New FM signal added to Nassau radio station

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Nassau County music lovers who enjoy the sounds of the ’60s and ’70s can now listen to it 24 hours a day. 1100AM WHLI, the well-known oldies station, launched a 24-hour FM music station Aug. 10. Owned and operated by Connoisseur Media Long Island, the new FM station, 104.7, will continue to play oldies tunes enjoyed on the AM station, 1100 AM, which winds down its programming each day at sundown.

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran was there at the FM station’s launch, held at Eisenhower Park. “This is the first time since 1952 that there has been a new FM radio station here in Nassau County,” Curran said. “So, this is really history that we’re announcing today.” Ninety-one percent of adults listen to the radio at least once a week, she said, noting, “It’s the way most people connect and get their information.”

“Connoisseur Media and WHLI have a rich history in Hempstead as one of Long Island’s longest-running radio stations, having served the area for nearly 75 years,” said State Sen. Kevin Thomas, who represents East Meadow. “I was excited to join County Executive Laura Curran and other local officials along with the team from Connoisseur Media as they launched their new FM station 104.7FM.”

1100 WHLI first signed on in 1947, making it one of Long Island’s longest-running radio stations. The station is located in Airport Plaza in Farmingdale and the transmitter is located off of the Southern State Parkway at Milburn Ave., in Hempstead.

Also joining in the recent celebration were State Sen. Anna Kaplan, Assemblywoman Judy Griffin, Town of Hempstead Supervisor Don Clavin, Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino and Hempstead Village Mayor Waylyn Hobbs. Together with Curran, they pressed the button at 11 a.m. to launch the signal into the airwaves.

The new FM station offers better quality for listeners, Jon Daniels, WHLI’s program director, said. And 104.7 has now joined its sister station, KJOY 98.3, as the only source of local news and information on the radio in Nassau.

The WHLI stream player is also available online 24/7 at WHLI.com.

During the first week of the new signal, WHLI will only feature commercials from 10 local businesses, including Alure Home Improvements in East Meadow, Dr. Andaz/Long Island Thoracic Surgery, Winthrop Hospital (now known as NYU Langone Hospital), Cherrywood Footcare, Star of David Chapels, Long Island State Veterans Home, Nicolock Paving Stones, the Town of Oyster Bay, Town of Hempstead and Dominican Village.

“This is an incredible project for Long Island and for Connoisseur Media,” said David Bevins, CMLI general manager and chief operating officer for Connoisseur Media, in a statement.  “We’re advancing this brand into the future, while providing an enhanced user experience with crisper audio and round-the-clock music.”

WHLI is the only radio station on Long Island that plays hits from the ’60s and the ’70s. Now listeners can hear popular jams from artists such as the Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Elton John and more on both 1100AM and 104.7 FM.

“Feedback from WHLI listeners has been overwhelmingly positive over the last few years,” Daniels said in a statement. “Now that we can share this format with more Nassau County residents on the FM dial, [it’s] a game-changer.”

The new signal will cover all of Nassau and parts of Queens and Suffolk counties.

“This is a great day for Long Island,” Clavin said. “It’s great to have a local FM station covering local news. Let’s welcome this new station to our area.”