Detroit Radio Jingles – Motor City Radio Flashbacks

W4 106.7 FM COUNTRY! A LATE-1980s ‘JAM PRODUCTIONS’ JINGLES PACKAGE

Audio was digitally enhanced by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

Shamrock Broadcasting purchased W4 in July 1979. The station is most remembered today as one of the early radio jobs for Howard Stern, who was brought in from Hartford, Connecticut, to host mornings, beginning April 21, 1980. However, W4 was one of four Detroit stations with an AOR format, and faced with increasing competition and rapidly falling ratings, management decided to make a change.

With no advance notice, Shamrock changed the station’s format to country music on January 18, 1981. At first, the DJs, including Stern, were kept on to play country hits. The station reportedly planned to brand Howard Stern as “Hopalong Howie,” which he declined after two weeks, moving to WWDC-FM in Washington, D.C. In the film “Private Parts”, Stern announces his departure in the middle of a song, claiming he didn’t understand country music.

The move to country music paid off; the Detroit radio market, the nation’s fifth largest at the time, had no FM country music station. In addition, Detroit and its suburbs had a sizable percentage of the population whose families hailed from the Southern United States and grew up with the genre. W4 Country’s first years coincided with the rise in popularity of country music, even outside the South. At the time of the country format’s launch, the immediate Detroit area’s only country music station was on AM, WCXI at 1130 kHz. WWWW became the first FM country station in Detroit since WCAR-FM’s and CKLW-FM’s brief tries at the format in the mid-1970s. As a result, WCXI’s ratings fell. By the early 1990s, AM 1130 was being used as a simulcast for W4.

“W4 Country” lasted almost two decades and did reasonably well in the ratings, under the leadership of programmer Barry Mardit, who joined the station in late 1981. The station posted a #1 finish in the Fall 1992 Detroit Arbitron radio ratings with an 8.7 share. The following year, the station gained a strong competitor in WYCD, causing WWWW’s ratings to decline. Recording artist Holly Dunn served as morning co-host on W4 Country during the late 1990s. Declining ratings and revenue led owners AM-FM (which became part of Clear Channel Communications in August 2000) to drop the country format at 6 p.m. on September 1, 1999. The final song played on “W4 Country” was “The Dance” by Garth Brooks, followed by “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

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Source and information, credit: WWWW Wikipedia

The featured WWW Jingle package is property of JAM, Incorporated. The JAMS logo and brand is licensed and marketed by JAM Productions, Dallas.

WHNE FM 95! A 1973 ‘HONEY RADIO DRAKE/CHENAULT JINGLE PACKAGE

Audio digitally enhanced by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

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When WHNE AM-FM intially signed on in 1973, the jingle package for the station’s automated format was first created by Drake/Chenault. It was Bill Drake who did the voice over — “This is WHNE Birmingham, WHND Monroe“– one of three Greater Media stations advancing their new “all oldies” format, likewise, heard in Pasadena (KRLA 1110) and in Philadelphia (WPEN 950).

In the early 70s with AM and FM stations in all market sizes coming under the FCC rule and following the large market model, Drake-Chenault entered the radio syndication business in earnest, making taped formats available to non-RKO stations. Drake-Chenault syndication established a studio at 8399 Topanga Canyon Blvd. in Canoga Park, CA. Among the early format offerings were Classic Gold, created for KHJ-FM (which became KRTH), Solid Gold, Hit Parade and Great American Country. The original 48-hour History of Rock and Roll, which had been created for KHJ, was made available nationwide, and was followed by other syndicated “special” programs.

James Kefford, who became the company’s President, joined the firm in 1973 and teamed up with the automation suppliers to visit radio station owners and detail the benefits of using the automation system and the Drake Chenault programmers. Bill Drake and Gene Chenault tapped Kefford to spearhead the next growth phase for the company in 1977.

By the late 70’s, with a staff of regional managers, programming consultants, production engineers and administrative personnel the Drake Chenault format client list grew to over 300, with many of the consulted stations number one in their markets.

