iHeartMedia flipped Classic Hits “105.1 The River” WJDX-FM Kosciusko/Jackson MS to Hip Hop “Real 105.1“.
The launch came at 12pm today following a brief stunt with different themes. The new format debuts with 10,0000 songs commercial-free, the station will feature the syndicated Breakfast Club in mornings and a lineup of iHeart’s national voicetrackers the rest of the day including Big Sue in middays, Papa Keith in afternoons and T-Roy at night.
The new format becomes the third Hip Hop station in the market joining Roberts Radio’s “97.7 The Beat” WRBJ and Alpha Media’s “99 Jams” 99.7 WJMI.
The former Classic Hits format has a 1.6 share in the March 2020 Nielsen Audio monthly ratings. iHeart is attempting to direct listeners to co-owned Classic Rock “Z106.7” WSTZ. WJDX-FM afternoon host Jan Michaels is also moving the WSTZ to host middays.
iHeartMedia Jackson announced today the debut of
The New Real 105.1, Jackson’s New #1 For Hip Hop and R&B, effective immediately.To celebrate the station launch, The New Real 105.1 will kick off with 10,000 uninterrupted songs in a row from popular Rap, Hip Hop and R&B artists including Drake, Roddy Ricch, Chris Brown, Lil Baby, Megan Thee Stallion and more. Additionally, the station will feature top shows and on-air personalities including T-Roy, Big Sue, Papa Keith and the world’s most dangerous morning show, “The Breakfast Club,” with DJ Envy, Angela Yee and Charlamagne Tha God.
“We are excited to launch The New Real 105.1 in Jackson and bring another choice for Hip Hop and R&B to the market,” said Mike Comfort, Market President for iHeartMedia Jackson. “Based on our research, we know not only is this going to connect with our market’s audience, but this format is also going to produce a strong listener base for our advertisers – things just got real!”
Full Programming Lineup:
The Breakfast Club 5:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Big Sue 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Papa Keith 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.
T-Roy 7 p.m. – 12 a.m.
The Mix Tape w/ DJ 33 1/3 10 p.m. – 2 a.m. (Fridays and Saturdays)
Well, 105.1 The River was great while it lasted.
December 26, 2013: The River started flowing at 105.1. At that time, its format was classic hits (’60s, ’70s, and even ’80s music).
December 29, 2013: American Top 40: The ’80s debuts on 105.1 The River.
American Top 40: The ’80s was aired most Sundays, from 8 am to 12 pm Central Time. But if the New Orleans Saints had a Sunday afternoon game, American Top 40: The ’80s was aired Sundays, from 5 am to 9 am Central Time.
And when 105.1 The River temporarily goes all-Christmas, American Top 40: The ’80s is not aired at all.
September 1, 2014: The station ditches ’60s music to fully concentrate and ’70s and especially ’80s music.
May 22-25, 2015: The station has its first Best of the ’80s Weekend.
September 4-7, 2015: The station has its second Best of the ’80s Weekend.
May 27-30, 2016: The station has its third Best of the ’80s Weekend.
July 1-5, 2016: The station has its fourth Best of the ’80s Weekend.
September 2-5, 2016: The station has its fifth Best of the ’80s Weekend.
May 26-29, 2017: The station has its sixth Best of the ’80s Weekend.
June 30-July 4, 2017: The station has its seventh Best of the ’80s Weekend.
September 1-4, 2017: The station has its eighth Best of the ’80s Weekend.
May 25-28, 2018: The station has its ninth Best of the ’80s Weekend. (The station had only one Best of the ’80s Weekend in 2018.)
February 11, 2019: Technically, 105.1 The River switches to adult hits. Not only does the station still have ’70s and ’80s music–but it also has music from the ’90s, 2000-2009, and even 2010-2014(?).
February 16, 2019: The ’80s Show with Jeff Stevens made its debut on 105.1 The River.
February 17, 2019: American Top 40: The ’80s is aired twice most Sundays (8 am to 12 pm and 6 pm to 10 pm Central Time).
American Top 40: The ’80s was aired most Sundays, from 8 am to 12 pm and 5 pm to 10 pm Central Time. But if the New Orleans Saints had a Sunday afternoon game, American Top 40: The ’80s was aired Sundays, from 5 am to 9 am and 6 pm to 10 pm Central Time.
And when 105.1 The River temporarily goes all-Christmas, American Top 40: The ’80s is not aired at all.
May 24-27, 2019: The station has its tenth Best of the ’80s Weekend.
July 3-7, 2019: The station has its eleventh Best of the ’80s Weekend.
August 30-September 2, 2019: The station has its twelfth (and final) Best of the ’80s Weekend.
May 22, 2020: After five hours of stunting (from 7 am to 12 pm Central Time), WJDX-FM makes the switch…to hip-hop.
12 pm: The station unofficially relaunches with top-40 (105.1 Kiss FM)
12:15 pm: The station officially relaunches with hip-hop (Real 105.1)