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{{Infobox radio station
{{Radio station |
| image = [[Image:WRFF-FM.png|150px]]
image = [[Image:WRFF-FM.png|150px]] |
| name = WRFF
name = WDZY-FM|
| city = [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]
city = [[Egg Harbor City, New Jersey]] |
| area = [[Delaware Valley|Greater Philadelphia (Delaware Valley)]]
area = [[Delaware Valley|Greater Philadelphia (Delaware Valley)]] |
| branding = ''Radio 104.5''
branding = Disney Channel 104.5 Jamz |
slogan = "Always 18 Disney Channel Hits In A Row!" <br> "Today's Disney Channel Rhythm and All the Best Disney Channel Throwbacks!"|
| slogan =
| airdate = 1965
airdate = 1965 (as WRCP-FM)|
| frequency = 104.5 [[MHz]]<br>{{HD Radio}}<br/><small>HD2: [[Active Rock]] (Rock Nation)</small>
frequency = 104.5 [[MHz]]<br>{{HD Radio}}<br/>104.5 HD-2: Jammin' Oldies 104.5 |
format = [[Children's radio]]/[[Rhythmic Top 40]] <small> (Analog/HD-1) </small><br> [[Rhythmic oldies]] <small> (HD-2)</small>|
| format = [[Modern Rock]], [[Alternative Rock]]
| erp = 11,500 [[watt]]s
erp = 11,500 [[watt]]s|
| haat = 308 meters
haat = 308 meters|
| class = B
class = B|
| coordinates = {{coord|40|02|30.00|N|75|14|24.00|W|region:US-PA_type:landmark}}
coordinates = {{coord|40|02|30.00|N|75|14|24.00|W|region:US-PA_type:landmark}} |
| facility_id = 53969
facility_id = 53969|
| callsign_meaning = '''W'''e're '''R'''adio One O '''F'''our '''F'''ive
callsign_meaning = '''W'''e're Philadelphia's New '''D'''i'''Z'''ne'''Y''' Channel 104.5 Jamz!|
| former_callsigns = WRCP-FM (1965-1977)<br>WSNI (1977-1990)<br>WYXR (1990-1999)<br>WLCE (1999-2002)<br>WSNI (2002-2006)<br>WUBA (2006-2007)
former_callsigns = WRCP-FM (1965-1977)<br>WSNI 1977-1990)<br>WYXR (1990-1999)<br>WLCE (1999-2002)<br>WSNI (2002-2006)<br>WSTK (2006-2007)|
| owner = [[iHeartMedia]]
owner = [[iHeartMedia, Inc.]] |
⚫
sister_stations = [[WDAS-FM]], [[WIOQ]], [[WISX]], [[WUBA]], [[WUSL]]|
| licensee = AMFM Radio Licenses, L.L.C.
webcast = [http://www.radio1045.com/pages/listen_online.html Listen Live]|
⚫
| sister_stations = [[WDAS (AM)|WDAS]], [[WDAS-FM]], [[WIOQ]], [[WISX]], [[WUSL]]
| webcast = [http://www.radio1045.com/pages/listen_online.html Listen Live]
website = [http://www.radio1045.com/ radio1045.com]<br>
| website = [http://www.radio1045.com/ radio1045.com]
[http://groups.myspace.com/wrffphiladelphia Radio 104.5 Myspace Group]|
}}
}}
'''WDZY-FM''' (104.5 FM, "Disney Channel 104.5 Jams") is a [[Children's radio]]/[[rhythmic contemporary]] [[radio station]] located in and licensed to [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]. Licensed to the city of [[Egg Harbor City, New Jersey]], the station is owned by [[iHeartMedia, Inc.]] and is known on-air as "Disney Channel 104.5 Jams." It simulcasts with [[WWAC]] (102.7 FM) in [[Atlantic City, New Jersey]]. The on-air personalities are [[Candace Marie]] and the Disney Channel Morning Girls (mornings), [[Aileen Quinn]] (middays), [[Katy Perry]] (afternoons) and [[Bella Thorne]] and [[Zendaya]] (evenings).

