Whatever happened to the radio greats?

Whatever happened to the radio greats?
n.d. a.k.a. nestor / slick master
05.20.2011
10:22 a.m.

Comparing past to present times of radio, perhaps there had been a lot of differences in between these time periods. And it shows if you ask a lot of people whom were barely young in the 90s than to now. Technology may be an advantage on the present times, sure social media exists and digitalization of transmission in radio signals creates wider reach and number of possible patrons, but for these guys, it doesn’t matter as a lot of personnel who speaks on the microphone weren’t much discriminating as long as you have a good voice, or if you don’t have that good one at least you can do well by modulating it. And most people that didn’t have a high profile background were the pioneer ones whom made it unlike the present where one must belong to. You’re lucky if you are a DJ that came out of your personal aspirations, talents and capabilities, despite not having a pleasant personality. But most of them nowadays have the latter despite having an irritated voice. And many people have noticed these, FM radio plays more beautiful songs than the present, they have less gimmicks compared to nowadays where a movie screening is sponsored. However it boils to one thing, the only thing constant is change. So with means as time goes by, there will be definitely changes that should work and be eventually embraced in a long run. So making a success in this competition of medium will still be barely a long process to handle and patience is a must virtue.

If you are a fan of those old great Manila radio stations in the 90s and 2000s like, Radio Romance, 89.1 DMZ, City Lite 88.3, 923 Joey, 93.9 KCFM, the pop legend 97.1 Campus Radio WLS FM, and its rocker counterpart NU 107, Kool 106 is also counted, and even to the present ones whom I can’t mention all of them’ perhaps you have been wondering what ever happened to them? Why the changed formats? Is still the music and personalities that I hooked up them did still exist in this frequency? I can’t answer them all though this one is just my opinion and observation since I am a born in the 90s with radio all over my left and right ear (where else?) and had been listening to the radio for like one and a half decade.

89.1 DMZ, a former dance radio station owned by Intercontinental Broadcasting Corp. (IBC) who also owns government –TV station IBC 13, and where “The Mouth” late Francis Magalona and Angelo Macanaya, a.k.a. DJ M.O.D. (Master of Disaster) had their respective stints. By the turn of the decade, DMZ was reformatted to a radio station which plays Rhythm and Blues (RnB) genre for most of its time. Thus, Wave 891 (or formerly Wave 89.1) was born. Quest Broadcasting bought the station from IBC though the station’s transmitter still remains at its former quarter then. Mr. Love Notes Joe D’ Mango was then the head of Wave. Up to now, it lives to its name sake, and it caters to people whom loves the RnB, and Hip Hop genre.

Radio Romance, owned by ABS-CBN, whom also produced the movie of the same title way back 90s, was later reformatted to WRR 101.9 with the slogan “For Life.” This tagline didn’t only exist to Manila, but also to the M.O.R. (My Only Radio) Stations nationwide (and believe me, its Baguio City counterpart was very strong to the extent that its signal reception can even reach as far as Guiginto, Bulacan in the south. Man, how do you like that?) okay, let’s get back to WRR. It had a huge success, considering many names like Martin D, Laila Chikadora, China Heart, etc were recognized by listeners, including that all-request program Request Express which airs for lunch time (11 am-1 pm.) however as time goes by, so does the level of success of the radio station. They had gone reformatted to Tambayan 101.9 San Ka Pa? almost one and a half-decade later.

City Lite 88.3, similar to Crossover 105.1 was playing jazz for most of the time, and caters to mostly on the upper class people whom really loves jazz music. It had went to Jam 88.3, owned and operated by Raven Broadcasting during the turn of the millennium. And it plays most of acoustic and alternative songs.

92.3 Joey, another dance and jazz stations, with some classic tunes on its side dishes, had been busy on the events. It was later changed for some time until TV5 bought the station from NBC and a new format was introduced, just similar to those AM band. Introduced by News5’s Martin Andanar, Radyo5 92.3 News FM was born by late last year. And during the course of establishing Aksyon TV, they changed programming and give way for the said TV channel to air its shows, just similar to RH Tv and the one who started it all on AM, DZMM Teleradyo.

