Good article, but since the focus was RELATIVELY narrow, I thought Id throw in one or two of my own that a LOT of people barely even remember WPLJ went Hot AC shortly thereafter and Z100 might as well have for a year or so. KGB AND KCBQ .and bumper stickers everywhere! Classic Deep House set mixed by DJ Tony B. live from "The Dome". Some of the best jocks in the country were on those three stations at the time they did battle. With your recorded vocals, your song is still not complete. . If you know who DJ Richard humtie vision is you are old lol. We had great street presence, and practically owned the beaches in the summer with our Sunday afternoon beach patrols. 3) WBLS vs. WKTU (and WXLO) New York in late 80 Disco 92 KTU barely had time to enjoy its stunning market upset of 1978-79 when Frankie Crocker came back to WBLS and cemented its what will they play next reputation. WLS vs. WCFL Chicago (And no need to limit yourself to the 80s and 90s, just because I did.). 414 subscribers PowerTools returns to Power 106 after being off air for short period of time in the 90s (circa 1993). We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Not too long after Emmis bought KMGG, it immediately saw a niche to counter top 40 stations KIIS and KKHR and urban outlet KDAY, KJLH, and KACE (the latter three all signal challenged). And for much of the 80s and 90s, the Traverse City, MI market had its own hot CHR battle between WKHQ (106 KHQ) at 105.9 and WKPK (106.7 The Peak). He was a bassist and in an indie rock band called the Housemartins before that. You had WMMRs mid 80s domination lead to Howard Stern coming to WYSP and taking down John DeBellas Morning Zoo leading to a run of WYSP at the top while MMR floundered for most of the 90s. Tom Mitchell posted his battles in the 80s in Rochester while forgetting that WCMF destroyed WMJQ when they went Rock 40 through some very dirty tricks but thats another story(hint: we sabataged there entire contesting scheme weeks before they flipped). He was not in Memphis long when Los Angeles came calling. On-Air Personalities | KPWR-FM How about Fresno early 60s, Bill Drakes KYNO and Ron Jacobs K-Make. FILs superior signal and lower frequency made it the station of choice. Lost Radio Tapes. IIRC, Kent Burkhart was the PMD jock at KOWH, so he can back me up on the premise that the Battle Over Omaha was the very first Radio Battle in format radioany format, any market. His mixes and compilations in the 1990s include "Grooverider Presents: The Prototype Years," released in 1997. * KMEL vs. KYLD San Francisco in the late 80s/early 90s; 20 years!!!!! * The list is limited to markets that I lived in, visited regularly, or at least had a regular aircheck connection in. God we were ALL gladiators. I would also add that this was the time when urban WLUM started adding alot of crossover tracks (primarily remixes of top 40 tunes), so it was really a 5 way battle. The biggest was WCFL -WLS the most intense was WFIL-WIBG the ,most polite CFTR-CHUM. Its the reason Im in this biz! Required fields are marked *. Sean: [7] KXOL would eventually exit the format on May 16, 2014 to return to Spanish AC as "Mega 96.3" after nine years and moderate to underperformed ratings.[8]. "Cox Media Group And Emmis Communications Radio Stations Join iHeartradio", "Maloney, Paul. Fun but brutal. January 1988 Charlotte, NC when the Beasley Broadcast Group owned WLIT became WCKZ KISS 102 as we started the Churban format, modeled after DCs WPGC and we started kicking WPEGs Urban butts! In between there was WLBSfirst a WBLS clone and then an Urban/Alternative hybrid! Ron Chapman at KVIL in Dallas was untouchable. I really wanted to mix on the air. 1st promotion I set up as a salesperson was we had tickets to the 1st (10) Michael Jackson BAD tour shows all over the country that got the market talking and switching to KISS 102. Tanner the talent side and Isley the research side. Z-95 Philly in 87-88? The sale reunited KPWR with the 93.9 frequency under common ownership for the first time since 2012. Open format DJ'ing had not fully re-emerged from its' late 90s coma yet so music was very one dimensional, especially in nightclubs. Track List: 1. Alas, Clear Channel diecided to go after the young end #s in March 2003, so well never know how much fun it mightve been for the student to go up against the professor, lol. WRBQ (Q105) Tampas response to Power Pig WFLZ, in retrospect, looks pretty typical a few months of refusing to budge followed by a period of overreaction. Some of my favorites include: The list is chronological: 1) Houstons five-way CHR battle of spring 1980 (and, to an extent, the whole market). my faves KPWR (105.9 FM) branded as Power 106 is a commercial radio station in Los Angeles, California, broadcasting to the Greater Los Angeles area. The Power 106 Mix (December 29th, 2005) - DJ AM Lives How abut the classc battles of WPOP and WDRC in Hartford.loads of fun and I was lucky enough to be a part of it from 1972-1975 before WPOP became all news. 17. The mixing