'''WRFF''' (104.5 [[FM broadcasting|FM]], "Radio 104.5") is an American broadcast [[radio station]] located in and licensed to serve [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]. The station is owned by [[iHeartMedia]], broadcasts a [[modern rock]] music format, and is known on-air as "Radio 104.5." A transmitter tower for the station is located in the Roxborough section of Philadelphia, and its studios are located in Bala Cynwyd.


==History==
==History==
Line 30: Line 29:


===WSNI, first time===
===WSNI, first time===
104.5 FM broke away from WRCP in 1977 and became '''WSNI'''. WSNI initially had a soft country/[[easy listening]] hybrid format before evolving to [[instrumental]]-based easy listening.
104.5 FM broke away from WRCP in 1977 and became WSNI. WSNI initially had a soft country/[[easy listening]] hybrid format before evolving to [[instrumental]]-based easy listening.


On January 1, 1980, WSNI became known as "Sunny 104" at first, then later "Sunny 104 1/2," and eventually "Sunny 104.5," a name which was reused later on in the station's history. "Sunny" dumped easy listening in favor of an Adult Contemporary format playing the Top 40 hits of the 1960s, Top 40/Adult contemporary crossovers of the 1970s, and the Adult Contemporary hits of the 1980s up to and including then-current product.
On January 1, 1980 WSNI became known as "Sunny 104" at first, then later "Sunny 104 and a half," and eventually "Sunny 104.5," a name which was reused later on in the station's history. "Sunny" dumped easy listening in favor of an Adult Contemporary format playing the Top 40 hits of the 1960s, Top 40/Adult contemporary crossovers of the 1970s, and the Adult Contemporary hits of the 1980s up to and including current product.


6 years later, the stations were sold to Pyramid Broadcasting. The AM sister station, which still had the WRCP call letters, was eventually sold also and got new call letters. In 1988, singer [[Teddy Pendergrass]] performed some of the station's jingles.
6 years later, the stations were sold to Pyramid Broadcasting. The AM sister station, which still had the WRCP call letters, was eventually sold also and got new call letters. In 1987, singer [[Teena Marie]] performed some of the station's jingles.


===WYXR===
===WYXR===
On December 10, 1990, 104.5's call letters were changed to '''WYXR''' and the format switched to [[Hot AC]]. The new station was known as "Star 104.5".
On December 10, 1990, 104.5's call was changed from WSNI to WYXR and the format switched to Hot AC. The new station was known as "Paramount 104.5" (The station's branding related to [[Paramount Pictures]], the movie studio.)


In a group deal, WYXR became owned by Evergreen by 1993. The station experimented and leaned [[Contemporary hit radio|CHR]] in 1996, but kept the "Star" moniker. The station quietly evolved back to Hot AC in 1997 playing more [[rhythmic]] cuts than most Hot AC stations. In 1997, WYXR became owned by Chancellor as a result of a merger.
In a group deal WYXR became owned by Evergreen by 1993. The station experimented and leaned [[Contemporary hit radio|CHR]] in 1996, but it still remained known as Paramount 104.5. The station quietly evolved back to Hot AC in 1997 playing more [[rhythmic]] cuts than most Hot AC stations. In 1997 WYXR became owned by Chancellor as a result of a merger.


In April 1999, Chancellor (known then as AM/FM) was going to switch the station to a [[Jammin' Oldies]] format. This never happened because [[WBEN-FM|another station]] owned by [[Greater Media]] beat them to it. As a result, the Hot AC format remained until November 18, 1999 at Noon. After playing [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]]'s "[[Who's That Girl (Madonna song)|Who's That Girl]]," the station began stunting with a heartbeat for the next 3 hours.
In April 1999 Chancellor (known then as AM/FM) was going to switch the station to a [[Jammin' Oldies]] format. This never happened because [[WBEN-FM|another station]] owned by [[Greater Media]] beat them to it. As a result the Hot AC format was kept a while longer. The hot AC format lasted until November 18, 1999. WYXR went off the air at 12 noon with [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]]'s "[[Who's That Girl (Madonna song)|Who's That Girl]]". 3 hours of a heartbeat sound effect followed.


