Radio: Country Format In New York?

Well, actually Long Island

Long Island station WKJI (96.1 FM) will be changing format to country music very soon. So folks are saying, “yay country music returns to the Big Apple.” Well, not really. This is not a New York City radio station. It’s Long Island.

There was a time, however, when country radio in New York City was a big deal. Vince Santarelli at examiner.com, takes a look back on country radio in the city. It really used to be here and it really was big.

Country radio in New York City traces its roots all the way back to September 15, 1965. It was on this date, at exactly 6:00 AM, the old WJRZ (970 AM) changed its format and brought the sound of Nashville to the Big Apple. Prior to that, country music could be found in dribs and drabs on outlets all around the market, but WJRZ was the first fulltime country station.

Read more here.