WWRL

WWRL is a radio station in New York City, broadcasting at 1600 kHz AM owned by Access.1 Communications. Since September 1, 2006, its format has been progressive talk radio. WWRL broadcasts syndicated programs from several sources, including Dial Global, Radio One, Fox News Radio, Talk Radio Network, and was at one time considered the flagship for the now-defunct Air America Radio despite pre-empting a majority of the network's programming.

According to its website, WWRL's weekday lineup consists of the following: The 'RL Morning Show, hosted by New York Daily News writer Errol Louis, three hours of health and well-being programming, The Mark Riley Show, The Ed Schultz Show, The Thom Hartmann Program, Keepin' It Real with Al Sharpton, The Alan Colmes Show, The Phil Hendrie Show, and Clout with Richard Greene. Saturday programming mostly consists of more medical-related shows, with Mark Riley and Rennie Bishop hosting two separate shows. Bishop also is host of a Caribbean themed program on Saturday nights. Sunday is reserved strictly for religious programming, more health and wellness programming, paid programming, and reruns of the station's programming from earlier in the week.

WWRL stopped airing a majority of Air America's programming in favor of several other syndicated offerings in 2008 and removed the Air America branding from its name. After Air America stopped broadcasting on January 25, 2010, WWRL decided to keep its progressive talk format and added The Thom Hartmann Program (which it had aired while the show was still on Air America, but hadn't aired since 2008 when WWRL began airing The Ed Schultz Show in its place) and The Phil Hendrie Show to its lineup, as well as adding a station-produced evening program for a returning Mark Riley.

History

Prior to its affiliation with Air America, WWRL was a diversified radio station primarily serving the African American community. The station also aired some progressive talk shows weekdays, with Caribbean music on Saturdays and overnights. On Sundays they aired Gospel music and religious programming. WWRL also carries live play-by-play of the New York Liberty of the WNBA. On August 2, 2006, WWRL announced its affiliation with Air America.

WWRL in the 1960s was an R & B radio station focusing on popular music aimed at the young black community. They played a blend of Motown, Stax and Memphis soul, and early James Brown-styled funk. Their most famous disc jockey was Frankie Crocker. In the 1970s WWRL stressed Philadelphia soul and other 1970s soul artists. The station was owned during this period by Sonderling Broadcasting. In 1979 Sonderling merged with Viacom.

Viacom bought 106.7 WRVR (now WLTW) in 1980 and in 1981 donated WWRL to the United Negro College Fund. The Fund then sold the station to Unity Broadcasting later in 1981. The station planned to affiliate with a new sports talk radio network in 1982 but the network never got on the air. Also that year WWRL began playing Gospel music in the evenings as well as airing religious features, and expanded Gospel programming on Sundays. In Fall 1982 WWRL shifted to a full-time Gospel music format along with sermons from local black churches. WWRL stayed with this format until 1997.

The 1983 New Order song "Confusion" begins with a voice saying "W, W, W-R-L," which is widely thought to be a reference to WWRL. The track was co-produced by Arthur Baker, who lived in New York City at the time and was likely familiar with the station.

In April 1997 they dropped Gospel programming except for Sunday. They flipped to playing R & B oldies from the 1960s to the 1980s. The format change was not successful. They added some talk shows by 1999. By 2001 they had evolved towards their current format. Although the station was recently able to increase daytime power to 25,000 watts (it is still 5,000 watts at night) -- after purchasing the frequencies of WLNG in Sag Harbor, New York, WQQW in Waterbury, Connecticut, and WERA in Plainfield, New Jersey. WWRL does not achieve any substantial ratings, and has not since their gospel days.

By 1999, WWRL began mixing in paid programming during the week. By 2001, the station evolved into a diversified station selling blocks of time to various interests. Their programming included gospel music and preaching on Sundays, some Caribbean Music, talk shows, infomercials, and other programs. In September 2006, WWRL became an affiliate of Air America, a liberal talk radio network.

Also, WWRL is owned by Access.1 Communications Corporation. Access.1 is a 24-hour African American owned and operated radio broadcasting company. Access.1 Communications Corp. also owns and operates 7 AM and FM stations in Shreveport, LA; another 7 in Tyler-Longview-Marshall, Texas; another 6 FM and AM stations in Atlantic City, NJ and an NBC TV affiliate (WMGM-TV 40) in Atlantic City. While being African American owned, the stations program a wide variety of formats, many of which are not targeted to the black community.

Weekend programming vagaries

Sunday programming is least oriented to progressive talk radio programming. It retains the spoken gospel programming of past years to 11 AM; followed thereafter by commercial programming dealing with health and nutritional supplements. Programming reverts to progressive talk at 4 PM with Politically Direct.

External links

WWRL official website

Category:Radio stations established in 1926 WRL Category:Media in Hudson County, New Jersey