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Station: Z100 Discussion Thread
Member Since: 11/30/2007
Posts: 26,796
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I've decide to re-start the Z100 thread, since Mr. "I think I can destory ATRL" was banned and obviously, ATRL wants any mention of him dead and gone.  If the mods decide that this thread isn't necessary than fine, but they could just lock the other one if they wanted.
Nonetheless, here's a little Z100 history to start up the thread.
History
WHTZ, also known as Z100, is a radio station that serves New York City metropolitan area, broadcasting on the FM band at a frequency of 100.3 MHz. Licensed to Newark, New Jersey, the station is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications. The station's transmitter is located on the Empire State Building.
The call letters are supposed to represent the word "hits"; indeed, an early advertising campaign for the station claimed that HTZ was "The New Way to Spell 'Hits' in New York."
Z100's current slogan is "New York's Hit Music Station.", used in tandem on-air with "All The Hits". The long running "#1" part of the slogan was removed in 2007. The former slogan was "Today's Best Music." Z100 is considered the biggest CHR/Top 40 station in the country, due to its 5 million audience weekly.
100.3 began as WMGM, which played easy listening music. They would change hands to local owners in the 60's and become WVNJ. The "Easy Listening" music format (also known as Beautiful Music or, more commonly, "elevator music") consisted of playing instrumental versions of familiar songs. The station was known as "WVNJoy". Licensed to Newark, NJ, its FM transmitter was in West Orange, New Jersey, while its studios and AM transmitter were located on State Route 10 in Livingston, New Jersey. At the time, they had an effective power of about 20,000 watts, and they put out 5,000 actual watts. This lack of coverage due to lesser power inhibited the station's opportunity to show with competitive strength in ratings estimates in the NY Market. Thus the station's target market concentration was northern New Jersey. Radio listeners in the New York City metropolitan area could listen to WPAT-AM, WPAT-FM, WRFM, and WTFM for easy listening.
In 1980, when WRVR (now WLTW) dropped jazz for country, WVNJ began playing jazz music, which would air after 8 PM. They became known as "VNJoy By Day, VNJazz By Night". In May 1983, plans were made for 100.3 FM to be purchased by Cleveland-based Malrite Communications. Malrite signed on the station from a studio in Secaucus, New Jersey and moved the transmitter to the top of the Empire State Building. In addition, new management announced plans for a top 40 format. The sale became final on August 1, 1983, and WVNJ-FM would end broadcasts on 100.3 that night.
The station, which now had the callsign WHTZ, went on the air at 6:08 AM on August 2, 1983 with program director/morning show host Scott Shannon, and the first song ever played on the station was "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor. They signed on from their new and still incomplete studio in Secaucus, transmitting from the old FM tower site near Livingston, New Jersey, as their antenna would not be moved to the top of the Empire State Building until later in August. They did not begin calling themselves "Z100" until a few days later. Moving the tower to midtown Manhattan greatly increased the coverage area of the station's signal.
Z100 was the second station that summer to attempt to bring the Top 40 format back to New York, with rock station WPLJ having begun the evolution to top 40 in June. WHTZ was programmed to remind listeners of one-time AM powerhouse WABC, which had gone from a tight Top 40 format to leaning Disco in early 1979 to leaning adult rock later in 1979 to leaning adult contemporary in 1980 to evolving to Adult Contemporary/Talk in 1981, before it finally flipped from to an all-talk format on May 10, 1982.
Within 74 days of signing on, WHTZ had climbed from last place to first in the New York Arbitron ratings book.
Over the years, Z100 stayed with a top 40 format, with WPLJ behind them in the ratings. Scott Shannon would leave Z100 at the end of 1988 to begin "Pirate Radio" in Los Angeles, and Steve Kingston took over as program director. By 1991, however, the Top 40 format was in an identity crisis. A major sign of this crisis would come when WPLJ would move to a hot adult contemporary format by 1992. Z100 would respond to this by adding some older songs and introducing an evening talk show called "Love Phones". Ratings gradually dropped from 1991 to 1993. In 1993, Z100 dropped the older songs and began mixing in alternative rock music which wasn't normally being played on Top 40 stations. By the end of 1994, the majority of the station's music consisted of alternative rock with only a few non-modern-rock-based songs per hour. The station would still play the current big hits by artists such as Madonna, TLC, Mariah Carey, and others. At this point Z100 was sold to Shamrock Broadcasting.
