So FM radio stations have undergone quite some consolidation in the US. CBS Radio formerly infinity Broadcasting owns several dozen of stations now. So I agree the entrepreneurial spirit might not longer be there.



However can somebody please enlighten me why a station has a name like:

• WNEW-FM or


• WFNY-FM or


• WCBS-FM

Why isn't it Kiss FM 90.7 or Oldiesforyou 103.2 FM?



Most of the radio station names here in the SF Bay Area have even more weird names. I always assumed there is a regulatory reason behind it - but which one would that be?