Philly
WIOQ (Q102) – Philadelphia – late 2001
For a period in the 1990’s, Philadelphia’s Q102 offered a (perhaps surprisingly) dance music-friendly CHR format, making it a favorite among dance radio enthusiasts. However, the station took on a more conventional CHR approach by 1998. This is a sample of the station approximately about 3.5 years after that change. While not focused on dance music any longer, Q102 remained a fun, rhythmic-leaning Mainstream CHR outlet.
WIOQ (Q102) – Philadelphia – June 1996 – Chio (Part 2 of 2)
This is a sample of WIOQ during its Dance-leaning CHR days in the mid to late 90’s. The station was a favorite among U.S. dance radio enthusiasts (such as yours truly) at this time. NOTE: The first half of this aircheck can be found HERE.
WIOQ (Q102) – Philadelphia – June 1996 – Chio (Part 1 of 2)
This is a sample of WIOQ during its Dance-leaning CHR days in the mid to late 90’s. The station was a favorite among U.S. dance radio enthusiasts (such as yours truly) at this time. NOTE: The second half of this aircheck can be found HERE.
WPLY 100.3 (Y100) – Philadelphia – 1/12/97 – Lucy St. James
Alternative Rock Radio in Philadelphia has always flowed differently than the majority of the country. Thanks to the lack of a mainstream CHR for much of the 90’s and a very strong Howard Stern powered Active Rocker in 94 WYSP, Y100 had a broader demographic mix than most. Evolving from Hot AC in 1995, Y100 would not rise in popularity until crosstown 103.9 WDRE was sold to Radio-One and flipped to Urban in early 1997. Y100 did have deficiencies in its signal especially in the northern suburbs due to being on the same frequency as Z100 New York which kept ratings low. The launch of Modern AC “Max 95.7” in September 1997 didn’t help nor did “Q102” finally filling the Mainstream CHR void. Y100 itself would be sold to Radio-One in December 1999 but would remain Alternative until 2005 due to i...
WYXR (Star 104.5) – Philadelphia – 11/7/97 – Big Ron O’Brien
This is a sample of Philadelphia’s Star 104.5 with a Hot AC format, seemingly leaning towards Mainstream AC. The station had attempted a Rhythmic Hot AC format the year prior. As documented on our sister site Formatchange.com, the station flipped to a Rock AC format known as “Alice 104.5” on November 18, 1999.
WPLY 100.3 (Y100) – Philadelphia – 10/25/98 – Lucy St. James
Alternative Rock Radio in Philadelphia has always flowed differently than the majority of the country. Thanks to the lack of a mainstream CHR for much of the 90’s and a very strong Howard Stern powered Active Rocker in 94 WYSP, Y100 had a broader demographic mix than most. Evolving from Hot AC in 1995, Y100 would not rise in popularity until crosstown 103.9 WDRE was sold to Radio-One and flipped to Urban in early 1997. Y100 did have deficiencies in its signal especially in the northern suburbs due to being on the same frequency as Z100 New York which kept ratings low. The launch of Modern AC “Max 95.7” in September 1997 didn’t help nor did “Q102” finally filling the Mainstream CHR void. Y100 itself would be sold to Radio-One in December 1999 but would remain Alternative until 2005 due to i...
100.3 WPLY Philadelphia – 4/24/2000 – Matt Cord/Lee Ann Curtis
Alternative Rock Radio in Philadelphia has always flowed differently than the majority of the country. Thanks to the lack of a mainstream CHR for much of the 90’s and a very strong Howard Stern powered Active Rocker in 94 WYSP, Y100 had a broader demographic mix than most. Evolving from Hot AC in 1995, Y100 would not rise in popularity until crosstown 103.9 WDRE was sold to Radio-One and flipped to Urban in early 1997. Y100 did have deficiencies in its signal especially in the northern suburbs due to being on the same frequency as Z100 New York which kept ratings low. The launch of Modern AC “Max 95.7” in September 1997 didn’t help nor did “Q102” finally filling the Mainstream CHR void. Y100 itself would be sold to Radio-One in December 1999 but would re...
WYXR (Star 104.5) – Philadelphia – November 1999 – Ron O’ Brien
Recorded 16 years ago this month, here’s a sample of Philadelphia’s Star 104.5 during its final days as a Hot AC (one with many different variations throughout the 1990’s). As documented on our sister site Formatchange.com, the station flipped to a Rock AC format known as “Alice 104.5” on November 18, 1999.
