Tag: "Bert Knapp"
The Best Talk Station Ever: What the Radio Industry Can Learn from WMCA, Circa 1980
By Bill Brady
Futures & Options, Inc.
President/CEO
JUPITER, FL — WMCA was the “little engine that could.” In the 60s, it battled WABC for “top 40” supremacy in New York. By the 70s, WMCA was “New York’s Conversation Station” and was giving legendary talk and variety station WOR a run for its money. As a 5,000 watt station at 570, WMCA was always punching above its weight class against 50,000 watt flamethrowers WABC and WOR in the sprawling New York metropolitan area.
In 1980, WMCA had assembled a veritable All Star team of talk talent in the prime of their careers.
The irascible Bob Grant did mornings followed by Sally Jessy Raphael (9:00 am -12:00 noon), Barry Gray (12:00 noon – 2:00 pm) and Bruce Williams (2:00 pm -4:00 pm) middays, Barry Farber in afternoon drive (4:00 pm – 7:00 pm), the CBS Mystery Theatre early evenings, Candy Jones, Mets baseball and Islanders hockey at night and Larry King overnight. Art Rust, Jr. hosted Sports Talk on weekends.
