96 Rock/Atlanta Flips to 'Project 9-6-1'

The New Look

As first tipped on ALL ACCESS (NET NEWS 11/16), the format changes are starting at CLEAR CHANNEL/ATLANTA, with Classic Rock WKLS (96 ROCK) flipping to Active Rock as "PROJECT 9-6-1" at 9a (ET) FRIDAY (11/17). The station has also supplanted Alternative WBZY (105.3 THE BUZZ), which is now simulcasting PROJECT 9-6-1 for the time being.

After the old format exited to the strains of THE WHO's "Baba O'Riley" and a produced countdown, the new format launched with a promo trashing the station's playing of ELTON JOHN, FLEETWOOD MAC, and JETHRO TULL in the last few years and heralding the rebirth of the station with a "new attitude" and "new energy," followed by METALLICA's "Enter Sandman," DISTURBED's "Down With The Sickness," and AC/DC's "Back In Black." The station is soliciting listeners' input for "our new experiment."
 
WBZY PD CHRIS WILLIAMS has been named PD for the new station and commented, "96.1 is the heritage rock frequency in ATLANTA for over three decades, and 105.3 THE BUZZ has been ATLANTA’s fastest-growing rock station over the past year. We are thrilled to combine that heritage with great momentum and attitude in ATLANTA’s newest station, PROJECT 9-6-1."

WILLIAMS will do afternoons, and former WBZY night stud KNOX holds down evenings. WBZY morning man WHIP did not make the transfer to PROJECT 9-6-1, but WBZY midday ALY did grab the same shift at PROJECT 9-6-1. More airstaff updates shortly. 

And as hinted earlier on ALL ACCESS, CC AC WLTM (94.9 LITE FM) flips to all CHRISTMAS at noon today.

Stay close to ALL ACCESS for more details as they break.

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