Cumulus has flipped Modern Rock WWWQ-HD2-Translator W255CJ (99X at 98.9)/Atlanta to Active Rock, as a response to Clear Channel's flip earlier this week of Active Rock WKLS (Project 9-6-1) to CHR. 99X became "98.9 The Bone" as of noon today (9/1). 99X has been a long-time Modern Rock brand in Atlanta, but the station was flipped in 2008 and went online-only. The following year it was resurrected on a translator signal at 97.9 and moved over to 98.9 in 2011.
Speaking to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Cumulus EVP/co-COO John Dickey said, "We are the saviors of rock. We ran Clear Channel out of format. We are going to save rock for all Atlantans. Clear Channel tried to kill off rock. We’re going to save it."
Dickey also commented on Clear Channel's new CHR station, Power 96.1, saying, "They have to get through Star and Q100. I don’t think that’s going to happen any time soon. Ryan Seacrest isn’t going to save the day for them. What a mess they’ve dug themselves into."
No staff cutbacks were made in the flip, though the station has canceled its specialty show "Sunday School." PD Axel Lowe slides from mornings to afternoons, with Lewis moving to middays. The Bone is expected to be music-intensive in the mornings with no live DJs.