What's Up With WCIN-AM?

5/17 UPDATE: WCIN-AM has a new operator, Bob Cox, appointed successor receiver by the federal district court. Cox, of St. Louis, says the station is not for sale. He plans to it around with a new format to be unveiled by the end of the week. He wouldn't say it would be music or talk. All the on-air staff -- one full-time person (Savannah) and nine part-timers were terminated on Tuesday when the heartbeat stunt began.
--Kiese


OK, what's up with WCIN-AM (1480)? Anyone know? Or have a good guess?

Tune in 1480, and all you hear is a heartbeat on the station, which has branded itself as "the pulse of Cincinnati." I'm told that on the hourly station ID, you'll hear: "You asked for it, and prayed for it... Coming soon."

Is WCIN going gospel? For years WCIN has played gospel on Sundays, and done a mix of R&B, jazz and syndicated talk the rest of the week. The station has been in receivership and for sale for several years.

GM John Thomas just told me: "I can't say anything until tomorrow."
Was the station sold? "No."
You changing formats? "I can't comment."

It's been a tough go for WCIN-AM since WDBZ-AM lured away Lincoln Ware and signed on seven years ago. Even before that, WCIN-AM tried classical music. In recent years WNOP-AM (740) owners gave up jazz and sold to the Catholics, and WCVG-AM (1320) switched from gospel to all-Latino last summer.

My guess is gospel.