
Peter
What everyone has said so far is my sediments (I’m not a geologist, but I play one on TV) exactly. Seriously I can’t get enough of this format. I have heard the announcement on air that they will be streaming this on-line and right now “I say Ain’t No Love in the City/Ain’t no love in this town” is playing as I type this) because some people are not on-line. I like to listen on a portable while I bike or roller skate, so I’ll have to record the stream and lower the quality by doing so. I know I want but can’t have everything.
Boothy mainebluesproject@yahoo.com is the right one.