WWPR-FM
Encyclopedia
WWPR-FM, also known as "Power 105.1", is an urban contemporary
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.
ing its AM sister station
with a diversified and classical music format. Bonneville International
, the broadcast arm of the Mormon Church
, purchased WRFM in 1963.
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 pair of rival stations, the simulcast of then-co-owned WPAT-AM
-FM
, tended to do slightly better in the ratings, but both outlets 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 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
(the present-day 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 WHTZ
, WLTW
, WKTU
, and WAXQ
. As a result the format change for 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.
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 1980s, did better in the ratings than the previous format, and Jammin' Oldies' results initially challenged those of longtime oldies station WCBS-FM
. Chancellor merged with Capstar Broadcasting to form AMFM Inc. in 1999. Then, in 2000, Clear Channel Communications
merge 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 WRKS 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 mainstream urban
format as WWPR-FM ("Power 105.1"). (Some wags 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).
By 2004
, WWPR-FM became the market's only urban contemporary
station because of the transition of WBLS
from urban contemporary
to urban adult contemporary
. WQHT is closer, but they report as rhythmic contemporary
per Mediabase
& Nielsen BDS, although WQHT was an urban reporter on Nielsen BDS from 2006
-2007
despite Mediabase continuting to report WQHT as a rhythmic.
WQHT had been the only New York station featuring current hip hop
and R&B since its owner, Emmis Communications
purchased WRKS in 1994 and moved that station towards an adult R&B format. In an effort to build an audience, WWPR-FM brought in former Hot 97 personalities and Yo! MTV Raps
hosts Ed Lover
and Doctor Dre
to anchor their morning show. The station then entered into the top five of the Arbitron
ratings, a position it maintains to this day.
The station terminated Doctor Dre's contract in December 2003 and gave Ed Lover a new co-host in rapper-turned-radio personality Monie Love
, which would last for about a year. By the end of 2004, WWPR decided to heat up their rivalry with WQHT by bringing in ex-Hot 97 morning show hosts Star & Buc Wild as their new morning drive team, as well-known disc jockey
s were deemed critical to their success.
The "Star and Buc Wild Morning Show" was replaced in 2006 by Live With Big Tigger
and Egypt which would be replaced by a returning Ed Lover, who would later be joined by Malikha Mallette
. This last show incarnation ended on November 19, 2010 when Ed Lover was released from the radio station and Mallette was re-assigned to the midday shift, replacing De Ja.
, 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 4:30 AM and his $20,000 diamond chain was stolen from him. He was taken to Harlem Hospital Center
, where he died Saturday, December 23. No arrest have been made and the investigation into the shooting was ongoing.
, 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
." Torain's lawyer's defended his broadcasts on first amendment grounds.
Star and Buc Wild were replaced with Live With Big Tigger
and Egypt on May 4, 2006.
on the 105.1 frequency which plays Reggaeton
& Hispanic Rhythmic
music. The format is similar to that heard on WCAA
.
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
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
that features 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...
and R&B licensed to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
that serves the Greater New York
New York metropolitan area
The New York metropolitan area, also known as Greater New York, or the Tri-State area, is the region that composes of New York City and the surrounding region...
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, breaking away from simulcastSimulcast
Simulcast, shorthand for "simultaneous broadcast", refers to programs or events broadcast across more than one medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at the same time. For example, Absolute Radio is simulcast on both AM and on satellite radio, and the BBC's Prom concerts are often...
ing its AM sister station
WWRL
WWRL is a radio station in New York City, broadcasting at 1600 kHz AM owned by Access.1 Communications. Since September 1, 2006, its format has been progressive talk radio...
with a diversified and classical music format. Bonneville International
Bonneville International
Bonneville International Corporation is a broadcasting company wholly owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through its for-profit arm, Deseret Management Corporation...
, the broadcast arm of the Mormon Church
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints traces its current dispensation beginnings to Joseph Smith, Jr. on April 6, 1830 in Western New York. Initial converts were drawn to the church in part because of the newly published Book of Mormon, a self-described chronicle of indigenous American...
, purchased WRFM in 1963.
