Page 8
Entertainment
New Radio Station Blasts
Onto The Erie Airwaves
Rocket 101 enjoys early success
OEM
ROCKET CAR - This futuristic symbol of Rocket 101 may just be a Honda in
disguise but it typifies the aggressive approach Erie's newest radio station is
taking.
by Joe Williams
Collegian Staff Writer
Something new happened to
Erie radio this summer.
Rocket 101 (WRKT 100.9)
has blasted onto the local
airwaves with a new sound and
format for Erie.
Rick Rambaldo, owner and
station manager, purchased the
North East country music station
WHYP last December and set out
to carve himself a niche in the
radio market.
WKRT's new format is
album-oriented rock.
Unlike the big three stations
(WJET, KlO4, CLASSY 100),
WRKT plays rock and roll from
the 60's and 70's with less
emphasis on hit music.
When WRKT first aired, it
played nothing but the Beatles.
The approach was unusual,
but one that seems to typify the
station: It caught people's
attention.
"I needed to play something
'til the equipment was technically
ready for the new format.," said
Rambaldo. "I picked the Beatles
because it's fun, everyone likes
them, and it would help make the
transition."
In its first month with the
new format, WRKT played music
with no commercials - also
unusual.
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When you're a new station,
you owe something to the
listener," said Rambaldo. "It. was
a gift to the listener."
Rambaldo picked Erie for a
station because - "Erie is under
radioed" he said, "It could support
seven or eight more FM
stations."
The trend in radio is
microcasting as opposed to
broadcasting, most experts say.
In microscasting, each station has
its own narrow format, aimed at a
specific audience.
This is WRKT's approach.
This could effect the formats of
Erie's other stations, which aim
for broader audiences.
"Response has been better
than planned" said Rambaldo,
speaking of the audience and
advertisers. The target audience
was the 30 to 40 age group but
WRKT has picked up listeners in
their teens, 20s, as well as
listeners over 40.
A quick survey of Behrend
students seems to be positive for
WRKT. Many who have heard
the station like it because it plays
classic rock, doesn't over-play
any one song and generally
appeals to their tastes.
"It's a good station. It plays a
lot of the music I like, and stays
away from the commercial stuff."
said one student.
The renovations at WRKT
lITTENT I ON
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include work on the building,
installing state of the art
recording and broadcasting
equipment, and construction of a
500 foot tower.
One of the most unique
features of the station is the
computer generated playlist. Kris
Phillips, program director for the
station designed the software,
which he sells to other stations
around the country.
Phillips puts the music
information into the computer,
which is categorized by artist,
song, and tempo. The computer
takes the information and makes
up a new playlist every day. This
gives WRKT its "No Repeat
Workday" feature, which
promises no repeats from nine to
five„Monday Through Friday.
At present, WRKT is
simulcasting on AM 1530,
which will have its own format
in 30 to 45 days.
Rambaldo, who is is from
Cleveland, has worked in
broadcast communications for 16
years, first at WHK Radio in
Cleveland, then in 1980 became
general• manager of TV station
WUHF in Rochester.
Rambaldo's talents and
experience should bring more
new ideas to Erie Radio. The
audience's reaction to his work so
far will show in next January's
ratings.
The Collegian Thursday, September 7, 1989
.
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Prince will begin a world tour to support his
"Batman" soundtrack in February. The seven
month tour will cover the Untied States, Japan
and Europe.
Springsteen Donates Royalties
Bruce Springsteen recently presented Amnesty
International with over $206,000 in royalties
from his EP "Chimes of Freedom."
New Dylan Hits Stores
Bob Dylan has just released "Oh Mercy," which
was recorded in New Orleans and produced by
Daniel Lanois ("The Joshua Tree.")
Mozart's Hair Auctioned
An authenticated lock of brown hair from the
head of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart recently
fetched over $17,700 at a London auction. The
sample was the first specimen offered for sale
in sixty years.
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1. Prince- "Batman"
2. Fine Young Cannibals-
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3. Beastie Boys- "Paul's Boutique"
4. Richard Marx- "Repeat Offender"
s.Gloria Estafan and Miami Sound Machine
" Cuts Both Ways"
Top Five Paperbacks
1. Yukon Ho! , by Bill Watterson
2. Wildlife Preserves, by Gary Larson
3. Chaos, by James Gleick
4. Batman, by Craig Shaw Gardner
5. The Cardinal of the Kremlin, by
_Tom
Clancy
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