January 10, 2017
Listeners Aren’t Having It – “The Beat” Is Missed
Originally published by IndyStar’s Amy Bartner the day after Christmas.
For the third time in as many years, WRWM-FM (93.9) has changed its format — and listeners are losing their minds in the most hilarious way possible.
The Cumulus-owned station is going back to a Top 40 hit-music operation, under the new name ENeRGY 93.9, the station posted to Facebook today.
ENeRGY debuted at 9:39 a.m. the day after Christmas with Taylor Swift’s “Ready For It.”
The station replaces the Christmas Song-playing North Pole Radio 93.9, which took over for 93.9 The Beat, an old-school hip-hop and R&B station for the past three years.
The Beat made national news when it launched, and was met with a warm reception from an awaiting local fan base.
“93.9 is the best thing to happen to Naptown since daylight savings time,” one fan tweeted in 2015.
Before it became the The Beat, though, it was Indy’s i94 — also a Top 40.
Within a few hours of announcing the change on Facebook, commenters responded in hordes with angst, hoping the station would return to its retro hip-hop after the holidays.
“Wow I honestly think this was the worst idea ever! Y’all should have just kept it was a throwback station! Disappointing!” one wrote.
“I’d rather have 24/7 Christmas music year round than another s***** new music station clogging up my radio,” another lamented.
Many made it clear that they’d take the station off their radio’s presets.
“You guys should be fired for ruining this station,” a commenter said.
The change affected another to an even greater extent: “Yup, my year is ruined.”
The angry comments devolved quickly to a number of colorful sentiments we’re unable to publish in this space.
Other fans simply fell into a depressed state.
“Boooo. Boo this station.”
For those looking for a replacement to their long-lost old-school hip-hop station, Boom 102.9 is a solid alternative.
Representatives from ENeRGY 93.9 were unable to be reached for comment.