===WLCE===
===WMDI===
At 3PM that same day, [[The Cars]]' "[[Let's Go (The Cars song)|Let's Go]]" began to play. The station was now known as "Alice 104.5," and the calls became '''WLCE'''. The new format was a Gold-based "Rock AC", playing "Rockin' Hits" of the 70s, 80s, and 90s. The "Rockin' Hits" format was designed to compete against Greater Media's [[WMGK]]. WMGK was Greater Media's most successful station in Philadelphia at the time, and this was viewed as "punishment" against Greater Media after they flipped 95.7 to "Jammin' Gold." Initially only a couple of current songs were played but by 2001 the station was playing a large number. By 2001, the station evolved to more of a rock based Hot AC format. In 2001, as a result of a merger, WLCE came under the ownership of Clear Channel Communications (now [[iHeartMedia]]).
At 3PM on November 18, 1999, [[The Cars]]' "[[Let's Go]]" began to play. The station was now known as "Melinda 104.5," and the calls became WMDI-FM. The new format was a Gold based Adult Rock AC, playing "Rockin' Hits" of the 70s, 80s, and 90s. The "Rockin' Hits" format was designed to compete against Greater Media's [[Classic rock]] 102.9 WMGK. WMGK was Greater Media's most successful station in Philadelphia at the time and this was viewed as "punishment" against Greater Media after they flipped 95.7 to "Jammin' Gold." Initially only a couple of current songs were played but by 2001 the station was playing a large number. By 2001, the station evolved to more of a rock based Hot AC format. In 2001, as a result of a merger, WMDI-FM came under the ownership of Clear Channel Communications. The [[WLCE]] call sign has now moved to the [[Springfield, Illinois]] market.


===WSNI, second time/oldies version===
===WSNI, second time/oldies version===
On July 31, 2002, after a 24-hour loop of The [[Beatles]]' "[[Here Comes the Sun]]," 104.5 flipped to [[Adult contemporary music|Soft AC]], reverting to the "Sunny 104.5" name with a plan to compete for some of [[WBEB|B101]]'s listeners.
On July 31, 2002, after a 24-hour loop of The [[Beatles]]' "[[Here Comes the Sun]]," 104.5 flipped to [[Adult contemporary music|Soft AC]], reverting to the "Sunny 104.5" name with a plan to compete for some of [[WBEB|B101]]'s listeners.


This incarnation of '''WSNI''' is locally famous for completely abandoning the format as early as the first week in November to play continuous [[Christmas music]] until December 26. The idea was very successful and starting the very next year, B101--which in years past played only 36 hours of continuous Christmas music--copied it and has done it every year since.
This incarnation of WSNI is locally famous for completely abandoning the format as early as the first week in November to play continuous [[Christmas music]] until December 26. The idea was very successful and starting the very next year, B101--which in years past played only 36 hours of continuous Christmas music--copied it and has done it every year since.


"Sunny" was a low-budget station and nearly all the air personalities were voicetracked, meaning the "[[DJ]] banter" heard between songs had been recorded in advance in a whole other part of the country and was being played from a [[hard drive]] just like the music. The low operating costs helped the station be successful even with only middling ratings. "Sunny 104.5" continued for just over 4 years.
Sunny was a low-budget station and nearly all the air personalities were voicetracked, meaning the "[[DJ]] banter" heard between songs had been recorded in advance in a whole other part of the country and was being played from a [[hard drive]] just like the music. The low operating costs helped the station be successful even with only middling ratings. Sunny 104.5 continued for just over 4 years.


At Noon on Thursday, August 10, 2006, Sunny's sister station [[WISX|WJJZ]] 106.1 was switched to a [[Rhythmic Adult Contemporary|Rhythmic AC]] format, and began identifying itself as "[[WISX|Philly's 106.1]]." At the same time, Clear Channel dumped Sunny's Soft AC format and started "shadowcasting" the new station at 106.1. The two stations were playing the same songs, but 104.5 was delayed several seconds from what was heard on 106.1. The last song heard on Sunny 104.5 was "[[Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me]]" by [[Elton John]]. This was followed by a short pause and slow fade in of "[[Let's Get It Started]]" by [[The Black Eyed Peas]]. There was a short announcement from a female ("This feels like my own radio station") and an awkward [[segue]] into "[[Get Ready For This]]" by [[2 Unlimited]], then [[Michael Jackson]]'s "[[Wanna Be Startin' Somethin']]".
At 12 noon EDT on Thursday, August 10, 2006, Sunny's sister station Smooth Jazz [[WJJZ]] 106.1 was switched to a [[Rhythmic Adult Contemporary|Rhythmic AC]] format, and began identifying itself as "[[WISX|Philly's 106.1]]." At the same time, Clear Channel dumped Sunny's Soft AC format and started "shadowcasting" the new station at 106.1. The two stations were playing the same songs but 104.5 was delayed several seconds from what was heard on 106.1. The last song heard on Sunny 104.5 was "[[Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me]]" by [[Elton John]]. This was followed by a short pause and slow fade in of "[[Let's Get It Started]]" by [[The Black Eyed Peas]]. There was a short announcement from a female ("This feels like my own radio station") and an awkward [[segue]] into "[[Get Ready For This]]" by [[2 Unlimited]], then [[Michael Jackson]]'s "[[Wanna Be Startin' Somethin']]".


