b97 has been new orleans' top rated top 40 outlet for more than 40 years, except for two brief, failed experiments. the first format change was a decision by now-defunct ez communications, in which the station changed to a hot talk format in the summer of 1994. it featured "the howard stern show" and other edgy talk programs. the decision to return to a music format came in spring 1996. on june 7, 1996, the station stunted by playing billy ray cyrus' "achy breaky heart" repeatedly for seven hours. at noon that day, the station launched a hot adult contemporary - adult top 40 format using the same name "b97 fm." the first song was hootie & the blowfish's "only wanna be with you". on july 26, 1998, b97 fm returned to its heritage top 40 contemporary hit radio (chr) format. the station became more rhythmic in its musical style. then in 2002, it returned to its current, true top 40 approach.