Six years after dropping Contemporary Hits in the Duluth market, Midwest Communications has relaunched the format on a new frequency.
W251CD/98.1 (Superior-Duluth) is now “Hot 98,” positioned as “Today’s Hit Music,” with the format originating on WDUL/970 (Superior-Duluth). It launched on Thursday, April 21, according to its Facebook page, and appears to be using WestwoodOne’s “Hits Now!” syndicated format.
W251CD had previously relayed WDSM/710 (Superior-Duluth), which in February dropped Conservative Talk for “The Game” Sports Talk format that had previously aired on WDUL. Both WDSM and WDUL carried “The Game” until “Hot 98” launched.
Midwest had previously programmed Contemporary Hits on KDWZ/102.5 until flipping it to Classic Country in September 2015. Its six other formats in the Duluth market include Adult Contemporary-formatted “My 95-7.”
“My” and “Hot” compete with Townsquare Media’s “MIX 108” (KBMX/107.7 Proctor-Duluth), positioned as “The Northland’s #1 Hit Music Mix.”
The change brings the 970 frequency full-circle: it was the home of legendary Top 40 station WAKX in the 1960s and 1970s.
SEE ALSO: Duluth-Superior Radio Stations