While New York City lost its Country outlet last fall, a Country duel is breaking out in the suburban Monmouth/Ocean market.
Townsquare Media has flipped Oldies “Beach Radio 104.1” 1160 WOBM/104.1 W281CK Lakewood Township and 1310 WADB/96.7 W244EE Asbury Park NJ to Country “Cat Country 96.7/104.1” creating a competitor to Press Communications’ “Thunder 106” 106.3 WKMK Eatontown/106.5 WTHJ Bass River Township. The flip expands the branding used since 1997 on sister “Cat Country 107.3” WPUR Atlantic City further up the shore.
Positioning as “The Jersey Shore’s #1 For New Country”, the station is launching with 5,000 songs commercial-free. Kyle Due, who joined Townsquare Monmouth/Ocean as Director of Content, Digital Managing Editor, and PD/afternoon host of AC 92.7 WOBM-FM in November, will serve as Brand Manager. Due joined Townsquare from iHeartMedia San Antonio where he programmed Country “KJ97” KAJA.
“Beach Radio” signed off with Bruce Springsteen’s “Thunder Road” before debuting their new “Cat Country” identity at 10:00am with Luke Combs “Cold As You”, Brett Eldredge “Beat of the Music”, and Chris Stapleton’s “You Should Probably Leave”.
WPUR morning hosts Joe Kelly and Jahna Michal will also be heard on WOBM/WADB. Townsquare’s national Country midday host Jess ‘On The Job’ Rose will be heard in that timeslot. Hot AC “94.3 The Point” WJLK Asbury Park night host Jim ‘Jimmy G’ Guiliano will host afternoons. Townsquare and Compass Media’s “Taste of Country Nights” hosted by Evan Paul will be heard at night.
WKMK/WTHJ ranked second in the Monmouth/Ocean market with a 4.1 share in the Fall 2021 Nielsen Audio ratings trailing only Townsquare’s Talk/Classic Hits “New Jersey 101.5” WKXW Trenton’s 8.3 share.