As for the lucrative all-Christmas format Sunny brought to Philadelphia, B101 had it all to themselves. Without having to worry about beating the competition to the punch, they tended to make the switch to all-Christmas much later in the season, typically 1 day to 1 week prior to Thanksgiving. In 2007, during Arbitron's "holiday period," the lack of competition provided B101 enormous rating success. So in 2008, ''three'' other stations joined in, giving Philadelphia four all-Christmas stations and forcing B101 to share.
As for the lucrative all-Christmas format Sunny brought to Philadelphia, B101 had it all to themselves. Without having to worry about beating the competition to the punch, they tend to wait until the afternoon before Thanksgiving Day before making the switch. In 2007, during Arbitron's "holiday period," the lack of competition provided B101 enormous rating success. So in 2008, ''three'' other stations joined in, giving Philadelphia four all-Christmas stations and forcing B101 to share.


In early January 2007, the WSNI call letters went to the former WOQL-FM in Keene, NH.
In early January 2007, the WSNI call letters went to the former WOQL-FM in Keene, NH.


In 2009, Sunny 104.5 returned to the air on WILT 104.5 in Wilmington, NC.
===WUBA===
On August 23, 2006, after 13 days of simulcasting the 106.1 FM signal, 104.5 FM became a Spanish-language radio station known as "Rumba 104.5". This format was launched at noon that day. This was the first Spanish-language station on FM radio in Philadelphia. They had a format focusing on Tropical and Dance Music, very similar to that of [[WCAA]] and [[WSKQ-FM]] in [[New York City]].


===Radio 104.5===
===WSTK===
On August 23, 2006, after 13 days of shadowcasting Philly 106.1, 104.5 FM became a [[Dance music|Dance]]/[[Rhythmic CHR]] radio station known as "Stoinky 104.5". This format was launched at 12 p.m. EDT on August 23, 2006. This was the second Rhythmic CHR station on FM in Philadelphia. They had a format focusing on hip-hop, pop and R&B music, in a rhythmic AC-like style that was very similar to that of [[WKTU|103.5 KTU The Beat of New York]] in [[New York City]]. Due to very low ratings, Clear Channel quickly moved to find a different format for the 104.5 frequency. The [[WUBA]] call sign and format were moved to 1480 AM in Philadelphia.
On May 16, 2007, Clear Channel flipped the station to [[alternative rock]] as "Radio 104.5," with ''[[Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio?]]'' by [[The Ramones]] as the first song. Because of this, the "Rumba" format moved to 1480 AM, thus ending WDAS's gospel music format, as the station became "Rumba 1480". On HD Radio receivers, Rumba could also be heard at [[WISX|106.1]] HD-2. On May 23, 2007, the WUBA calls moved from 104.5 FM to 1480 AM. On May 23, the station changed call letters to '''WRFF'''.


===Disney Channel 104.5 Jamz!===
The Radio 104.5 presentation centers heavily on modern rock music from the 1990s as well as current product. Overall, the station comes across as "lighter" than typical modern rock radio stations, which tends to be more appealing to the female demographic. Popular artists are: [[The Killers]], [[The Foo Fighters]], [[Silversun Pickups]], [[Coldplay]], and others. This type of presentation is similar to those at several other Clear Channel operations, but it was implemented at this radio station first.
On May 16, 2007, Clear Channel flipped 104.5 to "Disney Channel 104.5 Jamz" playing a children's radio/rhythmic top 40 format, with the slogan "Philadelphia's Disney Channel Station!" and "The Party's Just Begun" by the Cheetah Girls from the Disney Channel Original Movie ''[[The Cheetah Girls 2]]'' as the first song.