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Source information (portions): Drake-Chenault [Wikipedia]

TM PRODUCTIONS: DETROIT RADIO JINGLES! WXYZ 1971

Featured TM jingles audio remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

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The TM Companies (1967–1979)

In 1967 TM Productions began as a music production company, producing commercial jingles and broadcast station identifications (IDs). Jim Long (born Timothy John Moynihan; February 7, 1943 – May 30, 2022) conceptualized and co-produced an entirely new approach to station IDs which provided stations a natural flow from commercial breaks to station IDs to music programming, increasing listenership and ratings. Called “Phase 2”, “The Propellants” and “The Winning Score”, these programs were quickly adopted by top stations including KILT Houston, WCFL Chicago and KHJ Los Angeles (also WXYZ ABC in Detroit).

TM Studios, Inc. is a radio jingle and promotional music service company based in Dallas, Texas. It is currently the oldest radio jingle company still in business, with roots tracing back to 1955 when Tom Merriman (the original “TM” in TM Studios) founded Commercial Recording Corporation (which closed in 1968). Tom Merriman left CRC in 1967 and founded TM Productions (later known as TM Communications, Inc. – a publicly traded company) with Jim Long. By this time, Century 21 Productions (later known as Century 21 Programming, Inc.), another Dallas jingle company, was founded.

Both jingle companies remained in business until 1990, when TM Communications, Inc. and Century 21 Programming, Inc. merged to become TM Century, Inc.

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Source: Jones Radio Networks [Wikipedia]

DETROIT RADIO JINGLES! CLASSIC PAMS RE-SINGS BY JAM: WHND HONEY RADIO

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The above featured WHND/JAM jingle package was audio enhanced by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

The featured WHND Jingle package is property of JAM, Incorporated. The PAMS logo and brand is licensed and marketed by JAM Productions, Dallas.

THE HIGH SCHOOLERS! WXYZ SALUTES THE CLASS OF ’63 and ’64

WXYZ SALUTES DETROIT HIGH SCHOOLS | A-B-C | ’63-’64

THE WXYZ ‘PAMS’ HIGH SCHOOLERS!

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In 1963, WXYZ commissioned PAMS of Dallas to create a plethora of outstanding jingles saluting all the high schools in the metropolitan Detroit area. They were aired mostly during the Detroit high school graduation season and were highlighted on WXYZ during the Detroit high school football seasons, 1963 and 1964.

At the time, WXYZ chose to tally every high school in alphabetical order on the Detroit map with their own jingle, from A through Z. The presented WXYZ jingle sampler was created for high schools lettered A, B, and C . . . from All Saints to Cody High.

Throughout the decades having passed since, many of the named schools recalled in this PAMS sampler, those institutions no longer exist today. But you just may find your high school’s ‘jingle’ played here — as they were selectively saluted on WXYZ radio, some 58 years ago.

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NOTE: For all the other WXYZ High School tributes — 1963-1964 — you can find them archived HERE

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THE PAMS ‘CLYDE’ PRODUCTION ’70s SERIES: WKNR 1310

**WKNR ‘PAMS’ Jingles HEARD on MOTOR CITY RADIO FLASHBACKS**

WKNR-AM | “CLYDE” | 1970-1971

PAMS PRODUCTIONS, DALLAS, TX

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According to renown master jinglecologist Ken R., by 1970, WKNR had returned to a male-voiced custom package from PAMS which originally was titled “Sig Alert.” Accordingly, the package had been dubiously named after a traffic reporter in Los Angeles. The title of the package was later changed to “Clyde.” PAMS later told Ken R. the name was given because they didn’t come up a specific title for the (WKNR) package at the time. Adding as well, according to the keener.com webpage (see: Jingles) . . . . “Jonathan Wolfert, who went on to found JAM Creative Productions, made up some words to justify the title: “contemporary logos you don’t expect.” But listeners didn’t know that and PAMS never made it public.”

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The featured PAMS WKNR jingle package was audio enhanced by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

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Licensed by PAMS, Dallas, this PAMS jingles package was made available (in the early 2000s) by Ken R Productions, Toledo, Ohio.

