WVRV The River 101.1 Is Dead

Not much of a surprise since 106.5 started eating their lunch.

Oddly, the St. Louis market has a number of stations that change format frequently. The River was only around for maybe six or seven years. 104 changes every year or two. 106, too, has been country, smooth jazz, and now Jack in the last decade.

Why, I remember when 93.7 was Classic Rock and 103.3 was KHTR, a top 40 station. I remember when 96 went to classic rock about eleven years ago and only played AOR from the 1970s.

St. Louis radio sure knows how to compete with iPods and other music sources--by building a small following and then sacrificing it as each chain radio conglomorate (Emmis, Clear Channel, Infinity) try to outflank each other in format.

Two words--Satellite radio. No matter what your music preference, both Sirius and XM have a station, they have most of the big talk radio folk (except Limbaugh) as well and lots of sports (NFL on Sirius and College football on XM). You can also listen on line, which is a big plus for me, I have lousy radio reception at work. You can also try it for free on-line, before you make the hardware (not to expensive) commitment.

I also listened to the River exclusively and am very disappointed aboutthe change. I have been channel surfing and settle on 98.1 most of the time but not as good. I had XM for a while but prefer to hear some local news etc.

I am so angry that steve and dc are gone. I have lived here just shy of a year and have listened to them the whole time. I'm so angry. I want them back....I dont' listen to anything on the way to work now, I just turn it off.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one upset with this change. I too moved to the St. Louis area within the past year (I missed my LA stations!)and was very excited to find the Steve and DC show. They made my drive into work in the morning enjoyable. I HATE the new programming. Maybe these stations need to look at ways to increase their advertising revenue instead of changing their programming format every year or so. It's a great disservice to their loyal listeners. I guess it's time to look at Sirius. They definitely lost me!

The river was the bomb, the morning show was great the people were great and of course the music was great. The river of toys concert i quess is now dead and that was awesome. This new station is a total bummer there is nothing i like about it so i switch in between 98.1 and 105.7. WE WANT THE RIVER BACK!!!!!!!

I too was really upset about Steve and DC getting the boot. I was a Howard Stern fan for YEARS and then he left and I settled into the light comedy of Steve and DC and was so upset when I tuned in one morning to find nothing but junk playing. I did find on their website - you can still listen to them. C
Check it out.
http://www.steveanddc.com

I listen to alot of stations, so my programs start at 106.5 and go down so natural I found 101.1 movin & most of what I have heard was good up beat music. Keep up the good work!!!!! Your slogen fits.

yeah this is really messed up. i turned on the radio to listen to Steve and DC (which I had been pissed about when they took over the morning aire but grew to looooove loove loove them!) and BAM! it was all kindsa music. No steve and DC. no julie or jill or Junior. I had to get in my car and see what the station said and it said 101.1 Movin Radio. Of course I was so confused and as not up to date like my friends, none of them listen to the radio to know of any changes. I almost cried. I don't get why they up and do that stupid shit! I now listen to Rover's morning glory, not really my style bt growing to like it...I WANT 101 BACK NOW!

yeah, i guess now not only is the River of Toys concert dead, but also the Children's Miracle Network campaign (although i guess they'll find another station), and Vic Porcelli was the MC for the St. Baldrick's fundraiser. And let's not forget about the Music from the River lounge CDs!!!!! now who's going to have artists play acoustic versions of their songs in an intimate setting with tickets for a few lucky listeners, and then make it into a compilation CD that's very cheap and profits go to charity!?!?!

I moved to KC 3 years ago, Imagine my surprise when my favorite StL radio station was changed when I came to town this past weekend for the Cards series. The new station SUCKS! The River was an awesome station, I was a Police Officer and it was always on in my car. Oh well, corporate wienies win out again... At leat you still have some good stations, Kansas City radio is terrible all around the dial!