engineer will apply autotune, special effects and all the industry-secret formulas to make your song sound like a major hit. Ill add: He refers to this new style of music as "Euro" and began to showcase his new tracks in the weekly mix of his Radio 1 Show. WIBG could never catch up and pass the newcomer, no matter how hard they tried. Peter Michael Tong was born in July 1960. Tom, just wanted to say I loved PXY growing up in Syracuse (yes, the signal made it that far!). I know you always liked B94 and I always appreciated your comments on the station. To make a long story short, WMMR moved from 3 share (12+) to an 11 share (again, 12+) leaving the other two stations with crumbs. Continue with Recommended Cookies. And coming from Dallas, I also have to throw in one of the more obvious rock battles KTXQ vs. KZEW (1978 1985). Great topic. top 40 battle KSFM KWOD and KROY Throughout the 90s, he continued producing remixes of popular songs by artists such as Diana Ross and the Pet Shop Boys. Dont know if well ever see those kind of Radio Wars again, but they surely brought out the best in us all. He's the house DJ's favourite house producer and recent remixes from Honey Dijon and an incoming Josh Wink remix both attest to that. Many battles happened that shaped many programmers including me. Several major medium markets had some great AM Top 40 battles in the early 70s. It ended with Q100 flipping to a bizzare rythmic CHR format, then Oldies and B104 reigning supreme for almost 20 years, until Country came back to townyuck! The Baka Boyz - Wikipedia Mastering is important because it makes your song sound perfect on all devices in the car, your phone speaker and even on Spotify. I would have to say the greatest of all AOR battles happened in Philadelphia in the middle 80s. Click to reveal Paul Mark Oakenfold was born in August 1963 and is an English trance DJ. As he's worked closely with these two over the course of his career, the work ethic that each rap staple brings out of him is different but meets the same result. Eventually, we came within a tenth of a point of dethroning them, but came up shortMajic 7.1 to Love 94 7.0. Dj EZ (pronounced 'DJ EEE ZED') is one of the earliest proponents of garage music. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJkxBLgd5Hs, The battle which had me appreciate the fine term Chr rhythmic was close to my home in the Neighborhood of Point Breeze in the city where the Steelers keep rackin up Superbowl wins Pittsburgh. With your demo track ready, it's time to hit the recording studio. In the early 70s it was WMYQ vs WQAM I even think DRQ was rock for a while in the mix. Feel free to copy anything from this article. KIBB flips to KCMG, thus forcing KPWR to drop all the Rhythmic oldie titles. Hope this brings back some good memories for everyone that tuned in daily like I did back then! He had been previously nominated in the same category but had failed to win in the previous year. "Pizzamania" was produced with the help of his friends Tim Jeffery and JC Reid. Second, Id like to say that much of my disco days were spent listening to Paco, Rosco, Al Bandiero, Carlos DeJesus and company at 92 KTU NY. Richard Humpty Vission - Power 106 10th Anniversary Megamix - 80s/90s We're YOUR #." POWER 106 on Instagram: "YOU SEE WHAT IT ISTap in with JUSTIN CREDIBLE & DJ SOURMILK on the #LIFTOFF! Compared to 1999, the average music consumer was under 30 and spent $28 a year. Ornique's Power 106 FM 90s Power Workout Tribute Mix Vol. 1 Most of my 90s dance music radio mixes were formerly on my SoundCloud channel under the same user name (without quotes) "euretrodance90radiomixes" I will be gradually adding to this MixCloud channel some of my dance music mixes that I recorded during the 80s, 90s early 2000s from various radio stations in the USA, Canada, London, Paris and from . DJ E-Man | Top 40/R 10 Questions | Top 40 R&B Music - All Access On August 17, 2006, KPWR's country music sister station KZLA flipped directions to rhythmic adult contemporary as "Movin' 93.9". Wamo was the heritage Urban (until Summer 2009) with then 72 THousand watts at 105.9 FM. Two great PDs, Steve Harris vs. Majics Jim Snowden(consulted by Jerry Clifton), and two great airstaffs. Simon mentioned the HBQ/MPS battle in Memphis in the mid-70s. Meruelo acquired KPWR from Emmis Communications for $82.75 million in May 2017, officially bringing the station under common ownership with KDAY, KDEY-FM, KWHY-TV, and KBEH on August 1, 2017. However, we kindly ask you to provide a clickable link back to Gemtracks.com. We used to drive up to Detroit on Fridays just to hear the battle. Danny Rampling was born in July 1961. But it wasnt on ny list because, as mentioned above, I saw it as a little too one-sidedan eventual study in what not to do in a similar situation (dont respond until the younger audience is gone, then overreact in a way that antagonizes the people who had stayed). 3/17/2012. * Of course, Z100 v. PLJ twice, mid/late-?80s and spring/summer ?91 during the short-lived Mojo; WDRQ usurped them first under PD Brian White and MD Lisa Orlando, then WJLB, which had been on FM for a few years, finally got itself together under new GM Verna Green and PD James Alexander and urged listeners to tune up from 93.1 to 97.9. We had a great on-air staff, we were deep in the streets and most of all, WE HAD FUN! The albums were "At The End Of TheCliche," released in 1996, and "Phuture 2000," released in 1999. One WDFX liner from this period invited listeners to take The Hit Music Challenge If you want Cozy music and a whole lot of talk, punch 95.5. Lehigh Valley, PA Radio- And in AC battles the KOIT and K101 battle was fun for years with KOIT finally winning the prize and still does. "Here Comes The Sunburst Band" was released in 1998, while "Can't Get High Without U" was released in 1999. This show was . They also developed Power's live mixing " World Famous Roll Call ". The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. In all due respect there was NO battle for first as my morning show (the FM102 Morning Zoo) kicked everyones ass for almost 8 full years before the station was ruined and depleted of its mass appeal format in late 1991 after a disastrous hiring by our GM. The Philly WFIL vs. WIBG was never really a battle. In 1996, he received the 'Best DJ' Award. Some radio people remember radio battles for the on-air attacks or the off-air ugliness in the station parking lot they engender. But I lived in L.A. at the time and none of its battles made the list. This way more people can enjoy our content. The 90s saw the advent of the first internet radio station, and in 1998 the first MP3 digital audio player was released. KPWR is owned and operated by Meruelo Groupand airs a Rhythmic Hot ACformat. Scott Shannon returned to New York, dug in the crates and filled Mojo with Jack-like segues between lost '70s and '80s titles and today's reaction records. However, after almost a year in the format, KMVN shifted directions to Rhythmic Oldies. He also got nominated for the Best Single and the Best Dance Recording "Gangster Tripping" in 1999. But I only heard them at Conclave time; "Big Boy's Neighborhood"[20] featured Big Boy with Rikki Martinez, Krystal Bee, and Louie G. serving as co-hosts/sidekicks, serving up an eclectic mix of music, pop culture, celebrity interviews, and comedy segments. Power Tools is the station's longest-running program, debuting in 1992. Sacto 80;s battle?????? After achieving high ratings in the morning [2] and afternoon [3] slots at Power for . I spent some time at Y95 when Gary Edens owned itJay Stevens was P.D., B.J. WPGC vs Q107 llate 70s -early 80s After splitting with the Housemartins, Fatboy Slim formed the electronic band Beats International. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Its hard to pick only ten, of course, so heres the criteria: * I kept my list to the 80s and early 90s after I started to understand what I was hearing on the radio; before the implosion of Top 40, consolidation, and the backlash from the ugly tenor of some battles put a damper on format wars. We would crash each others remotes and concerts to sneak onstage to throw T-shirts, lobby for exclusives from the music labels to rub in each others faces. 92.3 THE BEAT THEO DJ QUIK EAZY POWER 106 In The 90s Dusty Vision TV - DVTV 36.7K subscribers Subscribe 152 3.2K views 5 months ago 92.3 THE BEAT / POWER 106 In The 90s - DUSTY VISION. I remember 92.3 The Beat putting Power 106 on blast by adding "No Techno" in their positioner thus roasting Power 106's playlist back in the mid 90's lol :-D. Report as inappropriate. It was a fun time to be in radio with the entire station personal really getting into and believing in each other and working together as a group! The two DJs specialized in the genres of Progressive house, deep house, and techno. He was the first award recipient of the 'No 1 DJ in the World' Award by DJ Magazine. We had an exciting 3 way battle fighting over every concert co-promote, club nights, PXY with one of the first radio scavenger hunts that turned the town upside down, and dont forget bumper sticker wars rewarding listeners who brought in the competitions sticker or let us cover it with ours. Great article! I miss ya buddy please get in touch Ladyjoipp@aol.com. I enjoyed every moment of grief we gave Elroy! Upstart Love 94 was in the midst of a take no prisoners war against perenenial powerhouse and market dominant Majic 102. After the Twin Cities, I moved to the Pacific Northwest to do evenings, then middays at KNBQ. If you're looking to deepen your understanding of this topic, you might want to read our article on 5+ BEST Turkish Musical Instruments + How They Are Played now. 2) WCBSFM and the SEVERAL attempts by OTHER radio stations to knock it off the top of its perchoh, if ratings could talk these would tell an interesting story, to say the least [29] He returned to the station on February 25, 2021.