Jump to content

WWPR-FM

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 172.135.240.254 (talk) at 13:14, 24 May 2006 (→DJ Star Controversy). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
WWPR
File:WwprFMlogo.png
Broadcast areaNew York City
Frequency105.1 (MHz)
Branding"Power 105.1"
Programming
FormatMainstream Urban/Urban Top 40
Ownership
OwnerClear Channel Communications
History
First air date
March 1953
Call sign meaning
World Wide Power Radio
Technical information
ClassB
ERP6,000 watts
Links
Websitehttp://www.power1051fm.com

WWPR-FM, also known as "Power 105.1", is a 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 Barbra 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 WLTW "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 Jammin' Oldies' results 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. Frankie Blue was brought in to program the shift to the urban adult contemporary format. He immediately brought in Jeff Foxx (formerly of 98.7 KISS FM's Wake-up Club and WBLS) and teamed him with comedian George Wallace to form the "Jammin' New York Wake-up Club". The morning show was a hit and the rest of the station benefitted; however, it did not warrant keeping the format.

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 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.

DJ Star Controversy

Troi Torain, who previously worked at Power 105's rival hip-hop station Hot 97 until he switched to Power 105, is known as "DJ Star" from the Star & Buc Wild morning show. He had a running on-air feud with Hot 97's D.J. Envy, whose real name is Raashaun Casey.

In a May 3, 2006 broadcast, Torain mentioned D.J Envy's wife and two children and threatened to find and sexually abuse Casey's 4-year old daughter. Torain said he would pay $500 to any listener who told him where the girl attended school. Torain, who is black, also used racial and sexual epithets about D.J. Envy's wife, Gia Casey, who is part Asian.

New York City Council members called for an investigation by law enforcement and the Federal Communications Commission. After the protests, Clear Channel Communications, the corporate owner of Power 105, suspended Torain. After reviewing transcripts of the broadcast, New York City law enforcement officials called Torain to police headquarters in Lower Manhattan to surrender his target pistol license and 9-millimeter handgun. Detectives from the Hate Crimes Unit charged him with endagering the welfare of a child.

Leaving the precinct house, Torain leaned back and grinned for televison cameras, saying "You're looking at the new Lenny Bruce." He also told reporters about a new philosophy of his, which he called "objective hate," said that "life is beautiful," and that he was shopping for a book deal. Torains lawyer's defended his broadasts on first amendment grounds.[1]

Star and Bucwild was temporarily replaced with Live With Big Tigger and Egypt for a week until it was replaced again with Big Boy's Neighborhood based out of Los Angeles station KPWR "Power 106" which is a sister station to Hot 97 (both are owned by Emmis Communications.

Power in HD2

In Ealry 2006, ClearChannel Communications Launched "Power Latino" As WWPR-FM's HD2 Station, The New High-Def Station Features Reggeton, And Latin Hip-Hop. Power Latino Is Also The Station That Can Rival-Out WCAA's Format.

Current Line-Up

Monday - Thursday

  • Big Boy's Neighborhood - 6-10AM
  • Deja Vu - 10AM-2PM (Old School Mix @ Noon with Cool DJ Red Alert)
  • Ed Lover - 2-6PM (Power Drive @ 5 with DJ Kut)
  • Cherry Martinez - 6-10PM (DJ Spinbad 8-9PM)
  • Power After Hours (slow jams) - 10PM-2AM
  • Tre Black - 2-6AM

Friday

  • Marley Mar - 2-4AM
  • Big Boy's Neighborhood - 6-10AM
  • Deja Vu - 10AM-2PM (Old School Mix @ Noon with Cool DJ Red Alert)
  • Ed Lover - 2-6PM (Power Drive @ 5 with DJ Kut)
  • Cherry Martinez - 6-8PM
  • DJ Spinbad - 8-10PM
  • DJ Kut - 10-11PM
  • Carl Blaze @ XBar - 11PM-2AM

Saturday

  • Malikha Mallette 2-6AM
  • Various Personalities - 6AM-2PM
  • Egypt - 2-6PM
  • Chuck Dogg - 6-9PM
  • Carl Blaze - 9-10PM
  • DJ Kut - 10-11PM
  • Live from Babalu with Tony Touch, DJ Kut - 11PM-2AM

Sundays

  • Various Personlities - 2AM-2PM
  • Egypt - 2-6PM
  • Chuck Dogg - 6-10PM
  • Power After Hours (slow jams) - 10PM-2AM

Various personalities

  • Malikha Mallette
  • Curt Flirt
  • Egypt
  • Jay Wright
  • Chuck Dogg
  • Big Tigga

Former Shows

  • Star And Buc Wild In The Morning
  • Ed Lover And Doctor Dre In The Morning
  • Tony Touch's Reggeatony Show

Management

  • Senior Vice President – Rob Williams
  • Program Director - Nate Bell
  • Music Director - Mara Melendez
  • Director of Marketing - Darren Pfeffer
  • General Sales Manager - Ronald De Castro
  • Local Sales Manager - Kristin Roderick


  1. ^ "D.J. Is Arrested Over His Threat to Rival's Child." The New York Times 13 May 2006.[1]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WWPR-FM&oldid=54883628"