Ratings, though nowhere near the top anymore, would remain steady at the station during much of the mid-1990s, but by March 1996, there was a steep drop after WKTU signed on 103.5 FM with a dance music format, and WXRK adapted a full alternative rock format. Both stations would end up taking listeners from Z100. Steve Kingston and his assistant Sam Milkman would leave Z100 for K-Rock, while music director Andy Shane would leave for WKTU, joining another former Z100 music director, Frankie Blue. Airstaff had also gradually begun leaving the station beginning that February. Z100 had even stopped using the name "Morning Zoo" the year before. Morning host John Lander left in November 1995. That January, Steve Cochrane arrived to do mornings but by May he was gone. Z100 was undergoing a crisis at this point. The station was sold in a corporate deal to Chancellor Media.
In April 1996, the station brought in Tom Poleman as its new programming director. Initially, at that point, Z100 dropped all non-modern rock titles and began playing strictly pop alternative. By May 1996, Z100 began gradually replacing its on-air staff, and the harder alternative songs were phased out. Though initially it seemed that Z100 was becoming a modern AC station, beginning that summer, the station would gradually began to move back to a mainstream Top 40 format, as they added pop music from such formats as R&B, rap, and adult contemporary. One of Poleman's biggest moves was to switch DJ Elvis Duran from afternoons to the "Z Morning Zoo" (which was known as "The Morning Show" for the previous several years), Z100's popular morning show. Despite having shared the post with other hosts (such as Elliot Segal, now at WWDC) through the years, Duran remains the "Head Zookeeper" to this day. By December 1996, Z100 was a full-time Top 40 station again, and its ratings reached the heights at which they still remain today. Chancellor merged with Evergreen in 1997, making WKTU a sister station of Z100. Still, both stations continued on the same courses, occasionally overlapping with music.
In a 1999 merger, Z100's parent company, Chancellor, would acquire Capstar, forming AM/FM Inc. Shortly after the merger was finalized, AM/FM would be bought by its current owners, Clear Channel Communications.
In the hours and days after September 11, 2001, Z-100 positioned their Studio Cam towards the window so listeners could get an up to the minute view of what was happening at Ground Zero.
The station used to broadcast"mini-mixes" by DJ Spinbad, a well-known DJ who createsd a nightly mash-up mix of the day's top songs, playing them all together, mixing, for instance, the lyrics of one with the music of another. This often lasted 15-20 minutes, and was played at seven o'clock and ten o'clock Monday through Friday. Spinbad's mix was also a part of the weekly 5 O'Clock Whistle, a tradition started in 1986 to celebrate the end of the work week.
In early 2006, Z100 launched an HD Radio station that plays songs by bands who have not gone mainstream, or have very little exposure. Currently, it is the only New York City area HD2 station that features DJs.
In October 2007, after years of hovering near the top, Z100 once again became the highest-rated station in New York City, scoring a 5.1 rating in persons 12+ in the Summer book. This marks the first number-one finish for the station since the 1980s, according to Clear Channel New York programming guru Tom Poleman. It also scored a first-place among the 18-34 demographic in the book, as well as a second place in the 25-54 demo.
In 2008, world-famous remixer Jason Nevins joined Z100 for the "Remix at 6 with Jason Nevins", where 1 of Jason's remixes is played every night at 6pm. The programming follows the Z100 playlist and gives listeners a "you heard it hear first" mix premiere of projects that come straight from Jason's studio.
History of #1s
These songs hit #1 on Z100's Top 100 Songs from 1983 to 2008.
1983: The Police - "Every Breath You Take"
1984: Prince - "When Doves Cry"
1985: Wham! - "Careless Whisper"
1986: Patti LaBelle ft. Michael McDonald - "On My Own"
1987: Atlantic Starr - "Always"
1988: George Michael - "One More Try"
1989: Bon Jovi - "I'll Be There For You"
1990: Madonna - "Vogue"
1991: Bryan Adams - "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You"
1992: Boyz II Men - "End Of The Road"
1993: Mariah Carey - "Dreamlover"
1994: Melissa Etheridge - "Come To My Window"
1995: Pearl Jam - "Better Man"
1996: Alanis Morissette - "Ironic"
1997: Third Eye Blind - "Semi-Charmed Life"
1998: Goo Goo Dolls - "Iris"
1999: Sixpence None The Richer - "Kiss Me"
2000: Destiny's Child - "Jumpin', Jumpin'"
2001: Lifehouse - "Hanging By A Moment"
2002: Linkin Park - "In The End"
2003: Evanescence - "Bring Me to Life"
2004: Usher ft. Ludacris and Lil Jon - "Yeah!"