Has anyone seen any news media about this? Why it happened? Where any of personalities moved to? I emailed the new station as soon as this happened and received no response. Today I see they are asking for people's comments on the web page. I sure told them. Email them.. tell them. Tell them you hate it.

Well actually... The River was on air close to 16 years - yes 16 years in St. Louis. The station was flat dead on the ratings charts for the past year and is one of St. Louis' strongest signal. Marketing the station was obsolete and the station had suffered much financial loses. SO, truth be told, NEVER fall in love with a format or station... it always ends up BAD! :)
I liked The River, now they moved onto MOVIN101.1 ... I think all of us posters were their last listeners according to their rating books for the past 12 months. HAHAHA
Radio is about making money... try internet or satellite radio instead.

PS: The Point 105.7 is next to run it's course... be warned! The Point is now dead last in ratings for over a year and is positioned to a format change soon.

Dave Todd: What is the source of your information? If you don't want to post it, email it to me.

I absolutely hate this new format. I cannot believe they have fired everyone that I have loved for the last 5 years I have lived in STL. I feel terrible for Trish, Vic, Jill Divine, everyone! And they were replaced with Crap. I just want to tell all the now-fired DJs from the River that I am so sorry and I miss you. Especially you Trish!!

This silliness pops up whenever any station anywhere in the country changes format. And everyone feels empowered because they read these web sites and see nine other people who are just as upset as they are. The people you don't see, however, are the people who make up a much larger, much more important group: The ones who are happy that the format changed.

Look, radio is a business. It's the advertisers who matter; not the listeners. You are a listener, thus radio doesn't care about you. Unless, of course, there are a whole bunch of you (we'll call them "yous") who will appeal to advertisers. And even then, if there's a larger buch of others who will appeal to advertisers more than you and your yous, then yous are all shit outta luck.

And please, stop referring to music as "complete crap" just because it's not music you personally enjoy. It makes you sound like like a four-year-old throwing a tantrum and it completely voids any validity your argument may have held.

Maybe this will help you put things in perspective: Imagine how much worse it is for the people who worked at the radio station and who lost their jobs.

To say that the music 101 now plays is junk is an understatement!!! I'm not just upset--I'm mad! I am a true music lover and, without the tunes I love, I'm miserable. I finally had my daughter download my favorite songs and make CDs for my listening pleasure--but even that's getting old. St. Louis radio has always been behind the times. 101 was the most progressive station we had and now we're forced to listen to top 40 music or oldies. Words cannot begin to describe my frustration with this situation. Please, please bring the old format back!!! If not 101, then somebody please bring back the songs we know and love!

Reading through the comments I'm surprised to find myself mostly alone but, probably standing with most of the folks who quit listening. I couldn't stand Trish -- way to full of herself. And Steve and DC totally killed it for me finally. Once they got going, I tuned off. It's too bad too because I really did like the music format and most of the rest of the DJ's, especially Vic. Unfortunately for the River, like most of us who tuned out, we didn't come back in the evening when the crew changed out. I hadn't tuned in for a while and decided to switch over tonight only to discover total CRAP. Very disappointed! As bad as I couldn't stand the morning show, this new format is total trash.

I really miss The River, even Steve & DC. I can't find another station I like as much. If I switch between 98, 95, and 106 and can usually find something I like. But really I've begun to listen to audio books in the car instead and CD's at home.

I've listened to The River for over 6 years...even after I moved away via the Internet. Really appreciated what it did for St Louis...sponsored big name entertainment for the 4th of July (at the Arch)...who will take over now?

Went back to St Louis last month...imagine my surprise. And yeah, like most everyone else, hate the new format. Music scene is really going to go south...couldn't find any single station that had it all...great music, fine DJs / entertainment and community involvement (also like the Make a Wish / field of miracles to raise money for the kids).

Enough ranting...too bad The River can't change course and return to its old path!

You guys don't know Vic like I know Vic. WDHA baby! Best morning DJ ever.