In 1968 WRFM, billing itself "Stereo 105", adopted a beautiful music
Beautiful music
Beautiful music is a mostly instrumental music format that was prominent in American radio from the 1960s through the 1980s...
format. The format was mostly instrumental with about one vocal every 15 minutes. Their music featured the works of such artists as Mantovani
Mantovani
Annunzio Paolo Mantovani known as Mantovani, was an Anglo-Italian conductor and light orchestra-styled entertainer with a cascading strings musical signature. The book British Hit Singles & Albums states that he was "Britain's most successful album act before The Beatles .....
, Henry Mancini
Henry Mancini
Henry Mancini was an American composer, conductor and arranger, best remembered for his film and television scores. He won a record number of Grammy Awards , plus a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously in 1995...
, John Fox
John Fox
John Fox may refer to:* Tinker Fox, Colonel John Fox , English Parliamentarian Soldier*John Fox * John Fox , pitcher for Major League Baseball* John Fox , comedian...
, Percy Faith
Percy Faith
Percy Faith was a Canadian-born American bandleader, orchestrator, composer and conductor, known for his lush arrangements of pop and Christmas standards. He is often credited with creating the "easy listening" or "mood music" format which became staples of American popular music in the 1950s and...
, Hollyridge Strings
Hollyridge Strings
The Hollyridge Strings was a studio orchestra that specialized in easy-listening music and recorded for the Capitol Records label in the 1960s and 1970s....
, Leroy Anderson
Leroy Anderson
Leroy Anderson was an American composer of short, light concert pieces, many of which were introduced by the Boston Pops Orchestra under the direction of Arthur Fiedler...
, Frank Mills
Frank Mills
Frank Mills , is a Canadian pianist and recording artist, best known for his solo instrumental hit "Music Box Dancer"....
and Richard Clayderman
Richard Clayderman
Richard Clayderman is a French pianist who has released numerous albums including the compositions of Paul de Senneville and Olivier Toussaint, instrumental renditions of popular music, rearrangements of movie soundtracks, ethnic music, and easy-listening arrangements of most popular works of...
. Mixed in were vocals by such artists as Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
, Neil Diamond
Neil Diamond
Neil Leslie Diamond is an American singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades from the 1960s until the present....
, Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers
Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur...
, Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole
Nathaniel Adams Coles , known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. Although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres...
and Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Joan Streisand is an American singer, actress, film producer and director. She has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, a Peabody Award, and is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy,...
. Ratings for the station were high, and a couple times they hit number one overall. A pair of rival stations, the simulcast of then-co-owned WPAT-AM
WPAT (AM)
WPAT is the callsign of a radio station licensed to Paterson, New Jersey. Located at 930 kHz in the medium-wave AM band, the station runs paid ethnic programming....
-FM
WPAT-FM
WPAT-FM, known on-air as "93.1 Amor", is a radio station with a Spanish-language Rhythmic AC format. Located on 93.1 FM, the station, which is licensed to Paterson, New Jersey, serves the New York City Metropolitan area.-History:...
, tended to do slightly better in the ratings, but both outlets held their own.
Soft rock
Soft rock is a style of music which uses the techniques of rock music to compose a softer, more toned-down sound. Soft rock songs generally tend to focus on themes like love, everyday life and relationships. The genre tends to make heavy use of acoustic guitars, pianos, synthesizers and sometimes...
"). 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
WYNY (New York)
WYNY was the call letters of radio stations on three different FM frequencies in or around New York City. The stations on the first two frequencies, 97.1 and 103.5, were closely related while the last one, 107.1 on an FM Quadcast, was not....
(the present-day 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
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
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
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
musicals, the station switched formats to an adult-friendly modern rock
Modern rock
Modern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre...
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 WHTZ
WHTZ
WHTZ — branded Z100 — is a commercial pop/contemporary hit radio radio station licensed to Newark, New Jersey serving the New York metropolitan area. The station is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications...
, WLTW
WLTW
WLTW is a radio station with an Adult Contemporary format in New York City.The station is often number one or close to it in Arbitron ratings for New York City. From 2002 to 2004, the station generated more revenue than any other radio station in the New York market...
, WKTU
WKTU
WKTU is a radio station based in New York City that plays an upbeat, gold-based CHR format. The station's broadcast transmitter is located on the top of the Empire State Building and its city of license is Lake Success, New York, with offices formerly in the "Newport" section of Jersey City, New...
