Radio station WOAM (1350 AM) has been broadcasting the past few months in an apparent effort by the owner to keep his FCC license while he tries to sell the station. There are no DJs, no commercials, and no news or weather breaks. Just easy listening music and station IDs.
I’ve listened to it a few times the past several weeks, and I’ve noticed that they don’t have their equipment hooked up properly. You see, they’re a mono station, but they play music that was originally recorded in stereo. If you’re going from stereo to mono, you need to combine the two stereo tracks into one mono track using a Y-adapter (or, alternatively, using an audio software program to combine the tracks). What WOAM is doing is just playing one of the stereo tracks and not the other.
That’s a problem — especially when they play songs from the early days of stereo recording, like songs by The Association or Simon & Garfunkel. In those early, experimental days, bands would do some crazy things by today’s standards. For instance, they might put all the percussion in the right channel and all the vocals in the left channel. So if you only hear one track and not the other, the song sounds weird at best. And WOAM plays a lot of songs that suffer from that problem.
So, WOAM station owner, while I know this is just a temporary thing and you’re losing money anyway, why not spend a couple bucks on a Y-adapter, just out of the goodness of your heart? Your listeners will appreciate it.
I noticed this too; thought I was losing my mind. I kind of enjoy hearing music this way and love music on AM. Since they’re un-manned I’m wasting my comments but please go easy on the Streisand and “modern day” singers singing standards. That’s you, Rod Stewart!!
Is WOAM still on the air or has it gone dark again? I’m in Chicago, so I cannot hear it. I worked there for a dozen years, many moons ago.
WOAM AM 1350 Unforgettable Music is back on the air for January 2011. It’s good to hear WOAM back on the air after months of silence. I’ve listened to this station since it first came on the air back in the mid 1990’s. I’ve kept a car radio push button reserved for 1350 AM and check from time to time to see if there is any activity there.
What are the future plans for this station? I can only assume that it is back on the air now in an attempt to attract a buyer. I would really hope for it to continue in the current easy listening format as there is no other station in this market fullfilling this niche.
740 AM, “Zoomer Radio” from Toronto CA has been very successful with this format.
One of my hobbies is making and collecting radio airchecks. I have a collection of these on-line at ReelRadio.com.
I’ve recorded several hours from WOAM, some from back when it was hooked up with the network from Florida when Eddie Hubbard (now deceased) was hosting in the afternoons.
Our family’s favorite Christmas recording is a “Top 50 Countdown” that was broadcast on WOAM on Christmas Eve of 1996, hosted by Dave Rafferty. I originally recorded this on reel-to-reel and edited it off to CD.
I just wanted to encourage you (Bob Kelly – Kelly Communications) to keep looking for a buyer and that there are people out there still listening to this old station!
Larry Ware
Peoria, IL
Wow! 1350AM is finally back on the air with real music. The long void is over, I hope. Mr. Kelly, please keep your radio station going as it brings delight to many people in the Peoria area. Thanks again, the music is great.
James — Kelly Communications sold the station to Nelson Broadcasting Inc. That’s why it’s on the air, and I hear tell they’re bringing back the “Breakfast with Royce and Roger” show.