93.9 KC FM was also one of the best pop stations in the 90s, located between its main competitor Monster Radio RX 93.1 and Mellow Touch 94.7. However when Radio Mindanao Network(RMN) changed and 93.9 iFM was established, it took them some time to regain its popularity, perhaps even before Kuya Jobert went on-air they were already at the level of one of the popular masa-type radio stations in Mega Manila. And they also introduced the digital type of transmitting radio signals, thus having a clear sound that pleases almost everyone who listens to it.

Campus Radio 97.1 WLS Fm was one of the stations I had been listening to ever since I became a radio lover. All Pop Music, information in-between, and the disc jockeys, you named them. They even had a TV plug way back then as the station was owned and operated by Global Media Arts (GMA-7) and most notable programs were perhaps Top 20 @ 12, hosted by the Triggerman which airs daily at 12 noon. Its daily countdown lasts for an hour every day and its weekly counterpart airs every Sunday for 12nn – 2 pm, over the course of it classic-music programming. However, many students were disappointed when they changed its format to Barangay LS. Perhaps they were the primary audience of the said station. It took them some time to gain recognition either. They have been the counterpart for every Pacquiao fight airing on its AM sister station, Super Radyo DZBB 594. And what’s more is perhaps the Wanted Sweetheart program airing by nighttime with Papa Dan as the main honcho.

And recently, I know if you live in the late 80s, you know what is the home of new rock, right? Quark Henares, Francis Brew Reyes, Myreme Academia, Dylan, HalikNU, Remote Control Weekend, the yearly NU rock awards, and okay, now does that sounds even familiar to you, huh? NU 107, then owned and operated by Progressive Broadcating aired for like more than 2 decades old. Over the course, they played all rock music but during the course of time, some fans didn’t became fans of them anymore. What I mean? Sure they dig rock music, but few opted to changed the frequency as time to time it’s not the pure rock music (or even the underground ones) anymore that they played for. Perhaps that’s because rock becames more flexible. Even Francis Magalona, ahd rock rhythm on his rap songs if only you try to notice. But I’m telling you one thing. They don’t have many gimmicks and still they’re capable of having more audiences listening to them. That is the good side of that old radio days. New personalities came and gone later on to their respective careers and you have to love the legacy of NU then. That’s why many people whom were mostly rockers and fans of the said FM station mourned out the very last night of airing of the home of new rock, to the extent that some radio personalities from other media including Magic 89.9’s Tony Toni drop by to give its props to the station for bringing great music to the world of rockers around the Metro. They officially went off-air by midnight of Monday, November 8, 2010 after it played its usual signing off ID and Eraserhead’s Ang Huling El Bimbo. They were off-air for a day to give way to the new station occupying the frequency. Win Radio. A lot of people had gone dismayed. However that didn’t stop Win Radio as their stickers had been seen on a lot of public jeepneys or even at market stands as its support to the new radio station. It also caters to the mass audience. And they had the same case like Campus Radio. Win Radio also owned by the station that owns 91.5 Energy FM.

I have no idea what’s the difference between Kool 106 and Dream FM though I know one thing is for sure enough: they were owned by Associate Broadcasting Company whom also owns then-ABC 5 (now TV5) and also, 92.3 News FM.

Another thing. 103.5, K-Lite aired for 9 years giving Metro Manila the best alternative, and you heard Vitto Lazatin there. Then after 9 years, it had gone to Heart, then later to Maxx. And Maxx Fm carried the old style fo programming the Magic 89.9 had (tunog Kalye, the Early Returns The Final Countdown) and some of the former Magic jocks like King Dj Logan, The Sarge, etc.) then it went out to dance format. Until it reformatted to Wow FM, bringing in Mr. FU (formerly of 91.5 Energy FM), also owend by uest Broadcasting, having a 2 different type of business media alongside Magic 89.9