2005: Kelly Clarkson - "Behind These Hazel Eyes"
2006: Shakira ft. Wyclef Jean - "Hips Don't Lie"
2007: Timbaland ft. Keri Hilson - "The Way I Are"
2008: Chris Brown - "Forever"
Kelly Clarkson was the first artist to hold the top two positions on the annual list, with "Behind These Hazel Eyes" and "Since U Been Gone" in 2005. This achievement was equaled in 2007 when Timbaland held these spots with "The Way I Are" and "Give It To Me" at number one and two respectively.
Shakira was the first Latina singer to top the countdown.
Third Eye Blind, Lifehouse, and Evanescence are the only artists to have their debut single top the countdown.
Only four songs that topped the countdown were collaborations. In 1986 with Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald; in 2004 with Usher, Ludacris, and Lil Jon; in 2006 with Shakira and Wyclef Jean; and in 2007 with Timbaland, Keri Hilson, and D.O.E..
No artist has even topped the chart twice. Even though, technically George Michael has topped it twice (once with Wham! in 1985, and as a solo artist in 1988).
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 3/19/2008
Posts: 37,076
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You should marry Z100. I hope there would be more regular updates this time.
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Member Since: 6/29/2007
Posts: 3,761
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O.O @ the tons of info and the fact that there's a new thread!
Also, just incase people didn't know, here are the official Z100 adds for this week:
Kristinia Debarge - Goodbye
Pitbull - I Know You Want me (Calle Ocho)
Katy Perry - Waking Up In Vegas
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Member Since: 3/2/2008
Posts: 14,823
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I love all songs added this week! Hope all become hits.
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Member Since: 11/30/2007
Posts: 26,796
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Quote:
Originally posted by Billiejoe
You should marry Z100. I hope there would be more comments this time.
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Member Since: 12/16/2007
Posts: 7,191
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Z100 MOST PLAYED OF 2009 YEAR-TO-DATE
Jan through Apr, 2009
Rank Artist Title Total Spins Apr Mar Feb Jan
1 BRITNEY SPEARS Circus 1096 62 314 371 349
2 ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS Gives You Hell 924 118 281 300 225
3 TAYLOR SWIFT Love Story 917 54 209 340 314
4 KELLY CLARKSON My Life Would Suck Without You 838 146 303 253 136
5 PINK Sober 825 85 233 226 281
6 T.I. Dead And Gone f/J. Timberlake 812 146 404 178 84
7 LADY GAGA Just Dance f/Colby O'Donis 806 56 187 191 372
8 KANYE WEST Heartless 786 52 223 256 255
9 FLO RIDA Right Round 755 109 346 227 73
10 PUSSYCAT DOLLS I Hate This Part 745 61 231 247 206
11 LADY GAGA Poker Face 714 149 340 143 82
12 FRAY You Found Me 704 80 266 209 149
13 BEYONCE Single Ladies (Put A Ring... 650 7 25 239 379
14 T.I. Live Your Life f/Rihanna 598 30 130 158 280
15 KANYE WEST Love Lockdown 550 14 90 170 276
16 NE-YO Mad 522 56 211 216 39
17 BRITNEY SPEARS Womanizer 521 38 117 102 264
18 KEVIN RUDOLF Let It Rock f/Lil Wayne 515 51 177 123 164
19 BEYONCE Halo 488 71 156 161 100
20 JASON MRAZ I'm Yours 480 68 122 118 172
21 T.I. Whatever You Like 458 37 96 120 205
22 JESSE MCCARTNEY How Do You Sleep? 442 60 188 158 36
23 NE-YO Miss Independent 429 48 132 125 124
24 VERONICAS Untouched 418 13 29 187 189
25 KATY PERRY Hot N Cold 402 56 127 107 112
26 KATY PERRY Thinking Of You 381 - 63 172 146
27 AKON Beautiful 352 59 176 115 2
28 PINK So What 348 26 78 97 147
29 SOULJA BOY Kiss Me Thru The Phone 320 70 219 31 -
30 LEONA LEWIS Better In Time 319 7 88 111 113
31 BRITNEY SPEARS If U Seek Amy 261 85 176 - -
32 RIHANNA Disturbia 217 52 8 31 126
33 BEYONCE If I Were A Boy 204 1 15 92 96
34 JAMIE FOXX Blame It f/T-Pain & Yung Joc 202 61 141 - -
35 CIARA Love Sex Magic f/J. Timberlake 201 41 146 14 -
36 BLACK EYED PEAS Boom Boom Pow 187 77 110 - -
37 LEONA LEWIS I Will Be 182 - 32 117 33
38 PARAMORE Decode 175 - - 11 164
40 SECONDHAND SERENADE Fall For You 173 - 42 24 107
39 KID CUDI Day N Nite 173 51 103 6 13
41 DANITY KANE Damaged 169 18 81 31 39