[30]. MJ later joined NVZ, and it was an ugly battle between the two stations. It wasnt years later until I understood why BLS was doing research at hip clubs like the Paradise Garage, while KTU was doing theirs at places like Studio 54. WLS-WCFL in the 70s and CFTR-CHUM in the early 80s. "Dreams Of Heaven" / "Kindred" and "Deep Inside" / "Inta" were released in 1994. Great column! WWPR vs WQHT on going, the first year was EPIC. (I cant remember whether I actually heard Grand Funk and the K.L.F. Great column. * WZOU vs.WXKS (Kiss 108) Boston in the late 80s/early 90s as Steve Rivers and Sunny Joe White traded places; For a few years, both stations sounded like a throwback to Motor City CHR of 15 years earlier (not surprisingly since former CKLW PD Bill Hennes was involved), each fighting to get the new novelty/reaction record on first. If anybody wants to trade, let me know 6) Houstons AM Top 40 battle of summer/fall 82 between John Landers KKBQ (79Q) in a six-month sneak preview of what was to come on AM and Clay Gishs short lived but no less interesting KYST. Thanks for a great article, Ill check in in another 10 years . Fatboy slim took home a Best Electronic Award in the MTV Europe Music Awards in 1999. I was fortunate to be involved in several of the battles mentioned (Sacramento in the 80s and Detroit in the 90s)but what impresses me most is that when Sean thinks of Motown, the first song that comes to mind is Your Mamas on Crack Rock! Well done. The awards include the 'Number one DJ in the world' award in 1991. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7c0dd12edc443b89 The dial was packed with rock. WPGC vs WKYS was a pretty good one for a while until the market became saturated. More CHR-flavored Country stations in the late 80s like KMLE Phoenix, KCYY (Y100) San Antonio, and WYAY/WYAI (Y104/Y106) Atlanta took the format to a new place, but this is the one that gave the format its excitement until suddenly Country format battles were everywhere, and often as fierce as CHR wars. THAT was a huge 4-way war: THE BATTLE IN SEATTLE 1984-1988 or so: Joey Negro is his stage name as a DJ and house music producer. Favorited by17. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. The "Nothern Exposure 2" was also produced on 'Ministry of Sound' in 1997 before releasing separate mix albums in 1998. Ed Levine vs Howie Castle. These remixes were "Rave On" and "Hallelujah" released on the Madchester Rave On EP,"Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches" as the title of Paul Oakenfold's third studio album with Osborne. 1986-WCBSFM vs. WNSR (Mix 105) when WNSR came on the scene, they were practically nose-to-nose in terms of their playlist if nothing else, NSR was shooting for the same demo that WCBSFM wasbut one BIG difference though personality radio STILL ruled back then, and WCBSFM had the EDGE thereadvantage 101FM!! PDs concentrated on just one station, not a group. Cant forget the battle I was a part of in Milwaukee: Hot 102 vs. WKTI. Sasha released the "Global Underworld 009: San Francisco" while John Digweed released the "Global Underworld 006: Sidney." All good ones here. * WXKS (Kiss 108) vs. WZOU Boston, also late 80s/early 90s; CHUM (Rock 40, like WLS Chicago, but maybe even better in 1981) and CFTR (more mainstream and doing the then-mind-blowing Commercial Free Sundays) get the attention. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Im surprised Milwaukee in the early 80s wasnt mentioned. Listen to the best DJs and radio presenters in the world for free. digit shares and off the top of 25-54 demographic. Dial Global" from All Access (March 15, 2010), "Emmis And Big Boy Come To Legal Settlement", "Cruz Show Departs Power 106 Mornings For Real 92.3 Afternoons", "Nick Cannon Joins L.A.'s Power 106 as Morning Show Host", "KPWR (Power 106)/Los Angeles Sets Nick Cannon Mornings Lineup", "Nick Cannon To Take Indefinite Leave From Radio Show", "Nick Cannon Returns To Morning-Drive Radio Gig On Power 106 In Los Angeles", "Emmis and WorldBand Media Partner to Launch First-of-Its-Kind Digital Radio Network", http://www.hdradio.com/station_guides/widget.php?id=7, 2011 NAB Marconi Radio Award Winners press release, KPWR's history as KWST at socalradiohistory.com, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=KPWR&oldid=1147840287, Rhythmic contemporary radio stations in the United States, Wikipedia articles with style issues from December 2013, Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. Ill just point out some obvious battles like KNIX/KMLE in the desert or KWJJ/KUPL up in Portland. KPWR's studios are based in the Los Angeles suburb of Burbank, and the transmitter is on Mount Wilson, shared with KCAL-TV and KRTH. "Praise You" was also nominated for the Best Video and the Best Dance Video awards in 1999. But, staff camaraderie and focus was the beneficiary. Scott Shannon returned to New York, dug in the crates and filled Mojo with Jack-like segues between lost 70s and 80s titles and todays reaction records. "Sensual Sophis-ti-cat / The Player" was also released in 1996, while "Phuture 2000" was released in 1998 by Worldwide Ultimatum Records.