Some radio stations had gone changing over the course. Try to notice it in their programming. Like at Wave’s. From 89.1 they were now recognized by just 891. Dream sounds still exists, though the KC show had moved form 92.3 to them after U92 had eventually went off and gone to News FM. Yes FM still plays the same, and same goes with 90.7 Love Radio, 91.5 Energy FM, 97.9 Home Radio, 99.5 RT (whom had went into Hit Fm and Campus Radio before returning to its original namesake) and Star FM. They ahd just changed its tagline for the matter of business and advertising.
Magic 89.9 had also been there, though they still play pop music. It’s because careers between its personnel had been always sin this type of process. They come and later, they go. And they had been more hip and cool as Campus Patrollers was later named as the Junior Jocks. Still the same description: The official student dj program of that radio station. Same applies to other types like RX whom has Radio One, etc.
The only difference is as time goes by, radio had gone to another level where DJs had eventual turned out as the next batch of TV personalities (yes, it goes flexible). For example, Mo Twister, a teener in the 90s whom also had the same occupation as a DJ and a TV host. Another one, Grace Lee, from being Mo’s one of the partners in Good Times, now became one of the hosts at GMA-7. Same goes to Samir Gogna (or Sam Sausage, then Sam YG). He had been a campus patroller then moved to RT and then back to Magic and gained recognition even as one of the candidates for Candy Cutie of Summit Media’s Candy Magazine. He was then hitting Eat Bulaga and Diz Is It. Boom Gonzalez is another perfect example, ever since his days at RX 93.1 he had ben a sportscaster at ABS-CBN sports, covering UAAP games. Mia Bayuga and Anthony James Bueno is another addition. Mia hosts for a TV show at Balls Channel while Tony Toni’s for Where’s Tony airing at Studio 23. and who will forget the duo of radio goddesses Andrea Martin Manzano and Jessica Mendoza? Andi9 had been former partner of Mo in his radio show and now the host for fromer early returns countdown shift which was now, Top 5 @ 5. Jessica joined her after following the footsteps of Lia Cruz at the courtside reporter of Ateneo De Manila University. And apparently, Manzano is also one of the present hosts of GMA-7’s Party Pilipinas and was also a model. Aaron Atayde was also host of Quick-E on Studio 23 and for the Strike Zone (whom named after his air name Josh Strike).
Too many to notice, huh? How about the RX 93.1’s Morning Rush’s duo of hosts Chico Garcia and Delamar? They also are columnists for Manila Bulletin. Kuya Jobert of iFM’s had been with Usapang Lalake on Studio 23. Nicole Hiyala and Chris Tsuper of 90.7 Love Radio had been on some event hosting gigs airing on TV, and commercial models, too. And most popular of them all: Papa Jack. From all-music type of medium, 90.7 had turned out to be somewhat to an even popular one, with talk programs in the morning and night shift. Thanks to these 3 guys. Their humor and advice had brought out listeners hooking up for them for a combined 7 hours (8-10 a.m. and 9 p.m.-2 a.m.)

Now, a finally have to conclude this. After a very long rundown. Here’s why this one may not your favorite radio station anymore. MEDIA is BUSINESS. It means, they present something to us and if we patronize such, it means money for their part. It may be not on our part like we’re paying our cable bills, or products that they sold. But it will be by all means of advertising, the lifeblood of every media organization. For them having a lot of advertisers means success on their business, which means that they have a big number of patrons, higher ratings and a much wider content, ‘cause in this stiff competition you have to leave at least no room for small types of improvement. If you have to improve you have to go big time at it will come by a process. And that includes, changing formats, taglines, programming, etc. so at least when you hit by a radio station, you have to know what type of music you are hooking up to, (jokes, other information and hosts may be included) and most of them you have to feel satisfied with it. After all, audience dictates media nowadays. Needs aren’t much existing, it’s more of their wants (but needs should still be there no matter what.) and if you media business heads out there are trying to be a help to the people, feed them right and try to balance things up with profit.
(Anyone or anything that I missed in this entry, I’ll apologize for that. But better yet if you’re studying business and magament related to communications and media, do your research ‘because this is just a result of my observation whether by objective or subjective matters. Anyone’s opinion whose either agrees or disproves, is something I do respect. Thank you.)


© 2011 september twenty-eight productions

p.s. Dream FM had signed off and Energy Fm occupied their frequency. It appears that they're like a certain block-timer on that slot. While 91.5 apparently was now owned by the company that previously owned NU107. They labeled that as Big Radio with its credits to the man that made Win radio, Manny Luzon. Anyway, Internet Radio seems to emerge. However, I'll discuss that soon.