WBTP
Encyclopedia
WBTP is a Urban Contemporary
radio station that serves the Tampa Bay
area that plays hip-hop
, R&B, and soul music
that aims towards the African American
community. Its target audience is African Americans between the ages of 18-34, but its main competitors are WLLD
which has a very similar target audience as well, and WTMP
which caters to the Urban Adult Contemporary
demographics. It was the home of former Russ Parr Morning Show
co-host, Olivia Fox, who was host of the station's morning drive show from 2004 to mid 2006. The station's current slogan is "Tampa Bay's #1 for Hip-Hop and R&B".
On some days, WBTP can be received as far east as Melbourne
.
, WBTP, "95.7 the Beat". It remained jockless for nearly the first 4 months and received lukewarm reception from the African American community of the area. However, the station has now beaten its closest competitor, WLLD
, in ratings since late 2004, though not consistently. For example, WLLD
claimed a ratings victory for Summer 2006 by .3 rating points, according to Arbitron
.http://www.arbitron.com/home/ratings.htm
Urban contemporary
Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of hip hop/rap, contemporary R&B, pop, electronica such as dubstep and drum and bass and Caribbean music...
radio station that serves the Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and estuary along the Gulf of Mexico on the west central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay."Tampa Bay" is not the name of any municipality...
area that plays hip-hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
, R&B, and soul music
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
that aims towards the African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
community. Its target audience is African Americans between the ages of 18-34, but its main competitors are WLLD
WLLD
WLLD is a Rhythmic Contemporary Hits-formatted radio station licensed to Lakeland, Florida that serves the Tampa Bay area in Florida, and is owned by CBS Radio. Although the target audience of WiLD 94.1 is mainly people of ages 18–34, its main competitor is currently Clear Channel-owned Mainstream...
which has a very similar target audience as well, and WTMP
WTMP
WTMP is a radio station serving the Tampa Bay, Florida, broadcasting on 1150 AM and 96.1 FM. The station plays Spanish Tropical music, billed as "La Bahia", which is Spanish for "The Bay", referring to the Tampa Bay area...
which caters to the Urban Adult Contemporary
Urban Adult Contemporary
Urban adult contemporary is the name for a format of radio music, similar to an urban contemporary format. Radio stations using this format usually would not have rap music on their playlists. The format was designed by Barry Mayo when he, Lee S. Simonson and Bill Pearson organized Broadcast...
demographics. It was the home of former Russ Parr Morning Show
Russ Parr
Russ Parr is an American radio and television personality.-Career:Parr began as a Production Services Director at ABC TV....
co-host, Olivia Fox, who was host of the station's morning drive show from 2004 to mid 2006. The station's current slogan is "Tampa Bay's #1 for Hip-Hop and R&B".
On some days, WBTP can be received as far east as Melbourne
Melbourne, Florida
Melbourne is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. As of 2009, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 78,323. The municipal area is the second largest by size and by population in the county. Melbourne is a principal city of the Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville, Florida...
.
History
95.7 was an adult contemporary-formatted station WSSR, "Star 95.7" (formerly Lite Rock) until November 2003. In November 2003, the format change occurred in which the station became a Urban ContemporaryUrban contemporary
Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of hip hop/rap, contemporary R&B, pop, electronica such as dubstep and drum and bass and Caribbean music...
, WBTP, "95.7 the Beat". It remained jockless for nearly the first 4 months and received lukewarm reception from the African American community of the area. However, the station has now beaten its closest competitor, WLLD
WLLD
WLLD is a Rhythmic Contemporary Hits-formatted radio station licensed to Lakeland, Florida that serves the Tampa Bay area in Florida, and is owned by CBS Radio. Although the target audience of WiLD 94.1 is mainly people of ages 18–34, its main competitor is currently Clear Channel-owned Mainstream...
, in ratings since late 2004, though not consistently. For example, WLLD
WLLD
WLLD is a Rhythmic Contemporary Hits-formatted radio station licensed to Lakeland, Florida that serves the Tampa Bay area in Florida, and is owned by CBS Radio. Although the target audience of WiLD 94.1 is mainly people of ages 18–34, its main competitor is currently Clear Channel-owned Mainstream...
claimed a ratings victory for Summer 2006 by .3 rating points, according to Arbitron
Arbitron
Arbitron is a consumer research company in the United States that collects listener data on radio audiences. It was founded as American Research Bureau by Jim Seiler in 1949 and became national by merging with L.A. based Coffin, Cooper and Clay in the early 1950s...
.http://www.arbitron.com/home/ratings.htm
On-air personalities
- The Steve HarveySteve HarveyBroderick Steven "Steve" Harvey is an American actor, comedian, entertainer, television and radio personality and best-selling author. He is best known as the star of the WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show, and as one of the four comedians featured in the Spike Lee film The Original Kings of Comedy...
Morning Show - Jomama Johnson
- Stu
- DJ Chase
- The Keith SweatKeith SweatKeith Sweat is an American R&B/soul, singer-songwriter, record producer, radio personality and a major contributor to the new jack swing era.-Music career:...
Hotel - Keep Hope Alive with Jesse JacksonJesse JacksonJesse Louis Jackson, Sr. is an African-American civil rights activist and Baptist minister. He was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988 and served as shadow senator for the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1997. He was the founder of both entities that merged to...
- Baka Boyz
- Bobby Jones (singer)Bobby Jones (singer)Bobby Jones is a Grammy Award–winning Gospel music singer and television host from Nashville, Tennessee and the host and executive producer of several cable television's gospel music program including Bobby Jones Gospel.-Career:Jones has produced programs for BET since 1980...
Gospel - Sunday Morning Gospel with Prophetess B. Shephard
Other Personalities
- DJ Chase
- Real
- Suge Avery
- DJ Ekin
- Cristyle
- DJ Sandman
- Hood Heffner
- Shan E Shan
Station Management
- General Manager Dan DiLoreto
- Program Director Ron "Jomama Johnson" Shephard
- Music Director Stu Robinson
- News Director Suge Avery