CAT COUNTRY 96 TURNS 20

Cat Country 96 – WCTO the Real Deal! It was 20 years ago today Sgt. Whiskers taught the band to play. July 21, 1997!

When the station was launched in July 1997, the plan was to present a station that was about entertainment, showbiz and the community first and a Country music station second. All of the mechanics of the station were mired in contemporary radio, especially Top-40. A big dynamic sound that the audience would know from New York City and Philadelphia just 50 and 75 miles away. This was Citadel Communications foray into East Coast markets with the purchase of WLEV and WFMZ from Tele-Media.

We were told the station would be a disaster due to the lack of Country life group listeners in the area. Cat Country debuted in Fall 1997 with an 11.2 12+ and #2 25-54; The last WLEV 96.1 numbers were a 7 share in Summer 1997. Bob Glasco at Rusty Walker was our architect and was part of the research in the market that showed a 6 share available in the life group; He was wrong - It was twice more than indicated.

Cat Country 96 was never about Country music, it was about entertainment. When we designed the station in our marketing model meeting, we put forth the mission/vision :The station with a morning show that entertains, predictable, unpredictable and providing a station that entertains, informs and communicated.

We built the station with talent that fit the goals of the station. The first audience interactive Male/Female morning show with Ken and Kitty. They became the soundtrack of The Lehigh Valley. In one year (Fall 1998) we were #1 12+, 18-34. 25-54 and 35-64 across the board with a 13.8 the highest numbers to date obtained by the team. Becca and Malone (two key personalities on the station) joined for mornings in late 2003 and never looked back, immense success, revenue and ratings. The continue to win local awards and entertain mornings to this day.

• St. Jude Radiothon started in 1999. We increased the money raised every year.

Started at 160,000, 200,000, 275,000 and 340,000 when I left in 2003.We presented

the radiothon like it was the biggest thing going on in the community and part

of the format, it was the format for two days.

• Toy Drive Live -started in 1999 and began gathering thousands of toys the first year

  and the amounts increased each year. 2 day live broadcast with USMC Toys for

Tots and staff at Wal-Mart around the clock in December.

• The Listener Appreciation Concerts began in 1998 and we hosted stars like; Keith

Urban, Rascal Flatts, Toby Keith, Tracy Lawrence, Tracy Byrd and Diamond Rio.

They became a Spring staple on the station and based on the Modesto plan, we

made money and created a community event. 

Cat Country 96 was the best position I have ever had, it was an 800 pound gorilla and I never had the opportunity to be part of something like that again or before. The company believed in the station and the operators cared about it and we able to move mountains. We never spent money on outside advertising, the community and the station became partners. This was the ultimate radio station. This CAT has 20 lifes and congratulations to Cumulus Media and Cat Country 96 for 20 prowlin’ and growlin’ years in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA.