The Infinite Dial

Holiday format flips are always a good bellwether of the radio climate. Two years ago, during the scariest moments of the economic downturn, they slowed to nothing. Then the format change activity picked up again and we actually saw a flurry of CHR launches -- as opposed to just creative repackaging of old music. So how are we doing in this always-active format change week? As of lunchtime on Friday, so far we have . . .

* New Adult Hits stations in Corpus Christi, Texas, and in Eastern N.C.

* New Classic Country AMs in Youngstown, Ohio, and again in Eastern N.C.

* New Oldies AMs on the Jersey Shore and in Knoxville (replacing the True Oldies Channel FM affiliate).

* A second old-school station in Honolulu, with Clear Channel's new KHJZ (93.9 Jamz) doing a more '90s-based version of the format against very successful recent launch KUMU.

So far the old music is winning, but we also have:

* A return to Spanish-language rock at More 98.9 San Diego -- an unusual case of music replacing sports on FM.

* CBS-FM launching a new, '00s-and-now-based Adult Top 40 with Play 98.7 Tampa, Fla., the former WSJT.

* Duluth, Minn., getting a new Mainstream Top 40 and a new Hot AC, the second in the market.

No inference should be taken here that a Top 40 launch is positive and creative repackaging of gold isn't. Any Classic Country station is a bold statement and the two new Rhythmic Oldies stations have made the always quirky Honolulu market even more fascinating. But there will be a lot to talk about at next month's NAB Radio Show panel, "The Next Great Radio Format."