WWPR-FM

WWPR-FM

File:WwprFMlogo.png
New York City
Broadcast area	New York City area
Frequency	105.1 FM (MHz) (HD Radio) 105.1-2 FM Reggaeton/Hispanic Rhythmic Power Español (HD Radio)
Branding	Power 105.1
Programming
Format	Commercial; Urban
Ownership
Owner	Clear Channel
Sister stations	WAXQ, WHTZ, WKTU, WLTW
History
First air date	1953
Call sign meaning	World Wide Power Radio (former branding)
Technical information
Facility ID	6373
Class	B
ERP	6,000 watts
HAAT	415 meters
Links
Webcast	Listen Live!
Website	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.

The WWPR call letters were also previously used for one year (starting in December 1987) by WPLJ.

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, billing itself "Stereo 105", adopted a beautiful music format. The format was mostly instrumental with about one vocal every 15 minutes. Their music featured the works of such artists 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-FM, tended to do slightly better in the ratings, but both stations held their own.

The WNSR logo that was in use from 1985 through mid 1992.

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 1980's and a moderate amount of then current adult contemporary songs included as well. Initially, the station's ratings were low, but once competitor WYNY (today WQHT, the main rival of today's 105.1 frequency) 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, cutting back (but still playing) on 60's music, 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"). In August of 1997, less than a year later, with ratings on the decline, the call letters would change back to WNSR. The original plan was for the station to drop "the Buzz" format in favor of a gold based AC format playing songs from 1964 through then current product. The station was to have launched on August 18, 1997, with television commercials set to air. Their owners, Bonneville, instead decided to sell the station to Chancellor Media (which owned Z100, Lite FM, WKTU, and Q 104. As a result the format change for FM 105.1 was canceled and the station would remain "The Buzz" for a while longer with the reverted WNSR call letters. Gradually from September through November of 1997, the station would gradually return to playing hot adult contemporary and then adult contemporary music. For the next few months, the station would simply be known on-air as "FM 105.1" and would only use the WNSR calls for station ID's.

In January 1998 the station, under new ownership, 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". Initially, in January of 1998, Big 105 was musically very close to WLTW but evolved to a Hot AC format by that May. They also added Danny Bonaduce as their morning show host. Ratings continued to fail and by October of 1998, Big 105 was sounding more like a Modern Rock based Hot AC similar to their former Buzz format but not as deep.

The Jammin 105 logo that lasted from 1999 through early 2002.

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, dance, and rhythmic pop 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. Chancellor would later merged with Capstar Broadcasting to form AMFM Inc. in 1999. In 2000, Clear Channel Communications would later merged with AMFM Inc., giving this and the other four stations a new owner. Under Clear Channel, WTJM would evolve into an urban oldies format and then an urban adult contemporary format, simply known as Jammin' 105. 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 Carl Blaze's death

DJ Carl Blaze who was a popular DJ at Power 105.1 for over three years was fatally shot outside an apartment building near Manhattan's Inwood section on December 7, 2006 about 4:30AM in the morning and his $20,000 diamond chain was stolen from him. He was taken to Harlem Hospital Center, where he died Saturday, December 23. The investigation into the shooting was ongoing.1

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 "Star" from the Star & Buc Wild morning show. He had a running on-air feud with Hot 97's DJ Envy, whose real name is Raashaun Casey.

In a May 3, 2006 broadcast, Torain mentioned DJ Envy's wife and child. Torain said he would pay $500 to any listener who told him where the girl attended school. Torain, who is bi-racial, 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 endangering the welfare of a child.

Leaving the precinct house, Torain leaned back and grinned for television cameras, saying "You're looking at the new Lenny Bruce." Torains lawyer's defended his broadcasts on first amendment grounds.

Star and Bucwild was replaced with Live With Big Tigger and Egypt on May 4, 2006

Power in HD2

In early 2006, Clear Channel launched a new HD2 station on the 105.1 frequency which plays Reggaeton & Hispanic Rhythmic music. The format is similar to that heard on WCAA.

Various personalities

• Free
• Malikha Mallette
• Curt Flirt
• Jay Wright
• Chuck Dogg
• Kim Kane
• Big Tigger
• Big R
• Jayson Fox
• Will2Be

Former Shows

• Star And Buc Wild In The Morning
• Ed Lover And Doctor Dre In The Morning
• Colby Colb show
• Tony Touch's Reggeatony Show
• The Jayson Fox Show
• Egypt (media personality)

External links

• Power 105.1's Website
• Template:FMQ
• Template:FML
• WWPR in Nielsen Audio's FM station database