NYC Radio: Shannon Departure Was Beginning Of The End For WPLJ

HotAC WPLJ 95.5 FM announced in a tweet that it will air its final broadcast May 31. The announcement comes less than three months after the station was purchased by Educational Media Foundation, a Christian radio broadcaster, signaling a change in formats and call letters.

"The rumors you've been hearing are true," said Todd Pettengill, co-host of the Todd and Jayde show and arguably the station's most popular host, according to northjersey.com. "As hard as it is to believe, WPLJ will be going away on Friday, May 31st. The format and personalities that you've come to love over the years, will no longer broadcast on 95.5."

WPLJ has been a cultural staple since 1971, when its call letters were WABC-FM and it was known for going against the grain, playing obscure tracks and popularizing underground music. Over the years, the radio station has morphed and changed formats, most recently broadcasting as adult contemporary.

“It's no surprise when a station changes its format, but what is shocking is that a religious broadcaster would buy a major property like WPLJ and take it off the market of mainstream radio listening," said Jimmy Fink, a former WPLJ disc jockey who did a 13-year stint with the station from 1970 to 1983. "Those call letters are a legacy in the New York market and to see them disappear along with a whole staff of talented people is sad and disappointing for the future of New York radio.  The replacement will be syndicated programming not connected to NY at all."

The station has enjoyed highs and lows in popularity and listenership, most recently peaking with the now-defunct Scott and Todd Show, co-hosted by Pettengill and Scott Shannon.

Shannon was credited with creating and popularizing the "Morning Zoo" format, where one or two main hosts are flanked by often off-kilter co-hosts who play up characters, do phone pranks and conduct recurring games and segments.

After Shannon left for WCBS 101.1 FM in 2014, Pettengill stayed at WPLJ, teaming up with Jayde Donovan. Many listeners saw Shannon's departure as the beginning of the station's decline.



The sale of WPLJ to EMF signals yet another switch in formats. But this time, the switch appears to be more conclusive, wiping the call letters and the radio personalities that defined the station.

WPLJ 95.5 FM (6.7 Kw) (Courtesy of RECNET.com)