PAMS DALLAS! WXYZ CUSTOMS and AUDITIONS: 1967 and 1968

WXYZ ‘PAMS’ JINGLES HEARD on MOTOR CITY RADIO FLASHBACKS

WXYZ-AM | “AUDITIONS and CUSTOMS” | 1967-1968

PAMS INCORPORATED, DALLAS, TX

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BY THE BEGINNING of 1967 WXYZ 1270 was no longer into the top 40 foray. By year’s end, 1966, the ABC brass in New York decided instead to introduce the ABC-owned station in Detroit with an easy-listening, contemporary format. A format no longer geared for its previous teen audience. Instead, WXYZ became, “The Good Life”.

We present today a composite of customs and auditions jingles created by PAMS in Dallas for WXYZ in 1967. You will note one of the prominent jingle(s) heard in this package was created for the station’s Cash Call contest, what would become their popular cash-giveaway game geared for their new adult radio following, early-on, and having played well into 1970.

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The featured PAMS WXYZ jingle package was audio enhanced by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

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Licensed by PAMS, Dallas, this PAMS jingles package was made available (in the early 2000s) by Ken R Productions, Toledo, Ohio.

THE ‘FUTURESONIC’ PRODUCTION SERIES: WXYZ RADIO 1270

**WXYZ ‘FUTURESONIC’ Jingles on MOTOR CITY RADIO FLASHBACKS**

WXYZ-AM | “Action Radio” | 1963-1964

FUTURESONIC PRODUCTIONS, DALLAS, TX

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According to renown radio historian and master jinglecologist Ken R., Futuresonic “rivaled PAMS for creative output in the late 1950s and early 1960s.” In this featured presentation you will hear a Futuresonic sampler for WXYZ 1270, Detroit, circa 1963-1964.

Futuresonic also created jingle packages for Detroit’s WWJ in the early 1960s.

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The featured Futuresonic WXYZ jingle package was audio remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

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Note: On our site’s Facebook page, according to WXYZ’s Lee Alan, this featured Futuresonic jingle sampler was not used on WXYZ in 1963 nor in 1964.

Thanks Lee Alan, for the noted correction.

JAM PRODUCTION SERIES: ‘TALK-TO-ME’, WXYZ RADIO

**WXYZ ‘JAM’ Jingle Pak on MOTOR CITY RADIO FLASHBACKS**

**WXYZ-AM * 1980 * TALK TO ME**

CLASSIC JAM ‘TALK TO ME’ WXYZ JINGLES

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Within one year after the introduction of this JAM jingle sampler and WXYZ radio’s emergence in the “Talk-to-Me” radio format (beginning three years earlier), the station became the fastest growing adult station in the Motor City with an astounding 80 per cent audience growth, up 5.4 in ratings, and tied for third (with all-news WWJ), by October 1981.

According to the Detroit Free Press (October 13, 1981), the station’s talk format was “carefully blended with the news-sports-traffic-weather package.”

In the fall of 1981, the WXYZ line-up comprised of talkers Mike Miller and Dan Streeter, Pat Broderick (mornings), Mark Scott, Paul Harvey (syndication), Jacqui (psychic), Dr. Sonya Friedman, David Newman, Kevin Joyce, followed by all-nighter, national syndicated broadcaster, Larry King (Midnight-5:30 a.m.).

560 ‘HONEY RADIO’! JAM PRODUCTION SERIES: WHND

**WHND ‘JAM’ Jingle Pak on MOTOR CITY RADIO FLASHBACKS**

**WHND-AM * 1982 * ALL OLDIES**

**CLASSIC ‘JAM’ HONEYRADIO WHND JINGLES**

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This 1982 “All Oldies” jingles pak was the second set of jingles launched by JAM Productions (Dallas) for WHND 560 AM. The first JAM ‘Back Seat Music’ jingle package, first introduced on Honey Radio when the station went with live DJs in 1980, can be heard on this site, HERE