, and WAXQ
WAXQ
WAXQ is a radio station with a classic rock format in New York City. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications.-WFDR:...
. As a result the format change for 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
WLTW
WLTW is a radio station with an Adult Contemporary format in New York City.The station is often number one or close to it in Arbitron ratings for New York City. From 2002 to 2004, the station generated more revenue than any other radio station in the New York market...
("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
Danny Bonaduce
Dante Daniel "Danny" Bonaduce is an American radio/television personality, comedian, professional wrestler, and former child actor...
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.
WCBS-FM
WCBS-FM is a CBS-owned radio station in New York City. The station's studios are in the combined CBS Radio facility at 345 Hudson Street in Manhattan, and its transmitter is located on the Empire State Building....
. Chancellor merged with Capstar Broadcasting to form AMFM Inc. in 1999. Then, in 2000, Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
merge 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 WRKS and WBLS
WBLS
WBLS is an urban adult contemporary FM radio station in New York City, operating on 107.5 MHz. WBLS is owned by Inner City Broadcasting Corporation along with sister station WLIB...
) 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 mainstream urban
Mainstream Urban
Mainstream Urban is a term used to describe a radio format similar to an Urban Contemporary format. The format differentiates itself due to two factors: playlist composition and target demographic...
format as WWPR-FM ("Power 105.1"). (Some wags 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).
By 2004
2004 in radio
The year 2004 saw a number of significant events in radio broadcasting history.-Events:*30 October - In the UK a 163-metre-high radio mast at Peterborough collapses in a fire.-Debuts:...
, WWPR-FM became the market's only urban contemporary
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...
station because of the transition of WBLS
WBLS
WBLS is an urban adult contemporary FM radio station in New York City, operating on 107.5 MHz. WBLS is owned by Inner City Broadcasting Corporation along with sister station WLIB...
from urban contemporary
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...
to 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...
. WQHT is closer, but they report as rhythmic contemporary
Rhythmic Contemporary
Rhythmic contemporary, also known as rhythmic top 40, rhythmic contemporary hit radio or rhythmic crossover, is a music radio format that includes a mix of EDM, upbeat rhythmic pop, hip-hop and R&B hits. Rhythmic contemporary rarely uses rock music or country music in its airplay, but it may...
per Mediabase
Mediabase
Mediabase is a music industry service that monitors radio station airplay in 180 US and Canadian markets. Mediabase publishes music charts and data based on the most played songs on terrestrial and satellite radio, and provides in-depth analytical tools for radio and record industry professionals...
& Nielsen BDS, although WQHT was an urban reporter on Nielsen BDS from 2006
2006 in radio
The year 2006 saw a number of significant events in radio broadcasting.-Events:*January 3 - The BJ Shea Morning Experience switches to KISW in Seattle, Washington, from the former FM Talk station KKWF....
-2007
2007 in radio
The year 2007 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:*January 8: Nanci "The Fabulous Sports Babe" Donnellan returns to radio after a six-year absence, filling in for local hosts in Florida....
despite Mediabase continuting to report WQHT as a rhythmic.
WQHT had been the only New York station featuring current 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...
and R&B since its owner, Emmis Communications
Emmis Communications
Emmis Communications is a media conglomerate based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The company owns radio stations and magazines in the United States, Hungary, Slovakia and Bulgaria.-History:...
purchased WRKS in 1994 and moved that station towards an adult R&B format. In an effort to build an audience, WWPR-FM brought in former Hot 97 personalities and Yo! MTV Raps
Yo! MTV Raps
Yo! MTV Raps was a two-hour American television music video program, which ran from August 1988 to August 1995 through its original Yo! MTV Raps name and later by Yo! . The program was the first hip hop music show on the network, based on the original MTV Europe show, aired one year earlier. The U.S...
hosts Ed Lover
Ed Lover
James Roberts , better known as Ed Lover, is an African-American rapper, actor, musician, radio personality, and former MTV VJ.-Biography:...
and Doctor Dre
Doctor Dre
André "Doctor Dré" Brown is an African American radio personality and former MTV VJ.-Career:Doctor Dré is best known for being the co-host of MTV's hip hop music specialty program Yo! MTV Raps with partner Ed Lover. The duo also starred in the 1993 film Who's the Man?...
to anchor their morning show. The station then entered into the top five of the 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...
ratings, a position it maintains to this day.