On May 23, at midnight, 104.5 started identifying itself as "WDZY-FM" to match the Disney Channel 104.5 Jamz moniker.
The Icelandic band, [[Of Monsters and Men]] was "discovered" when Radio 104.5 started playing them in August 2011.{{cn|date=August 2015}} [[Mumford & Sons]] debuted the song "Ghosts That We Knew" live on Radio 104.5 on October 29, 2011. The song was later confirmed on their album, ''[[Babel (album)|Babel]]''.

The Disney Channel 104.5 Jamz presentation centers heavily on original Disney Channel songs from the 1990's, 2000's and 2010's, as well as featuring mainstream CHR hits from the 2000's through the 2013's, as well as some kid-friendly, clean versions of some of today's [[mainstream urban]] hits. Overall, the station comes across as "lighter" than typical Disney Channel-oriented radio stations, such as [[WCTK|Disney Channel 98.1]] in [[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]] and the newly launched Disney Channel 92.3 in [[Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan|Sault Ste. Marie]]. Most of the songs played on Disney Channel 104.5 were titles that crossed over to Top 40 and children's radio formats, and they reach outside of the pop/CHR format to play acts like [[Selena Gomez and the Scene]], [[Miley Cyrus]], [[Hilary Duff]], [[Rascal Flatts]], and others. This type of presentation is highly similar to those at several other Clear Channel operations, but it was implemented at this radio station first.

Top artists on the Disney Channel 104.5 Jamz playlist include artists such as [[China Anne McClain]], [[The Cheetah Girls (band)|The Cheetah Girls]], [[Bridgit Mendler]], [[LMFAO]], [[Drake (rapper)|Drake]], [[Ariana Grande]], [[Katy Perry]], [[Bella Thorne]] and [[Zendaya]], [[Chris Brown (American entertainer)|Chris Brown]], [[Rihanna]], and recently [[Bruno Mars]].

So far, the station is more successful than the city's previous [[alternative rock]] station, [[WPHI-FM|Y100]] in the ratings.

==Slogan history==
*2007: "Philly's Disney Channel Hits and Hip-Hop", "The New #1 Hit Music Station!"
*2008: "Philly's New Disney Music Station", "Today's Best Music!"
*2009: "The Best Variety of the Hottest Songs from Your Favorite Disney Channel Shows and Movies, Along with All of Today's New Hit Music"
*2010: "Nick, Kevin and Joe Jonas in the Morning and Philly's Best Disney Channel Mix All Day!"
*2011: "Philly's New Upbeat Disney Channel At-Work Choice", "All The Hottest Disney Channel Hits!"
*2012: "Philly's Disney Channel Summertime Party Station!", "18 Commercial-Free Disney Channel Jams In A Row!"
*2013: "Philadelphia's Disney Channel Station!", "Today's Hottest Disney Channel Hits!"
*2014: "The 90's to Now!", "Always 18 Blazin' Disney Channel Jamz In A Row!", "Today's Disney Channel Rhythm and ALL the Best Disney Channel Throwbacks!"


==Signal==
==Signal==
WRFF can be heard with a reliable signal as far as [[Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania]] to the north, [[Lancaster County, Pennsylvania|Lancaster]] and [[Lebanon County, Pennsylvania|Lebanon Counties]] to the west, [[New Jersey Shore]] to the east, and well into [[Delaware]] and [[Maryland]] to the south.
WDZY-FM can be heard with a reliable signal as far as [[Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania]] to the North, [[Lebanon County, Pennsylvania]], to the West, [[New Jersey Shore]] to the East, and well into [[Delaware]] and [[Maryland]] to the South.

==Imaging==

Station Voices: Pat Garrett, St. John (of 99.7 Now), [[Adrienne Bailon]], [[Aileen Quinn|Aileen Marie Quinn]] and [[Katy Perry]]

Station Jingles: ReelWorld One CHR with the WXKS logo and WKTU 2005 and KDWB 1996 packages and the N2Xtreme/WNCI package from M-Edge Productions.

