PRR 2015: Philippine Radio in Review

Another year is about to end. But before the calendar flips to 2016, here is a look back at the year that was in television and radio.

Our friend MC’s Corner will look back at the events that shaped Philippine radio in 2015. Enjoy.

MC's Corner

2015 is about to end in a few days. But before we bid goodbye to this year, here is a look back at what happened in the world of Philippine Radio. This article will analyze on the Top 10 newcomers, comebacks, reformats & restructures in Metro Manila (and a few in other key cities).

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This list ranges from newcomers to restructures to ventures.

1. 8TriMedia’s Big Move

8TriMedia Broadcasting

Late last year, 8TriMedia, a media company of Jojo Soliman, began as a blocktimer on DZJV 1458, airing its programs during nighttime (6pm onwards).

Last April, 8TM bought time from DWBL 1242 to air its programs. From 4 programs, they expanded to 7 on this 20-Kw station. The roster is consisted of veteran newscaster Miguel Gil, singers Lloyd Umali & Ima Castro, showbiz columnists Shalala & Rodel Fernando, and former Manila mayor Fred Lim, among others.

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Retro 105.9 Gets Younger; Auditions for New Retro Jocks Underway

Auditions for new DJs are ongoing at Retro 105.9 DCG-FM. (Photo credit: Retro 105.9 DCG-FM Official Facebook)

The only classic hits FM station in Metro Manila gets even younger.

No, Retro 105.9 DCG-FM is not bringing back 90s songs on its playlist. Instead, they decided to hold auditions for new DJs in an effort to plug in some holes to their lineup.

Prospects aged 20-25 years old can submit their demos to retrodcgfm@gmail.com, provided that they have the humor and wits to go along with their knowledge and fascination for 70s and 80s music. The latter portion is very important, because there are some younger listeners who appreciate old school music from decades past.

The audition process for new Retro 105.9 jocks are currently underway as of today.

Getting some young and fresh blood should at least relieve the pressure off of the station’s veteran-laden staff. It can also give prospects an opportunity to learn the ins and outs of the industry with some of radio’s greatest voices, such as Joshua, Jimmy Jam, The Triggerman, and Andy Tuna.

The search for the newest Retro 105.9 jocks is a wise move on the part of management. The existing on-air staff aren’t getting any younger, so the need for new talent is a must going forward.

Retro 105.9 DCG-FM Reloaded

Retro 105.9 DCG-FM has a new look, in the on-air department that is.

On the morning of October 20, a new but familiar voice took over Retro 105.9’s morning slot. King DJ Logan, last heard on Wave 891, was brought in to host ‘The Morning Show of Mass Destruction’, alongside a retainee from the now-defunct ‘The Breakfast Club’, Karen.

This is a risky hire for Retro 105.9 because of King DJ Logan’s past reputation as a loudmouth and a magnet of controversy. But then again, he remains an iconic and legendary name on radio that his addition to the Retro 105.9 staff was just too good to pass up.

Plus, he is a definite improvement over JJ Sparx, who never clicked with listeners during his stint in the mornings.

Another new hire on Retro 105.9 was Sgt. Pepper, formerly of Magic 89.9 and 103 1/2 Max FM. Pepper took over the evening slot on October 20, replacing Joey Pizza.

The brains behind the now-famous ‘Friday Madness’ on Magic 89.9, Pepper is no stranger to Retro 105.9 listeners, having previously guested on Triggerman’s ‘Saturday Retro Onstage’.

Like King DJ Logan, a name as memorable as Sgt. Pepper is just too irresistable for the bosses at Retro 105.9.

A new station manager also surfaced on the station. Cris Cruise (real name Cris Hermosisima) replaced JJ Sparx (real name Jonathan Jabson) in the task of creating Retro 105.9’s signature playlist, among other roles.

The new hires were teased during the weekend in various online forums. Meanwhile Retro 105.9 went on music automation as part of its latest realignment.

Effective October 20, this is now the current schedule of DJs on Retro 105.9 during weekdays:

6:00 a.m. – King DJ Logan & Karen (‘The Morning Show of Mass Destruction’)

10:00 a.m. – Joshua

2:00 p.m. – Jimmy Jam

6:00 p.m. – Sgt. Pepper

10:00 p.m. – Andy Tuna

2:00 a.m. – Music automation

As for Triggerman, Rudolph Rivera and Joey Pizza, they are slated to come on board during weekends. Their on-air times will be determined this Saturday.