42 AKON Right Now (Na Na Na) 157 6 7 8 136
43 3OH!3 Don't Trust Me 154 62 92 - -
44 LESLEY ROY Unbeautiful 148 - 1 14 133
45 NICKELBACK Gotta Be Somebody 139 1 5 4 129
46 MILEY CYRUS The Climb 127 1 58 68 -
47 FLO RIDA Sugar 123 69 54 - -
48 JESSE MCCARTNEY Leavin' 119 5 53 27 34
49 JOHN LEGEND Green Light f/Andre 3000 113 - 5 98 10
50 RIHANNA Don't Stop The Music 108 9 38 28 33
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Member Since: 6/29/2007
Posts: 3,761
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The songs on this week's Z100 RateTheMusic Survey that aren't on Z100 are:
Kanye West - Paranoid (feat. Mr. Hudson)
Kevin Rudolf - Welcome to the World (feat. Rick Ross)
David Rush - Shooting Star (feat. Pitbull, Kevin Rudolf, & LMFAO) 
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Member Since: 5/31/2008
Posts: 11,688
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Welcome to the World needs to be added soon.
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Member Since: 2/22/2008
Posts: 46,108
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lol, i like almost every song in the top 50
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Member Since: 3/2/2008
Posts: 14,823
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Quote:
Originally posted by madonnafan18
Welcome to the World needs to be added soon.
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Member Since: 6/23/2005
Posts: 11,884
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Quote:
Originally posted by CarCAL22
Z100 MOST PLAYED OF 2009 YEAR-TO-DATE
Jan through Apr, 2009
Rank Artist Title Total Spins Apr Mar Feb Jan
1 BRITNEY SPEARS Circus 1096 62 314 371 349
17 BRITNEY SPEARS Womanizer 521 38 117 102 264
31 BRITNEY SPEARS If U Seek Amy 261 85 176 - -
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Member Since: 1/13/2004
Posts: 21,655
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Still no sign of Please Don't Leave Me?
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Member Since: 11/30/2007
Posts: 26,796
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^ Sadly, no. 
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Banned
Member Since: 12/11/2008
Posts: 1,728
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Member Since: 6/29/2007
Posts: 3,761
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Quote:
Originally posted by Flashing Lights
Quote:
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Originally posted by Vithor
Still no sign of Please Don't Leave Me?
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^ Sadly, no.
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Actually, Please Don't Leave me was played today at 9:08 AM according to yes.com! However, it is not officially added yet.
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Member Since: 6/25/2008
Posts: 20,616
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Any sign of KYD? 
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Member Since: 2/26/2006
Posts: 62,897
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Quote:
History of #1s
These songs hit #1 on Z100's Top 100 Songs from 1983 to 2008.
1983: The Police - "Every Breath You Take"
1991: Bryan Adams - "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You"
1996: Alanis Morissette - "Ironic"
1999: Sixpence None The Richer - "Kiss Me"
2002: Linkin Park - "In The End"
2003: Evanescence - "Bring Me to Life"
2005: Kelly Clarkson - "Behind These Hazel Eyes"
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Member Since: 6/29/2007
Posts: 3,761
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Quote:
Originally posted by NickLacheyFan
Any sign of KYD? |
I wish :-/
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Member Since: 9/7/2008
Posts: 672
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KNOWN YOU DOWN needs to be played!
and i heard turning me on yesterday on z100 i didnt know they played it!
and Goodbye<33
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Member Since: 6/29/2007
Posts: 3,761
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^ They don't play Turnin' Me On in normal rotation. You probably heard it on a mini-mix or something like that.
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