==HD radio==
*WDZY-FM HD-1: [Disney Channel 104.5 Jamz]
*WDZY-FM HD-2: [Jammin' Oldies 104.5] ([[Rhythmic oldies]])

==Line-up==

Candace Marie and the Disney Channel Morning Girls: 5:30-10:00 a.m.

Aileen Quinn: 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Katy Perry: 2:00-6:00 p.m.

Bella Thorne and Zendaya: 6:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.


Weekends:

Lauren, Paul, Bob Stei


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.radio1045.com/ WRFF Website]
*[http://www.radio1045.com/ WRFF Website]
*{{FM station data|WRFF}}
*{{FMQ|WRFF}}
*{{FML|WRFF}}
*{{FMARB|WRFF}}
*http://www.angelfire.com/nj2/piratejim/phillyfmhistory2.html
*http://www.angelfire.com/nj2/piratejim/phillyfmhistory2.html


{{Philadelphia FM}}
{{Philadelphia FM}}
{{Modern Rock Radio Stations in Pennsylvania}}
{{Modern Rock Radio Stations in Pennsylvania}}
{{IHeartMedia}}
{{Clear Channel}}


[[Category:Radio stations in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|RFF]]
[[Category:Radio stations in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|RFF-FM]]
[[Category:Modern rock radio stations in the United States]]
[[Category:Modern rock radio stations in the United States]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 1965]]
[[Category:IHeartMedia radio stations]]

Revision as of 18:05, 4 November 2015

WDZY-FM
File:WRFF-FM.png
Broadcast areaGreater Philadelphia (Delaware Valley)
Frequency104.5 MHz
(HD Radio)
104.5 HD-2: Jammin' Oldies 104.5
BrandingDisney Channel 104.5 Jamz
Programming
FormatChildren's radio/Rhythmic Top 40 (Analog/HD-1)
Rhythmic oldies (HD-2)
Ownership
OwneriHeartMedia, Inc.
WDAS-FM, WIOQ, WISX, WUBA, WUSL
History
First air date
1965 (as WRCP-FM)
Former call signs
WRCP-FM (1965-1977)
WSNI 1977-1990)
WYXR (1990-1999)
WLCE (1999-2002)
WSNI (2002-2006)
WSTK (2006-2007)
Call sign meaning
We're Philadelphia's New DiZneY Channel 104.5 Jamz!
Technical information
Facility ID53969
ClassB
ERP11,500 watts
HAAT308 meters
Transmitter coordinates
40°02′30.00″N 75°14′24.00″W / 40.0416667°N 75.2400000°W / 40.0416667; -75.2400000
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websiteradio1045.com
Radio 104.5 Myspace Group

WDZY-FM (104.5 FM, "Disney Channel 104.5 Jams") is a Children's radio/rhythmic contemporary radio station located in and licensed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Licensed to the city of Egg Harbor City, New Jersey, the station is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. and is known on-air as "Disney Channel 104.5 Jams." It simulcasts with WWAC (102.7 FM) in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The on-air personalities are Candace Marie and the Disney Channel Morning Girls (mornings), Aileen Quinn (middays), Katy Perry (afternoons) and Bella Thorne and Zendaya (evenings).

History

WRCP-FM

104.5 FM first signed on in February 1965 as WRCP-FM simulcasting WRCP/1540. Both stations offered MOR formats. The stations were owned by Associated Communications, a subsidiary of Rust Craft Greeting Cards. In 1967, the stations switched to country music formats. Tightened Federal Communications Commission (FCC) restrictions on AM-FM simulcasting led to a new format for the FM in 1977.

WSNI, first time

104.5 FM broke away from WRCP in 1977 and became WSNI. WSNI initially had a soft country/easy listening hybrid format before evolving to instrumental-based easy listening.

On January 1, 1980 WSNI became known as "Sunny 104" at first, then later "Sunny 104 and a half," and eventually "Sunny 104.5," a name which was reused later on in the station's history. "Sunny" dumped easy listening in favor of an Adult Contemporary format playing the Top 40 hits of the 1960s, Top 40/Adult contemporary crossovers of the 1970s, and the Adult Contemporary hits of the 1980s up to and including current product.

