WBEB FM Philadelphia - Thriving to "B" "More" is "EZ"

Now that I live closer to City Avenue (which most people call City Line Avenue), I regularly pass 101.1 More FM located at 225. Previously, the name and branding of this only independently owned and operated commercial radio station in the U.S., was B101. 

After searching on the web, I could not believe that the new name was instantiated back in 2013. They stated that this was to promote their stance on "more music, less talk". However, after I visited the station and jammed out to their afternoon playlist, I think the "more" is even more.

Before B101, the station was named EZ101. This was back-in-the-day when I was a teenager (or younger). I did equivocate EZ101 with Easy Listening; to me it was "older people" music. The switch to B101 brought a more "hip" or "cooler" vibe to the adult contemporary broadcast. 

With B101, my thoughts were that they were definitely appealing to a more youthful and energetic market of young adults.  I believe this naming and branding was a great step and forged the avenue for the most-listened-to radio station in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. 

My impression of B101 was that they played good music, but it usually consisted of hits that were in the Top 40 over 5 years prior or more. This does provide for a good selection as it allows for, what used to be hot for adolescents, to be embraced by an older generation (e.g. One Direction, Light Up My World, 2011 - which I heard them play today).

I am happy to say I discovered that More FM is much much more! While the playlists include hits from the past 20-30 years, there seems to be a gravitation towards more current and hip singles. I was pleased to hear Maroon 5, Sia, and Lady Gaga during Mark Shepard's air time (who waved at me through the studio window).

Overall I think that this station has evolved and adapted to the times and listener population. In retrospect, B101 was probably getting stale. The new More brings more to the table and provides a fresh new prospective to this well established and lifelong broadcasting operation.

Whatchu think Philly?