The station terminated Doctor Dre's contract in December 2003 and gave Ed Lover a new co-host in rapper-turned-radio personality Monie Love
Monie Love
Simone Riscoe , better known by her stage name Monie Love, is an English emcee and former radio personality in the United States...
, which would last for about a year. By the end of 2004, WWPR decided to heat up their rivalry with WQHT by bringing in ex-Hot 97 morning show hosts Star & Buc Wild as their new morning drive team, as well-known disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
s were deemed critical to their success.
The "Star and Buc Wild Morning Show" was replaced in 2006 by Live With Big Tigger
Big Tigger
Darian "Big Tigger" Morgan , also known as Big Tigg; is an American television and radio personality best known as the host of BET's Rap City and 106 & Park.- :...
and Egypt which would be replaced by a returning Ed Lover, who would later be joined by Malikha Mallette
Malikha Mallette
Malikha Mallette is an American radio personality, voice-over artist and occasional actress. She's most known for her work at New York radio station Power 105, where she currently hosts in the afternoons....
. This last show incarnation ended on November 19, 2010 when Ed Lover was released from the radio station and Mallette was re-assigned to the midday shift, replacing De Ja.
DJ Carl Blaze's death
DJ Carl BlazeDJ Carl Blaze
DJ Carl Blaze was a well-known American DJ of Dominican descent on New York City's popular Hip-Hop and R&B radio station Power 105.1 for over three years. He hosted many parties and was a DJ for several clubs throughout New York City...
, who was a popular DJ at Power 105.1 for over three years, was fatally shot outside an apartment building near Manhattan's Inwood
Inwood, Manhattan
Inwood is the northernmost neighborhood on Manhattan Island in the New York City borough of Manhattan.-Geography:Inwood is physically bounded by the Harlem River to the north and east, and the Hudson River to the west. It extends southward to Fort Tryon Park and alternatively Dyckman Street or...
section on December 7, 2006 about 4:30 AM and his $20,000 diamond chain was stolen from him. He was taken to Harlem Hospital Center
Harlem Hospital Center
Harlem Hospital Center is a 272-bed public, municipally owned teaching hospital in New York City founded in 1887. It is located at 506 Lenox Avenue at 135th Street in the Harlem community of Manhattan.-Overview:...
, where he died Saturday, December 23. No arrest have been made and the investigation into the shooting was ongoing.
Star Controversy
Troi Torain, who previously worked at Power 105's rival hip-hop station WQHT 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 EnvyDJ Envy
DJ Envy is a mixtape DJ from New York. He is known as New York's leading mixtape gardener. He currently serves as the President & CEO of BLOK Entertainment, his own management and production company that has already produced tracks for such artist like DMX, Murderers, Funkmaster Flex, Foxy...
, 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
Lenny Bruce
Leonard Alfred Schneider , better known by the stage name Lenny Bruce, was a Jewish-American comedian, social critic and satirist...
." Torain's lawyer's defended his broadcasts on first amendment grounds.
Star and Buc Wild were replaced with Live With Big Tigger
Big Tigger
Darian "Big Tigger" Morgan , also known as Big Tigg; is an American television and radio personality best known as the host of BET's Rap City and 106 & Park.- :...
and Egypt on May 4, 2006.
Power in HD2
In early 2006, Clear Channel launched a new HD2 stationHD Radio
HD Radio, which originally stood for "Hybrid Digital", is the trademark for iBiquity's in-band on-channel digital radio technology used by AM and FM radio stations to transmit audio and data via a digital signal in conjunction with their analog signals...
on the 105.1 frequency which plays Reggaeton
Reggaeton
Reggaeton is a form of Puerto Rican and Latin American urban and Caribbean music. After its mainstream exposure in 2004, it spread to North American, European and Asian audiences. Reggaeton originated in Puerto Rico but is also has roots from Reggae en Español from Panama and Puerto Rico and...
& Hispanic Rhythmic
Hispanic rhythmic
Hispanic rhythmic, also known as Hispanic urban or "Hurban", is an American radio and format genre that features a Spanish-language musical mix of Latin hip-hop, Mexican hip-hop, reggaeton, dancehall, Latin pop, dance, tropical and salsa hits, all geared towards a bilingual audience, most of them...
music. The format is similar to that heard on WCAA
WCAA
WXNY-FM is a radio station that broadcasts a Spanish language format. It is licensed to Univision Radio at 96.3 FM, and airs in the New York City metropolitan area.-History:...
