WWPR-FM (Power 105.1) is an urban contemporary (hip hop) radio station in New York. It was signed on the air in March 2002 to target WQHT-FM's hip hop audience.

History

When WTJM-FM's ratings were at the bottom of the barrel, Clear Channel Communications decided to crush long time rap station WQHT-FM (Hot 97) by launching WWPR. Hot 97 was 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 brought in former Hot 97 hosts Ed Lover and Doctor Dre in its morning drive time. The station was now in the top 5 of the Arbitron ratings. Power 105 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. Doctor Dre was terminated in December 2003 to form a new morning show with Ed Lover and Monie Love. Well-known disc jockeys are critical to radio for them. Power 105 decided to really challenge Hot 97 even harder by bringing in Star and Buc Wild as the new moring hosts in an effort to jolt the ratings to number one. Power 105 is one of the top hip hop broadcasters in New York as well as in the country.

Ratings

Recently WWPR-FM surpassed WQHT-FM in the ratings for the first time ever. This is a response from Asian Americans as well as prominent hip hop pioneers to boycott Hot 97 because of the tsunami song.

External links

• http://www.power1051fm.com