By Kiarra Solomon
Last month, we all got caught up on what’s what and who’s who on Radio in Philadelphia. But just in case you missed it, here’s a brief synopsis. Clear Channel owns Power 99 FM, 105.3 WDAS FM and 1480 WDAS AM in Philadelphia. Radio Clear owns Hot 107.9FM, 100.3 WRNB FM, and Praise 103.9 FM.
These two radio companies have long battled for listeners, ratings and sometimes On-Air personalities. Last month we talked about Jonesy and Shamara both getting fired from Power 99. Also there was a format and name change on 107.9 FM and 1480 AM (Now it’s the NEW Hot 107.9 which plays hits and hip-hop; 1480 went from Rumba to R&B oldies).
Since firing Jonesy from the Morning show slot on Power 99, The Hot Boys have been “temporarily” filling in from 6-10 AM. And according to their website, The Hot Boys are still temporary on the morning drive. Last month, I speculated that Clear Channel would syndicate the Breakfast Club from sister station Power 105.1FM in NY. Late in December, Charlamagne, of The Breakfast Club, tweeted that the show would be spending a lot more time in Philly in the 2012. Many people (myself included) took that to mean that Clear Channel would syndicate the popular morning show. (Especially since that’s what we all really want!) But as of yet no changes have been made. And when listening to The Hot Boys in the morning, they’ve added more segments, like horoscopes, and kept the popular gossip segment with “Mutha.” It looks like The Hot Boys may be settling in to the morning drive slot.
Since Shamara left in December, Johnny V has been filling in during middays. But Power has finally found the someone to replace the longtime “midday princess”. Her name is Cappuchino. The raspy voiced star brings listeners “Coffee Shop Hip Hop” Monday-Friday from 10 AM-3 PM. She started officially on air at Power 99 on Wednesday, January 18th. Philly is one of the toughest markets to please, so let’s all in tune in and see how she does. (And by see how she does I mean let’s see if we like her!)
On-air vet Bobby Holiday also joins Clear Channel as the morning man for the new “R&B Oldies” WDAS-AM. Holiday was last the Programming Director of WDZZ in Flint, Michigan, before exiting in April of 2010. He’s also previously been heard in the Philadelphia market in mornings at Radio One’s WPHI in the late 90’s (back then it was 103.9 The Beat).
At Radio One, The Home Team is offering local artists the opportunity to get their music played on air and have listeners vote on. To enter “Deal or No Deal” artists simply have to email a clean version of their songs to be played on air. But the biggest news to come from Radio One right now may be all the noise DJ Damage is making. Damage recently appeared on BET’s 106th and Park and was name one of the newest members of the 106th and Park family. He’s also been added to the very popular DJ Drama’s roster of DJ’s, which is nothing to sneeze at. And to top it all off, Damage recently released his own web-series “The Damage Report”. If celebrity power is anything, Hot 107.9 definitely has got it as long as they have DJ Damage whose biggest fans are high school and college students. (And in this industry that target market is everything!)
Of course both stations are running various contests right now. Kendra G on Hot 107.9 is giving single moms $100 twice a day. And Clear Channel is doing a nationwide contest to win $1000 and sit courtside at a NBA playoff game with Rapper T.I. Both stations are offering tickets to various concerts in and around the city like Marsha Ambrosius, Dru Hill and The Scream Tour. Check their respective sites for more information.
And while all of this is going on let’s not forget that this is still a fight! A fight for ratings, listeners, but most importantly the crown! For years, Clear Channel has dominated radio in Philadelphia, and the response that the new WDAS AM is getting is better than anyone expected. But will they be able to maintain their strong lead with all these changes? I mean right now, Hot is well, kinda HOT! Who knows what will happen this year. But there is one thing you can count on, I’ll be here, with you Backstage Pass!
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