First Listen: 93.9 MIA
Written Jan. 5, 2009 by Sean Ross in Content + Terrestrial Radio with 12 Comments
It's time to start catching up with the holiday format changes.
Clear Channel's new "93.9 MIA," the former Smooth Jazz outlet WLVE (Love 94) Miami, hadn't been on the air for more than a few minutes when various friends and message board posters began referring to it as "WKTU South." If anything, though, it's more like its New York sister from five years ago -- definitely older and more AC-flavored than the current 'KTU, which ceded the '70s disco to sister WLTW a while ago.
Maybe the most surprising thing about the new 93.9 MIA is that some of the music it plays was, well, M.I.A. in Miami for so many years, since Clear Channel's first Jammin' Oldies station WMGE went away. Miami was (along with New York and Montreal) the city where disco was never a dirty word, even during the reactionary early '80s, and Jammin' Oldies probably could always have found a place there.
South Florida is one of those truly different markets with a lot of its own hits -- even in this era when few markets have local hits on a regular basis. Consider that the biggest hits on Rhythmic WPOW (Power 96) are Kid Cudi's "Day & Night" (getting some airplay elsewhere now) and Macallee King's "Frosty," which hasn't yet spread widely elsewhere. 93.9 MIA isn't yet the treasure trove of local records that WMGE was, but there are a number of freestyle titles (e.g., Coro's "Can't Let You Go") that you won't hear on Rhythmic AC everywhere.
Here's "93.9 - MIA" at 7:20 p.m. on its Christmas launch day:
Michael Jackson, "Rock With You"
Cyndi Lauper, "Girls Just Want To Have Fun"
Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown, "No Air"
Chic, "Le Freak"
Sean Paul, "Temperature"
Prince, "Kiss"
Four Seasons, "December 1963 (1994 Remix)"
Next, "Too Close"
Cover Girls, "Because Of You"
Thelma Houston, "Don't Leave Me This Way"
Puff Daddy, "I'll Be Missing You"
Bee Gees, "Tragedy"
Justin Timberlake, "Rock Your Body"
Everything But The GIrl, "Missing"
Eddy Grant, "Electric Avenue"
Ne-Yo, "Closer"
Amber, "This Is Your Night"
Donna Summer, "Heaven Knows"
Reader Comments
Your 2¢, in chronological order — add your comment below.
I loved (love94)still do.I wish they return to the airwaves again.However I really did your format its the freshest thing on the air in south fla.
I LIKE YOUR STATION. JUST PLEASE KEEP IT FRESH AND NOT SO REPETITIVE. THAT WILL KEEP IT ALIVE AND NEW. ALSO, PLEASE HAVE A WEBSITE THAT SHOWS THE CURRENT SONG PLAYING, AND A "RATE IT" FEATURE.
HOWEVER THERE ARE A FEW SONGS PLAYED (NOT SURE OF THE NAMES) BUT THOSE FEW SONGS SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED UPBEAT AND FRESH. THOSE FEW SONGS ARE BORING AND SLOW.
JUST TRIED TO CALL YOUR PHONE NUMBER AS ADVERTISED. YOU NEED A TOLL FREE NUMBER. WE ARE IN NORTH BROWARD AND AT WORK AND CANNOT MAKE A LONG DISTANCE CALL FROM WORK.
LOVE YOUR STATION BUT I WOULD LOVE IT EVEN MORE IF YOU PLAY MORE OF MY FAVORITE FREESTYLE HITS SUCH AS LOVE LETTER, WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND BY GIGGLES AND OTHER FREESTYLE CLASSICS SUCH AS TENDER HEART, AND WHY YOU WANNA GO BY FASCINATION.
I just tuned in today while I was on the road and was just amazed at the enerjectic sounds coming from the radio. No dull moments here. I used to be a channel flipper until today. I loved 93.9 mia so much, I tuned in as soon as I got home (I rarely listen at home). I might even give you a call later. Needless to say, the neighbors will soon be coming over to try and crash my private party! Thanks for the tunes, keep them coming. P.S. Give that DJ a raise!
While I do miss Love 94, and question the wisdom of yet another Dance station in Miami (I think the other 4 may have things covered), I do have to say that it is a better mix of songs you all are playing than the other dance stations....
Would like to see a playlist of the songs that have been played threw out the day and evening. Great Music....
I drive a tow truck every time a customer get in they say waoooooooooooo!What station is that? I say: is the new 93.9 MIA.
I've been listening to disco stations in
south florida since disco 96 back in 1979.
This is the best station to remember the
best days of south florida.
So happy to have your music back. My office mates have been turned on to you now. A lot of chair dancing goin on!
Keep it upbeat all day. The sound of South Florida is back and strong.
Love your station especially the freestyle music! Keep up the awesome work.
I had the opportunity to listen to your station while we were staying at the Hard Rock Hotel in October, 2009, and I was just thrilled with the music. It kept me dancing the whole time we stayed there, I didn't want to go to sleep. I have been trying to figure out how to receive the radio station up here in Ormond Beach (just north of Daytona Beach). I have tried to listen online, but have not been able to get Adobe Flash Player to work yet. Let me know if you have any advice on how to get your music. I love it! Thanks!