WYLD (FM)
Encyclopedia
WYLD-FM, known as WYLD FM 98, is a very successful Urban Adult Contemporary
outlet in New Orleans, Louisiana
. The Clear Channel Communications
station operates at 98.5 megahertz. Its current slogan is "The Best From Back In The Day & Today."
On September 24, 1974, WIXO signed off for good at 4:00 PM; "Golden Slumbers
," "Carry That Weight
," and "The End
", tracks from The Beatles
’ Abbey Road album, were the final tunes to be played on the station. After Program Director and morning jock Michael Greene (formerly of WTIX-AM
) read the sign-off announcement, the station called it a day with "Her Majesty
," the very last track from Abbey Road.
The WIXO callsign has been used by a few unrelated stations in other states; since the late 1990s, it has been in the Peoria, Illinois
market, on a station that is now on 105.7 MHz.
98.5 MHz remained empty on the New Orleans radio dial until the following February, when WYLD signed on and began its successful run as an Urban Contemporary
outlet after the format was shifted over from WYLD (AM). But by the late 1980s it got into a battle with WQUE-FM, which would last until 1992 when it became Q93's sister station and in the process evolved to its current format as an Urban Adult Contemporary. Today it carries the syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show
.
Urban Adult Contemporary
Urban adult contemporary is the name for a format of radio music, similar to an urban contemporary format. Radio stations using this format usually would not have rap music on their playlists. The format was designed by Barry Mayo when he, Lee S. Simonson and Bill Pearson organized Broadcast...
outlet in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. The Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
station operates at 98.5 megahertz. Its current slogan is "The Best From Back In The Day & Today."
History
WYLD-FM, which began its life as WWOM-FM (companion to WWOM (AM)), was better known as Top 40 WIXO ("98.5 - a little cooler than normal"), which made its debut in 1972 after it was converted into the format by its new owner, where it enjoyed a brief but successful run.On September 24, 1974, WIXO signed off for good at 4:00 PM; "Golden Slumbers
Golden Slumbers
"Golden Slumbers" is a song by The Beatles, part of the climactic medley on their 1969 album Abbey Road. The song begins the progression that leads to the end of the album and is followed by "Carry That Weight." The two songs were recorded together as a single piece, and both were written by Paul...
," "Carry That Weight
Carry That Weight
"Carry That Weight" is a song by The Beatles. Released on Abbey Road and part of the long, climactic medley that closes the album, it features vocals from all four Beatles...
," and "The End
The End (The Beatles song)
"The End" is a song by The Beatles composed by Paul McCartney for the album Abbey Road. It was the last song recorded collectively by all four Beatles, and is the final song of the medley that dominates side two of the LP version of the album.-Composition and recording:McCartney said, "I wanted...
", tracks from The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
’ Abbey Road album, were the final tunes to be played on the station. After Program Director and morning jock Michael Greene (formerly of WTIX-AM
WIST (AM)
WIST is a combo news/sports talk station based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The locally owned & operated station is an affiliate of Fox Sports Radio and broadcasts at 690 kHz with a power level of 10,000 watts daytime and 5,000 watts nighttime.The facilities of the station, previously called...
) read the sign-off announcement, the station called it a day with "Her Majesty
Her Majesty (song)
"Her Majesty" is a song written by Paul McCartney that appears on The Beatles' album Abbey Road. "Her Majesty" is the final track of the album and appears fourteen seconds after the song "The End", but was not listed on the original sleeve...
," the very last track from Abbey Road.
The WIXO callsign has been used by a few unrelated stations in other states; since the late 1990s, it has been in the Peoria, Illinois
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
market, on a station that is now on 105.7 MHz.
98.5 MHz remained empty on the New Orleans radio dial until the following February, when WYLD signed on and began its successful run as an Urban Contemporary
Urban contemporary
Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of hip hop/rap, contemporary R&B, pop, electronica such as dubstep and drum and bass and Caribbean music...
outlet after the format was shifted over from WYLD (AM). But by the late 1980s it got into a battle with WQUE-FM, which would last until 1992 when it became Q93's sister station and in the process evolved to its current format as an Urban Adult Contemporary. Today it carries the syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show
Tom Joyner
Thomas "Tom" Joyner is an American radio host, host of the nationally syndicated The Tom Joyner Morning Show, and also founder of REACH Media Inc., the Tom Joyner Foundation, and BlackAmericaWeb.com.-Early life:...
.