WWPR-FM
| File:WwprFMlogo.png | |
| Broadcast area | New York City |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 105.1 (MHz) |
| Branding | "Power 105.1" |
| Programming | |
| Format | Mainstream Urban |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Clear Channel Communications |
| History | |
First air date | March 1953 |
Call sign meaning | World Wide Power Radio |
| Technical information | |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 6,000 watts |
| Links | |
| Website | http://www.power1051fm.com |
WWPR-FM, also known as "Power 105.1", is an Mainstream Urban radio station that features hip-hop and R&B licensed to New York City that serves the Greater New York area.
History
The first station to sign on to this frequency was WWRL-FM in 1953. It became WRFM in 1957 with a diversified and classical music format. Bonneville International would own the station by 1967.
In 1968 WRFM adopted an easy listening format. The format was mostly instrumental with about one vocal every 15 minutes. Their music featured the works of such composers as Mantovani, Henry Mancini, John Fox, Percy Faith, Hollyridge Strings, Leroy Anderson, Frank Mills and Richard Clayderman. Mixed in were vocals by such artists as Frank Sinatra, Neil Diamond, Kenny Rogers, Nat King Cole and Barbara Streisand. Ratings for the station were high, and a couple times they hit number one overall. A rival station, WPAT, tended to do slightly better in the ratings, but both stations held their own.
The station's ratings would continue to be strong through the years, but by 1985, the station's management noticed that their demographics skewed old. So in April 1986, the station switched to a gold-based adult contemporary format with the call letters WNSR (for "soft rock"). With this new format, the station would mainly play pop songs from the 1960s and the 1970s, with some recent adult contemporary songs included as well. Initially, the station's ratings were low, but once competitor WYNY went to a country format, their ratings went up.
By 1990, the station became known as Mix 105, and shifted to more of a hot adult contemporary format, focusing on 1970s and 1980s music. In 1992, when the station changed its call letters to WMXV, the 1960s hits were gone and the station played more recent music. By 1995, the station was only playing hits of the 1980s and 1990s and even mixing in some lighter alternative rock songs, as many other hot adult contemporary stations were doing at this time.
In November 1996 the hot adult contemporary format at WMXV abruptly ended, as after a day of playing music from Broadway musicals, the station switched formats to an adult-friendly modern rock format as WDBZ ("The Buzz"). Less than a year later, with ratings on the decline, the call letters would change back to WNSR, as the station would gradually return to playing hot adult contemporary music. For the next few months, the station would simply be known on-air as "FM 105.1".
In January 1998 the station, under new ownershop, relaunched as "Big 105", with the call letters WBIX. Despite this relaunch, the station played basically the same music as they did in the months before, and could not compete with highly-rated Lite FM.
In December 1998 the station had a more drastic format change, as they converted to the then-popular "Jammin' Oldies" format, with the call letters subsequently changing to WTJM in 1999. The station, which would play popular urban music of the mid 1960s through the 1980's, did better in the ratings than the previous format, and initially challenged those of longtime oldies station WCBS-FM. By 2001, the station would shift to an urban adult contemporary format, and would get new owners in the way of Clear Channel Communications.
In March 2002, the station would abruptly change, as it shifted to its current urban contemporary format as WWPR-FM ("Power 105.1"). (Some wits declared the new format to be "Jammin' Homies".) A speculated reason for the format change is that while they could not beat competitor WQHT ("Hot 97"), they could take enough ratings away from them to keep them from being number one, which would would leave Power 105.1's sister station Lite fm with a comfortable lead in that race (prior to the change Hot 97 and Lite fm had alternated at the top spot).
Hot 97 had been the only station featuring current hip hop and R&B since Emmis Communications purchased WRKS-FM (98.7 Kiss FM) in 1994 to end dual rap formats. In an effort to build an audience, Power 105.1 brought in former Hot 97 hosts Ed Lover and Doctor Dre as their morning show hosts. The station then entered into the top five of the Arbitron ratings, a position it maintains to this day.
Power 105.1 is the first rap station in the market to feature slow jam music from 10pm to 2am weekdays. It is also the first station to emphasize more Spanish reggaeton music on a regular basis.
Power 105.1 terminated Doctor Dre in December 2003 to form a new morning show with Ed Lover and Monie Love, which would last for about a year. By the end of 2004, the station decided to heat up their rivalry with Hot 97 by bringing in ex-Hot 97 morning show hosts Star & Buc Wild as their morning show hosts, as well-known disc jockeys were deemed critical to their success.
Program Information for Power 105.1
- Monday - Friday 2 AM - 6 AM: Malikha Mallette
- Monday - Friday 6 AM - 10 AM: [1] Star & Buc Wild
- Monday - Friday 10 AM - 2 PM: Deja Vu
- Monday - Friday 2 PM - 6 PM: Ed Lover
- Monday - Friday 6 PM - 10 PM: Cherry Martinez
- Monday - Friday 10 PM - 2 AM: Power After Hours
- Saturday 11 PM - Sunday 2 AM: Live from Babalu with Tony Touch
Management
- General Manager - Andrew Rosen
- Program Director - Doc Wynter
- Music Director - Mara Melendez
- General Sales Manager - Ron De Castro
- Local Sales Manager - Kristin Roderick
- Marketing Director - Don MacLeod
Ratings
In 2005, WWPR surpassed WQHT in the ratings for the first time ever. This was a response from Asian Americans as well as prominent hip hop pioneers to boycott Hot 97 because of the Tsunami song parody.
External links