Do you know why they switched from reel to reel tapes and went with live DJ's?
It was because of WFXZ known as "Foxy 101".
This little station from Pinconning came in to the market and made WIOG sound terrible. In those days, the AM guys would have to change the tapes. I've been told that they didn't really like doing that, so when one of the four tapes ended, they wouldn't go change it until another tape ended. This of course made the music rotation get all messed up, but they were the AM guys and didn't really care.
During the rating peroids back then, WIOG would give away a few Tee shirts and have a few billboards. Nothing reallly special because they were the only Top 40 station in the market, but now they had competation that sounded like a big market Top 40/CHR station with real LIVE DJ's 24/7 and JAM jingles!
WIOG management went to Detroit to the owners and talked them into going live on WIOG. After that, they talked them into flip floping WIOG and WGER, to give WIOG the bigger signal.
Foxy 101 was gaining in ratings and popularity, so WIOG management started giving away $100,000 of dollars every rating period. Right about then, the market was rated spring and fall. They gave so much money that it really screwed up the rating books! They were #1 in all demos because of $$$!
Between the gigantic signal and all the free money, in 1985 WFXZ changed format to country. Wasn't long after that, WIOG stopped the free money and things slowly returned to normal.
Today, WFXZ is owned by the Loons and is a sport station.