.
On-air
- DJ EnvyDJ EnvyDJ Envy is a mixtape DJ from New York. He is known as New York's leading mixtape gardener. He currently serves as the President & CEO of BLOK Entertainment, his own management and production company that has already produced tracks for such artist like DMX, Murderers, Funkmaster Flex, Foxy...
- Angela YeeAngela YeeAngela Yee is an American radio personality on New York City's radio station Power 105.1.-Early life:Yee was born and raised in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York to an African American mother and a Chinese father. When she was 15 years old, she moved to South Orange, New Jersey. Angela...
- Charlamagne Tha God
- Malikha MalletteMalikha MalletteMalikha Mallette is an American radio personality, voice-over artist and occasional actress. She's most known for her work at New York radio station Power 105, where she currently hosts in the afternoons....
- DJ ProstyleDJ ProstyleDJ Prostyle, is an Dominican-American DJ and producer on Power 105.1 in New York City and Power 95.3 in Orlando, Florida. He also owns his own record label, All Pro Records....
- DJ Clue?
- Cherry Martinez
- Big TiggerBig TiggerDarian "Big Tigger" Morgan , also known as Big Tigg; is an American television and radio personality best known as the host of BET's Rap City and 106 & Park.- :...
- Kim Kane
- DJ Self
Former DJs
- Borasio (now at Pulse 87.7 (WNYZ-FM) in New York, NY)
- Tony TouchTony TouchTony Touch is an American hip hop break dancer, rapper, DJ, producer and actor of Puerto Rican descent.Tony Touch began as a B-boy during the rap music renaissance era of the early 1980s...
- DJ Carl BlazeDJ Carl BlazeDJ Carl Blaze was a well-known American DJ of Dominican descent on New York City's popular Hip-Hop and R&B radio station Power 105.1 for over three years. He hosted many parties and was a DJ for several clubs throughout New York City...
- Star and Buc Wild
- DJ YonnyDJ YonnyDJ Yonny is an American DJ, producer and remixer on New York City's radio station WXRK.Ávila was born in Queens, New York but raised in Wilmington, Delaware...
(now at 92.3 NOW-FM (WXRK-FM) in New York, NY) - DJ SpinbadDJ SpinbadDJ Spinbad is a radio and club DJ, who formerly mixed on WWPR and WHTZ in New York City.-Career:DJ Spinbad was formerly heard on WHTZ in twenty-minute sets at 7:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m. on weekdays, Fridays at 5:00 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays at 7:00 p.m. He was also heard on WWPR at 10:00...
- EgyptEgypt (media personality)Egypt is a correspondent for “The Maury Show“, entertainment reporter for BET’s “The Black Carpet”, national radio personality in over 60 cities with Premiere Radio Networks, and co-host of the formerly syndicated WB daytime TV hit “Home Delivery”....
(now at WBLS-FM 107.5 in New York, NY) - Doctor DréDoctor DreAndré "Doctor Dré" Brown is an African American radio personality and former MTV VJ.-Career:Doctor Dré is best known for being the co-host of MTV's hip hop music specialty program Yo! MTV Raps with partner Ed Lover. The duo also starred in the 1993 film Who's the Man?...
- Colby Colb (Now at WENZ Cleveland)
- Jay Wright
- Chuck Dogg
- Big R.
- Jayson Fox
- Anthony Caiazzo (Anthony Cruz)
- Will2Be
- Steph Lova
- Ed LoverEd LoverJames Roberts , better known as Ed Lover, is an African-American rapper, actor, musician, radio personality, and former MTV VJ.-Biography:...
(now at 98.7 Kiss FM (WRKS) in New York, NY) - Lady O.
- Lady Chellez
- Q.
- Déjà Vu
Former shows
- Star and Buc Wild In The Morning
- Ed Lover And Doctor Dré In The Morning
- Colby Colb Show
- Tony Touch's Reggeatony Show
- The Jayson Fox Show
- The Ed Lover Show
- The Steph Lova Program
- Middays with Déjà Vu