Great Eastern Radio debuted Adult Hits “97.9/105.7 The Penguin” WSNO-FM Au Sable NY/Burlington VT and 1450 WSNO/105.7 W289CH Barre VT.
Launching at midnight, the new brand is positioning as “Vermont’s Chill Hits” featuring a broad mix of music with an emphasis on songs from the 1980s and current/recurrents. 97.9 had been stunting with Christmas music since October 1 after Great Eastern began operating the former Classic Country “97.9 The Moose” WXMS via LMA ahead of their $99,999 purchase of the station from Randy Michaels. 1450 WSNO/105.7 W289CH had been CHR “105.7 The Beat“.
Great Eastern Radio VP/Programming Matt Houseman is serving as Program Director of the new station, while a trio of former CHR “95 Triple X” WXXX staffers will make up the on-air staff. Longtime WXXX APD Pete Belair will host mornings. Belair spent 20 years in afternoons at WXXX from 1995 to 2015 before moving to mornings until Vox Radio Group acquired the station at the start of 2019. He and co-host Sarah Mitiguy then co-hosted mornings at News/Talk 620 WVMT for two months before exiting the company. Mitiguy also joins WSNO as midday host from 10am to 3pm. Jackie Steele will host afternoons. She had been hosting middays at WXXX until last September.
The 2:00 hour on Saturday afternoon featured:
- Adele – Someone Like You
- J. Geils Band – Centerfold
- Wham – Careless Whisper
- Rupert Holmes – Escape (Piña Colada Song)
- The Kid Laroi/Justin Beiber – Stay
- Queen – Another One Bites The Dust
- Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth – I Hope
- Bon Jovi – I’ll Be There For You
- Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B – Girls Like You
- Naked Eyes – Always Something There To Remind Me
- Outkast – Hey Ya
- Lukas Graham – 7 Years
- Ed Sheeran – Shivers
- Heart – Alone
- Camilla Cabello – Havana
- Toto – Africa
- Weeknd – Blinding Lights