6 years later, the stations were sold to Pyramid Broadcasting. The AM sister station, which still had the WRCP call letters, was eventually sold also and got new call letters. In 1987, singer Teena Marie performed some of the station's jingles.

WYXR

On December 10, 1990, 104.5's call was changed from WSNI to WYXR and the format switched to Hot AC. The new station was known as "Paramount 104.5" (The station's branding related to Paramount Pictures, the movie studio.)

In a group deal WYXR became owned by Evergreen by 1993. The station experimented and leaned CHR in 1996, but it still remained known as Paramount 104.5. The station quietly evolved back to Hot AC in 1997 playing more rhythmic cuts than most Hot AC stations. In 1997 WYXR became owned by Chancellor as a result of a merger.

In April 1999 Chancellor (known then as AM/FM) was going to switch the station to a Jammin' Oldies format. This never happened because another station owned by Greater Media beat them to it. As a result the Hot AC format was kept a while longer. The hot AC format lasted until November 18, 1999. WYXR went off the air at 12 noon with Madonna's "Who's That Girl". 3 hours of a heartbeat sound effect followed.

WMDI

At 3PM on November 18, 1999, The Cars' "Let's Go" began to play. The station was now known as "Melinda 104.5," and the calls became WMDI-FM. The new format was a Gold based Adult Rock AC, playing "Rockin' Hits" of the 70s, 80s, and 90s. The "Rockin' Hits" format was designed to compete against Greater Media's Classic rock 102.9 WMGK. WMGK was Greater Media's most successful station in Philadelphia at the time and this was viewed as "punishment" against Greater Media after they flipped 95.7 to "Jammin' Gold." Initially only a couple of current songs were played but by 2001 the station was playing a large number. By 2001, the station evolved to more of a rock based Hot AC format. In 2001, as a result of a merger, WMDI-FM came under the ownership of Clear Channel Communications. The WLCE call sign has now moved to the Springfield, Illinois market.

WSNI, second time/oldies version

On July 31, 2002, after a 24-hour loop of The Beatles' "Here Comes the Sun," 104.5 flipped to Soft AC, reverting to the "Sunny 104.5" name with a plan to compete for some of B101's listeners.

This incarnation of WSNI is locally famous for completely abandoning the format as early as the first week in November to play continuous Christmas music until December 26. The idea was very successful and starting the very next year, B101--which in years past played only 36 hours of continuous Christmas music--copied it and has done it every year since.

Sunny was a low-budget station and nearly all the air personalities were voicetracked, meaning the "DJ banter" heard between songs had been recorded in advance in a whole other part of the country and was being played from a hard drive just like the music. The low operating costs helped the station be successful even with only middling ratings. Sunny 104.5 continued for just over 4 years.

At 12 noon EDT on Thursday, August 10, 2006, Sunny's sister station Smooth Jazz WJJZ 106.1 was switched to a Rhythmic AC format, and began identifying itself as "Philly's 106.1." At the same time, Clear Channel dumped Sunny's Soft AC format and started "shadowcasting" the new station at 106.1. The two stations were playing the same songs but 104.5 was delayed several seconds from what was heard on 106.1. The last song heard on Sunny 104.5 was "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me" by Elton John. This was followed by a short pause and slow fade in of "Let's Get It Started" by The Black Eyed Peas. There was a short announcement from a female ("This feels like my own radio station") and an awkward segue into "Get Ready For This" by 2 Unlimited, then Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'".

As for the lucrative all-Christmas format Sunny brought to Philadelphia, B101 had it all to themselves. Without having to worry about beating the competition to the punch, they tend to wait until the afternoon before Thanksgiving Day before making the switch. In 2007, during Arbitron's "holiday period," the lack of competition provided B101 enormous rating success. So in 2008, three other stations joined in, giving Philadelphia four all-Christmas stations and forcing B101 to share.

In early January 2007, the WSNI call letters went to the former WOQL-FM in Keene, NH.

In 2009, Sunny 104.5 returned to the air on WILT 104.5 in Wilmington, NC.

