Huntsville Radio Stations Rating

By huntsvillepr on September 7th, 2008

By CHRIS WELCH
Times Entertainment Writer chris.welch@htimes.com

Country giant WDRM-FM 102.1 continued its two-decade dominance of the local Arbitron radio ratings by winning the spring survey based on listener diaries.

WZYP-FM 104.3, pop contemporary, moved up from third to second, followed by WRTT-FM 95.1, rock, in third. WRSA-FM, 96.1, adult contemporary, dropped from second to fourth followed by WAHR-FM, 99.1, adult contemporary, which had a big jump from eighth to fifth, and WHRP-FM 94.1, urban adult contemporary, which also made a big jump from 10th to sixth.

WQAH-FM 105.7, classic country, dropped to 11th after moving all the way to fourth in the winter ratings. WTAK-FM 106.1, classic rock, dropped from fourth to ninth. WQRV-FM 100.3, adult contemporary, was seventh. WEUP-FM, urban contemporary, ranked 10th; and WWFF-FM 93.3, the new country station, remained at No. 13.

Among the 5-10 a.m. shows, the WDRM team of Dan McClain and Brent “Dingo” Crank remained at the top followed by WQRV’s syndicated “Rick and Bubba Show,” WRTT’s “Fish Radio Show, ” WZYP’s “Mojo Radio Show,” WRSA’s “John and Bonny,” WHRP’s “Tom Joyner Show,” WAHR’s “Scott and Dee Dee” and WTAK’s “John Boy and Billy.”

WAHR’s Scott and Dee Dee show is being replaced by the syndicated “Bob and Sheri” show. Scott Thrower joined Dee Dee Morgan in 2008, replacing Morgan’s longtime radio partner Chris Callaway. “Bob and Sheri” will air from 5-9 a.m. followed by Dee Dee from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

WLRH-FM 89.3 is making several changes in its public radio lineup. The station will stick with the classical music and news format, adding new network and local programs during the week. On Fridays at 6 p.m., the documentary program “Hearing Voices” will be featured; on Monday, Public Radio International’s “The World” comes to the 7 p.m. slot.

“From the Top” moves to Mondays, “Classical Guitar Alive” goes to Tuesdays with a repeat of “The Splendid Table” on Wednesdays; Thursdays at 8 p.m. will feature the award-winning program “The Infinite Mind” with the popular “World Caf” from 9-11 p.m. Monday through Thursday; Fridays at 7 p.m. it’s “The Invisible City” with local host Brad Posey. Classical music host Beth Norwood will talk to local artists from noon to 12:30 p.m. on Fridays in her new program “Talking About Art.”

There are changes on the weekend as well, with “This American Life” moving to Saturdays at 1 p.m. and the NPR news quiz “Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me” repeating at 11 a.m. Sundays. The complete schedule is available at wlrh.org.

Posey said his show, “The Invisible City,” will be “playing music unlike any other station here in Huntsville,” with acts like Radiohead, P.J. Harvey, The Flaming Lips and My Morning Jacket.

“I’ll also be playing some local folks as well,” he said. “Most of the material will be singer/songwriter stuff, Americana, folk-rock, mellow, ambient, blues, indie-rock and some straight-up rock. I want to expose Huntsville to some great music that they are not getting on other stations.”