The weekend of stunting with nothing but Drake on 92.7 WQNC Harrisburg/Charlotte, NC gave way at 5:00pm today to Urban “92.7 The Block“.
Taking direct aim at Beasley Media’s “Power 98” WPEG, the new format is promoting itself as “Non-Stop Hip-Hop and R&B” and being commercial-free. First song was Lil Wayne’s “The Block Is Hot”.
Original Report 8/14: Radio-One has broken its simulcast of Gospel “Praise 92.7/100.9” in Charlotte.
92.7 WPZS Harrisburg, NC has dropped the Gospel format and is now stunting will all-Drake as “Drake 92.7“. The move brings a call letter swap as WPZS moves over to 100.9 Indian Trail, NC that retains the “Praise” Gospel format. 92.7 is once again WQNC, which were on that frequency from 2002 until it flipped to Gospel in 2012.
The Drake stunt will likely lead into a new Urban format to compete with Beasley’s “Power 98” 97.9 WPEG. WPEG is currently second in the Charlotte market with a 6.9 share.
Somehow the stunt is already leading many listeners to believe that Drake himself has purchased the station. Something he legally cannot do as a Canadian citizen.
So Drake bought out the radio station 92.7 in Charlotte ???
— Craig Raye (@22canHOOP) August 15, 2015
So I went to listen to Praise 9.27 here in Charlotte, and turns out @Drake brought the radio station and now it's called Drake 92.7????
— Taya ???? (@sweetsavage95) August 14, 2015
“@TheUrbanDaily: Finally! A radio station that only plays Drake. http://t.co/Ozj4VSnXrT http://t.co/8rDPI9kjSd”> Yup!!!!!!
— 102.5 The Block (@1025theblock) August 14, 2015
ksradiogeek 
Charles Everett 
BC 
only1moore 
Don’t forget if it goes Urban, it will also have to deal with WGIV/W277CB (Streetz).
As for my thoughts, I’d put money it goes Boom. No Urban AC since they killed off My after Old School launched, and Urban has been tried before and didn’t work for long.
“Urban AC” = R&B without rap, viable for a city like Charlotte.
“Boom” = Rap Oldies, a fad format that is starting to crater nationwide.
You’ll have the short term explosion, then it will die down a bit. At the same time, classic hip hop crosses over A LOT more than Urban AC, not only to mention more advertiser support.
The ratings prove that Rap Oldies is a fad format. Philadelphia — lowest-rated commercial FM. Indianapolis — #1 to out of the top 10 in less than 6 months. Even Radio One has admitted that “Boom” is not a long-term solution.
R&B is for grown-ups. Rap Oldies is for overgrown children.
Right…so I’m an overgrown child? I’m 22, actually work in the business, and actually love most of this music since most of it came from my childhood. I’m also attending college, and make money. Please tell me how I’m an overgrown child. (I’m not trying to be insulting, just trying to be more understanding.) And I’m still not seeing My coming back. Remember after Old School’s debut, My redirected listeners to it?
“Rap Oldies”…interesting. I’d prefer “Throwback Hip Hop.”
This is a stunt format? Wow, could have fooled me, I thought it was just regular rotation.
It is true that Drake is Canadian, but his father is American and spent time in Memphis when he was young, which means he can claim dual citizenship if he wanted to.