Category: WDRQ

DETROIT’S ‘DRQ SWITCHING TO ‘FORMULA 41’ AC FORMAT . . . APRIL 20, 1985

Motor City Radio Flashbacks logo (2015)From the MCRFB news archive: 1985

URBAN PROGRAMMER JIM SNOWDEN WILL REMAIN STATION PD

 

 

 

 

 

DETROIT — Well-known urban programmer Jim Snowden will remain in his PD seat at WDRQ here when the station drops it urban output for Transtar’s “Formula 41” adult contemporary service in the next two to three weeks.

Snowden, most recently morning man at Inner City’s WBLS New York, was unavailable to comment on his seemingly strange decision at press time. Amaturo Group radio president Monte Lang, however, is quick to mention that Snowden’s background “includes working with many different formats,”  and says Snowden “just loves this city, and we’re proud to say he is staying.”

While Lang claims that WDRQ was profitable as an urban station, he adds, “We were dissapointed with its success penetrating the market.” Explaining the choice of Transtar’s service, Lang says, “We’ve been happy with the success of ‘Formula 41’ at our WJQY Ft. Lauderdale, and saw the opportunity to do the same in Detroit.”

With the new adult programming, WDRQ will be re-christened with a yet undetermined set of calls (possibly WLTI) and will likely be clothed in a new image. “I’m not pounding my chest that this will be an overnight success,” says Lang, who cite’s all of Detroit’s adult stations as WDRQ’s new competition. “They are all terrific.”

Formula 41, being one of the lightest AC programs on the market, Lang intends to position the new WDRQ  as a “very relaxing station targeted at listeners who prefer Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond and leaning toward easy listening,” against what he calls “the higher energy” adult outlets in Detroit.

Overseeing WDRQ’s new direction is forger general sales manager Jeff Slette, who steps into the general manager role after Chuck Borchard’s resignation earlier this month over what Lang calls “philosophical differences.” END

(Information and news source, Billboard; April 20, 1985).

WDRQ-FM station logo from the early - 1980s
WDRQ-FM station logo from early – 1980s.

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DETROIT RADIO SIDEBAR: WDRQ-FM BILLBOARD NOTES

MarqueeTest-2From the MCRFB notebook: 1971, 1981 and 1982

WDRQ-FM

 

 

 

 

 

DETROIT (June 10, 1971) — Al Casey has been slated to program Bartell’s St. Louis operation, which is still pending FCC approval, so he’s in Detroit programming WDRQ-FM. Andy Wilson is music director. Ron Thompson and Jay Stone are among the air personalities at the new Top 40 station in the Motor City. George Wilson, national director of Bartell, is managing WDRQ-FM. END.

 

DETROIT (August 1, 1981) — Bill Garcia, has been hired away from WDRQ-FM Detroit to be program director at WOMC-FM. Garcia has been moving the Hot 100 formatted WDRQ into a more adult contemporary mode and into direct competition with Metromedia’s WOMC. Charter Broadcasting has WDRQ on the block. Garcia succeeds Dave Shafer, who’s moved over to WCZY-FM, which is running the syndicated Shulke II vocal-oriented Beautiful music format. END.

 

DETROIT (January 30, 1982) — Alan Furst is the new program director at WEEP-AM in Pittsburgh, succeeding Barry Mardit, who has moved on to become program director at WWWW-FM in Detroit. Mardit succeeds Dene Hallan, who has left to become program director at WHN-AM New York (Billboard; December 12). Furst continues to work the 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.air shift. Furst is not the only new program director in the Motor City. Cliff Winston has taken over full programming duties at WDRQ-FM. Operations director at “The Q” Rick Torcasso has transferred to KSLQ-FM to program that station. Both WDRQ and KSLQ are owned by Charter Broadcasting. Torcasso succeeds John Larabee, who left the station. END.

(Information and news source: Billboard Magazine. All excerpts culled as was published from the dated editions noted above).

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FMR. WDRQ DEEJAY BILL BAILEY DIED TODAY AGE 66

Veteran Personality/Programmer Bill Bailey Dies
 

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, June 12, 2013 | 5:07pm CT

 

WDRQ's Bill Bailey
WDRQ’s Bill Bailey

30-year veteran personality and Oldies WGVU-FM/Grand Rapids Program Director and morning personality Bill Bailey has died. He passed away Wednesday while playing golf (his off-air passion) during a station promotion. Bailey began his career with Armed Forces Radio during the Vietnam war. Back in the U.S., he worked at WXTR/Washington DC, mornings at WDRQ/Detroit, PD/mornings, then VP/Programming at WIZF/Cincinnati and on-air at WLS-AM/Chicago before moving to Grand Rapids.

“Bill has been an integral part of building WGVU Real Oldies,” said WGVU GM Michael Walenta. “We will miss his smile, his style, and the contribution he has made to our station and our lives. His passion for music, golf, and the community are an inspiration. Please keep Bill’s family in your thoughts.” (06-12-13)

(Information source: http://news.radio-online.com; June 12, 2013).

WDRQ-Bill-Bailey

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