It would be a cool to know how many radio stations across the country have programmed the same format for 35 years or more. We're guessing not a lot. WPDH-FM, a cumulus station in the Hudson Valley of New York is one of them. This past Saturday in celebration of their anniversary the station executed some pretty awesome radio. And, thanks to the Internet, we were able to listen in.
WPDH morning man Mark Cooper (Coop) worked the early Saturday morning shift and the station played a lot of clips from past morning shows. Program Direoctor Gary Cee was was also able to dig up some retro commercials from an October 1976 air check he found online. "I invited about a dozen of our former announcers back to host two-hour programs, and if they couldn?t make it here live, they sent in their breaks via email. Charlie Kendall, the voice of the station for many years, voiced the production elements." Cee has been the PD at WPDH for 8 years now after programming WLIR on Long Island frmo 1998 to 2003.
We asked Cee about the conistency of the station. 35 years is a long time. Cee says its all about serving the community. "The Hudson Valley ? listeners and clients alike ? have always had a deep connection to this radio station. WPDH has always prided itself on serving the community, not just with great rock music, but with worthy fund-raising events like our Roofathon every summer and our Camp Out For Kids event in December. The Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the Salvation Army, the Alzheimer?s Foundation, the Vassar Brothers Medical Center Foundation, and the Hudson Valley Renegades Pitch for Kids Foundation have all benefited in the past from WPDH. This fall, we?ll be doing our Fifth Annual Bikers for Babies Bike Rally with Dee Snider to benefit the March of Dimes. In November, we air our Let?s Go Vets Weekend, and we invite veterans to come down to the station and host an hour program, playing their music and telling their stories."
Cee said the 35th anniversary special made him feel great. "Radio is such a personal, one-on-one medium. I?m certain we tweaked some special memories for listeners this weekend ? and hearing one of your favorite announcers from the past is just bound to bring back memories of that special time when you graduated high school or college or fell in love for the first time, or got married, whatever the situation." Cee's advice to PD's and GM's on how to consistently win year after year in the same format? "Have a strong promotions department, and SERVE the community. We?re lucky to have Anthony Verano here, who?s our Promotions and Marketing Director as well as being tremendously tech-savvy, so he?s also overseeing the website. Keep it local, have great promotions and play the music the community wants to hear."
E-Mail Congrats to Cee at gary.cee@cumulus.com
Add a Comment Send This Story To A Friend
