WPOI
Encyclopedia
WPOI, "Hot 101.5", is an FM radio station
in Tampa, Florida
broadcasting a CHR (Top 40)
format.
The station's HD-2 channel is known as "Star 101.5" and airs a Modern AC format.
The station's main rivals are WFLZ
, WSJT
, and, to a lesser extent, WMTX
and WLLD
.
, which was a religious station operated by the Moody Bible Institute
. In 1997, Paxson Communications purchased WKES, who promptly changed the call letters to WILV and aired a "Love Songs" format branded as "Love 101.5".
WILV was a failure, and in 1998, Paxson Communications was bought out by Clear Channel Communications
. With that, the format changed to Rhythmic oldies
as WFJO, "Jo 101.5". In 1999, Cox Radio
purchased WFJO along with several other stations.
In 2001, the Jammin Oldies' format was abandoned for All-80's as "The New 101.5 The Point". The station was modeled after KHPT in Houston
that had launched the previous year. The call letters then became WPOI. The original tagline was "The Best of the 80's and More", which included late 70's and early 90's tracks, along with 80's product.
In 2006, "The Point" started adding more 1990s songs to the playlist, as well as phasing out most of the late 1970s songs in lieu of Cox Radio
's marketing strategy that targeted WPOI as a station for mostly 30-year olds. Most of WPOI's older songs began to see airplay on sister station WXGL
.
On July 1, 2011, at 10:00am, the station dropped its 80s and 90s format, with Bon Jovi's
"Blaze of Glory"
as its final song, and began stunting. One hour later, the station flipped to CHR
as "Hot 101-5", with LMFAO's
Party Rock Anthem
as its first song. The station hopes to target a female-friendly 18-49 audience (especially young adults in the 18-34 age bracket) with a music-intensive current-based playlist that borders towards Dance-pop tracks, with less talk and commercials than its competitors.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
broadcasting a CHR (Top 40)
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
format.
The station's HD-2 channel is known as "Star 101.5" and airs a Modern AC format.
The station's main rivals are WFLZ
WFLZ-FM
WFLZ-FM is a CHR/Pop station broadcasting in the Tampa Bay area, Florida, USA. Before the 1990s, the station played the oldies format before switching to Top 40 to compete against local CHR Q105. The station became 93.3 , and later was re-imaged to 93.3 FLZ...
, WSJT
WSJT
WSJT is a Tampa Bay area radio station that broadcasts Hot AC, more specifically, Adult CHR on 98.7 FM. The station, owned by CBS Radio, is licensed in Holmes Beach, Florida, with studios in St. Petersburg and transmitting facilities in Seminole...
, and, to a lesser extent, WMTX
WMTX
WMTX is a Hot AC radio station in Tampa, Florida known as "Mix 100.7". It plays a variety of current hits along with some hit music from the past, as far back as the 1980s.-Station history:...
and WLLD
WLLD
WLLD is a Rhythmic Contemporary Hits-formatted radio station licensed to Lakeland, Florida that serves the Tampa Bay area in Florida, and is owned by CBS Radio. Although the target audience of WiLD 94.1 is mainly people of ages 18–34, its main competitor is currently Clear Channel-owned Mainstream...
.
History
The station started out as WKESWKES
WKES is a radio station broadcasting a religious radio format. Licensed to Lakeland, Florida, USA, it serves the Tampa Bay area from its studios at Keswick Christian School in Seminole...
, which was a religious station operated by the Moody Bible Institute
Moody Bible Institute
Moody Bible Institute is a Christian institution of higher education and related ministries that was founded by evangelist and businessman Dwight Lyman Moody in 1886. Since its founding, MBI's main campus has been located in the Near North Side of Chicago. MBI's primary ministries are education,...
. In 1997, Paxson Communications purchased WKES, who promptly changed the call letters to WILV and aired a "Love Songs" format branded as "Love 101.5".
WILV was a failure, and in 1998, Paxson Communications was bought out by Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
. With that, the format changed to Rhythmic oldies
Rhythmic oldies
Rhythmic Oldies is a radio format that concentrates on the rhythmic, disco or dance genres of music. Playlists may span from the 1970s through the early 1990s...
as WFJO, "Jo 101.5". In 1999, Cox Radio
Cox Radio
Cox Radio, Inc. is a division of Cox Enterprises that holds a number of radio stations. Cox Radio is headquartered at 6205 Peachtree Dunwoody Road in Sandy Springs, Georgia....
purchased WFJO along with several other stations.
In 2001, the Jammin Oldies' format was abandoned for All-80's as "The New 101.5 The Point". The station was modeled after KHPT in Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
that had launched the previous year. The call letters then became WPOI. The original tagline was "The Best of the 80's and More", which included late 70's and early 90's tracks, along with 80's product.
In 2006, "The Point" started adding more 1990s songs to the playlist, as well as phasing out most of the late 1970s songs in lieu of Cox Radio
Cox Radio
Cox Radio, Inc. is a division of Cox Enterprises that holds a number of radio stations. Cox Radio is headquartered at 6205 Peachtree Dunwoody Road in Sandy Springs, Georgia....
's marketing strategy that targeted WPOI as a station for mostly 30-year olds. Most of WPOI's older songs began to see airplay on sister station WXGL
WXGL
WXGL, known as "The New 107.3 The Eagle - Tampa Bay's Classic Hits Station", is a Cox-owned radio station located on the FM dial at 107.3 in Tampa, Florida. The station plays classic hits, primarily from the 1970s and 1980s, but also the 1990s...
.
On July 1, 2011, at 10:00am, the station dropped its 80s and 90s format, with Bon Jovi's
Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald...
"Blaze of Glory"
Blaze of Glory (song)
"Blaze of Glory " is a song by Jon Bon Jovi which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Mainstream rock chart in 1990, his only chart-topper away from his band Bon Jovi. The song also reached No. 1 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart...
as its final song, and began stunting. One hour later, the station flipped to CHR
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
as "Hot 101-5", with LMFAO's
LMFAO (group)
LMFAO is an American electro pop duo consisting of rappers, producers, dancers, and DJs Redfoo and SkyBlu . The group formed in 2006 in Los Angeles, California. Redfoo is SkyBlu's uncle. Redfoo is also the son of music mogul Berry Gordy, SkyBlu a grandson...
Party Rock Anthem
Party Rock Anthem
"Party Rock Anthem" is a song performed by American electro recording duo LMFAO , featuring English singer Lauren Bennett and GoonRock. It was released as the first single from their second album Sorry for Party Rocking in 2011. It interpolates lyrics from Rick Ross' song "Hustlin"...
as its first song. The station hopes to target a female-friendly 18-49 audience (especially young adults in the 18-34 age bracket) with a music-intensive current-based playlist that borders towards Dance-pop tracks, with less talk and commercials than its competitors.