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 early - 1980s.