It’s been over seven months since Retro 105.9 DCG-FM was launched, and so far, their flexible and deep playlist has been well-received by listeners. What they needed now are on-air talent to back up these positive vibes, and with the hirings of King DJ Logan, Sgt. Pepper and Cris Cruise, it looks like they made a wise and honest decision to improve their staff.

It remains to be seen if these new hires will help the station attract more listeners, but for now, it’s best to give them some time before they are finally get used to being ‘retro-fied’.

Why is Retro 105.9 Worth a Listen?

It took them only two months, but Retro 105.9 DCG-FM is beginning to find its own niche in the industry.

When Retro 105.9 DCG-FM took over the airwaves in late March, few took a chance at the station with a novel concept. In fact, the classic hits radio format has never been utilized before in Philippine FM radio. Fast forward to May, and the station that plays nothing but classic hits is now emerging as a force in the FM radio industry.

So why is Retro 105.9 worth a listen? Here are some reasons behind the station’s emergence.

Retro 105.9 has them all: three decades of music (70s, 80s, and 90s), and DJs with over 20 years in the industry. Unlike other stations that play classic songs on either a sporadic or a limited basis, Retro 105.9 plays a deep library of throwback songs on a daily basis, usually featuring both established hits and underrated tracks. More recently, classic OPM songs have been introduced.

Because of that, listeners need not to wait for the weekend to find the type of songs they want to listen. Retro 105.9 has that, and more. But that’s not the only reason why listeners were attracted to Retro 105.9.

True to its name, Retro 105.9 DCG-FM features a cast of jocks that have over 20 years of experience on the mic. For instance, both Jimmy Jam and Triggerman were alumnus of Campus Radio 97.1, while Joshua and Joey Pizza were part of the original 99.5 RT. These jocks are legends in the radio industry, and for teenagers with a knack towards listening to classic hits, the experience of listening to these veterans for the first time are worth it.

The combination of both factors make Retro 105.9 DCG-FM an interesting station to listen to. And while the station will continue to grow from hereon, it is clear that listeners have finally found a station where they can share memories of their youth to others, not just in a particular day, but every day.

 

 

105.9 Radio High Bows Out

Radio High 105.9 is expected to reformat after the Holy Week, in which it will be renamed as Retro 105.9.

While frustrated listeners are still recovering from the reformat of 97.9 Home Radio into a ‘masa’ station, another radio station has decided to undergo a similar process.

105.9 Radio High, whose format consisted of smooth jazz and adult contemporary music, decided to end its broadcasts after three years on the air. The station, owned by Francis Lumen, was the fourth to occupy the 105.9 frequency, after the rock-oriented LA 105.9, hip-hop based Blazin’ 105.9, and the rock-oriented RJ Underground Radio 105.9.

Replacing Radio High will be a classic hits radio station known as Retro 105.9. The upcoming station will be helmed by some of the industry’s ageless veterans like Jimmy Jam, The Mole, and the Triggerman, and will essentially be patterned after another competing radio station in RJ 100.3. Retro 105.9 is expected to debut after the Holy Week.

Radio High, as the tagline suggests, was basically ‘not for everyone’, as it only targeted a more sophisticated part of the population. The format itself was influenced by Lumen’s previous experience in running Citylite 88.3 and Joey 92.3.

Unfortunately for Lumen, his reentry into the industry came at the onset of a ‘masa’ revolution, in which several stations eschewed niche radio formats in favor of the revenue-generating hot adult contemporary (‘masa’) format. And with financial losses looming, Lumen had no choice but to end his lease on the 105.9 frequency.

Radio High’s brief three-year run was, in essence, another forgettable chapter in the history of radio. In an era where ‘masa’ is becoming the norm, a few niche-based radio stations have managed to weather the storm by maintaining a loyal audience and finding other ways to survive. Unfortunately for Radio High, they were unable to do just that. And as a result, its departure only adds pressure to its successor in Retro 105.9.