WSTK

On August 23, 2006, after 13 days of shadowcasting Philly 106.1, 104.5 FM became a Dance/Rhythmic CHR radio station known as "Stoinky 104.5". This format was launched at 12 p.m. EDT on August 23, 2006. This was the second Rhythmic CHR station on FM in Philadelphia. They had a format focusing on hip-hop, pop and R&B music, in a rhythmic AC-like style that was very similar to that of 103.5 KTU The Beat of New York in New York City. Due to very low ratings, Clear Channel quickly moved to find a different format for the 104.5 frequency. The WUBA call sign and format were moved to 1480 AM in Philadelphia.

Disney Channel 104.5 Jamz!

On May 16, 2007, Clear Channel flipped 104.5 to "Disney Channel 104.5 Jamz" playing a children's radio/rhythmic top 40 format, with the slogan "Philadelphia's Disney Channel Station!" and "The Party's Just Begun" by the Cheetah Girls from the Disney Channel Original Movie The Cheetah Girls 2 as the first song.

On May 23, at midnight, 104.5 started identifying itself as "WDZY-FM" to match the Disney Channel 104.5 Jamz moniker.

The Disney Channel 104.5 Jamz presentation centers heavily on original Disney Channel songs from the 1990's, 2000's and 2010's, as well as featuring mainstream CHR hits from the 2000's through the 2013's, as well as some kid-friendly, clean versions of some of today's mainstream urban hits. Overall, the station comes across as "lighter" than typical Disney Channel-oriented radio stations, such as Disney Channel 98.1 in Providence and the newly launched Disney Channel 92.3 in Sault Ste. Marie. Most of the songs played on Disney Channel 104.5 were titles that crossed over to Top 40 and children's radio formats, and they reach outside of the pop/CHR format to play acts like Selena Gomez and the Scene, Miley Cyrus, Hilary Duff, Rascal Flatts, and others. This type of presentation is highly similar to those at several other Clear Channel operations, but it was implemented at this radio station first.

Top artists on the Disney Channel 104.5 Jamz playlist include artists such as China Anne McClain, The Cheetah Girls, Bridgit Mendler, LMFAO, Drake, Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, Bella Thorne and Zendaya, Chris Brown, Rihanna, and recently Bruno Mars.

So far, the station is more successful than the city's previous alternative rock station, Y100 in the ratings.

Slogan history

  • 2007: "Philly's Disney Channel Hits and Hip-Hop", "The New #1 Hit Music Station!"
  • 2008: "Philly's New Disney Music Station", "Today's Best Music!"
  • 2009: "The Best Variety of the Hottest Songs from Your Favorite Disney Channel Shows and Movies, Along with All of Today's New Hit Music"
  • 2010: "Nick, Kevin and Joe Jonas in the Morning and Philly's Best Disney Channel Mix All Day!"
  • 2011: "Philly's New Upbeat Disney Channel At-Work Choice", "All The Hottest Disney Channel Hits!"
  • 2012: "Philly's Disney Channel Summertime Party Station!", "18 Commercial-Free Disney Channel Jams In A Row!"
  • 2013: "Philadelphia's Disney Channel Station!", "Today's Hottest Disney Channel Hits!"
  • 2014: "The 90's to Now!", "Always 18 Blazin' Disney Channel Jamz In A Row!", "Today's Disney Channel Rhythm and ALL the Best Disney Channel Throwbacks!"

Signal

WDZY-FM can be heard with a reliable signal as far as Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania to the North, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, to the West, New Jersey Shore to the East, and well into Delaware and Maryland to the South.

Imaging

Station Voices: Pat Garrett, St. John (of 99.7 Now), Adrienne Bailon, Aileen Marie Quinn and Katy Perry

Station Jingles: ReelWorld One CHR with the WXKS logo and WKTU 2005 and KDWB 1996 packages and the N2Xtreme/WNCI package from M-Edge Productions.

HD radio

  • WDZY-FM HD-1: [Disney Channel 104.5 Jamz]
  • WDZY-FM HD-2: [Jammin' Oldies 104.5] (Rhythmic oldies)

Line-up

Candace Marie and the Disney Channel Morning Girls: 5:30-10:00 a.m.

Aileen Quinn: 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Katy Perry: 2:00-6:00 p.m.

Bella Thorne and Zendaya: 6:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.


Weekends:

Lauren, Paul, Bob Stei

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