Fresh Listen: Star 94.5 vs. 102 Jamz

When WJHM (102 Jamz) launched in April 1988, Orlando was one of many sizable markets with no R&B radio on FM. Under consultant Jerry Clifton, PD Duff Lindsey, and APD/MD Cedric Hollywood, the station stunned the market with a 12 share that summer. Although WJHM played pop-crossover titles, it differed from many similar stations in reporting to the Urban chart, rather than positioning itself as “Rhythmic Top 40.”

Since then, Urban radio in its various forms has had to prove itself repeatedly in Orlando. 102 Jamz drifted across the line to Rhythmic several times, before going Top 40 altogether a decade ago as WQMP (101.9 Amp FM), then becoming Alt 101.9. The station that nudged it there, Cox’s WPYO (Power 95.3), always billed itself as Rhythmic after launching in the early ’00s, then also went CHR outright before being sold and going Spanish in 2022. 

When 102 Jamz switched formats, iHeart put the Hip-Hop/R&B format on an HD2/translator combo, WTKS-HD-2 (104.5 The Beat). That station garnered a surprise 5.7 share, particularly given its signal; in the just-released July PPM, it went 2.9-2.6. Power’s sister station, Adult R&B WCFB (Star 94.5), has gone through its own changes, including a brief segue to throwbacks when that format exploded in the early ’10s. Later on, it had elements of both Adult and Mainstream R&B, along the lines of WBLK Buffalo, N.Y., or WDKX Rochester, N.Y.

Recently, under veteran PD Elroy Smith, Star 94.5 reached a record share in May. It led the market earlier this year and is currently No. 2 (10.1-9.0-8.9). On August 1, WQMP became 102 Jamz again, billed as “Orlando’s Home for Throwbacks” under Audacy format captain Skip Dillard. It will also return to the WJHM calls. There have also been market rumors that iHeart might move The Beat to a better signal. 

One of the things Smith has done is to help bolster a traditional community-oriented R&B radio feel on Star. Last Friday, with Hurricane Debby approaching, middayer JoJo told listeners where to pick up sandbags. Elsewhere that hour, she encouraged listeners to register to vote, but also to double-check their paperwork. There was also a break devoted to listener birthday shout-outs. Cox stations promote the OpenMic function of their station apps heavily; a promo from Smith urged listener feedback “for the boss.” 

Here’s Star 94.5 just before 2 p.m. on August 2:

• SWV, “Right Here/Human Nature”
• Fantasia, “When I See U”
• Victoria Monet, “On My Mama”
• Toni Braxton, “Another Sad Love Song”
• Keith Sweat, “I Want Her” — the oldest song of the hour (1987) gets a “timeless R&B” stager
• Bruno Mars/Anderson.Paak/Silk Sonic, “Love’s Train”
• Tyrese, “Sweet Lady”
• Alicia Keys, “Unbreakable”
• Bell Biv Devoe, “Poison” — with a “’90s Throwback” stager: “thanks for journeying with us”
• YG Marley, “Praise Jah in the Moonlight”
• Babyface, “Whip Appeal”
• Chris Brown f/Davido & Lojay, “Sensational”

The return of 102 Jamz follows the early success of WPOW (Power 96) Miami, a sister station in 1988 and again today, with its own throwback format. While that station already had an airstaff, WJHM has launched jockless with 10,000 songs in a row. Sweepers include “now more than ever before, 102 guarantees to jam” and “who jams? 102 Jamz!” – both nods to classic station sweepers. The station is also promising “Orlando’s largest music library.”

Here’s 102 Jamz on August 2 just before 2 p.m.:

• Chris Brown, “Run It”
• Mariah Carey, “Shake It Off”
• Nina Sky, “Move Ya Body”
• Ice Cube, “It Was a Good Day”
• Eminem, “Lose Yourself”
• Mary J. Blige, “Family Affair”
• 2Pac, “Keep Ya Head Up”
• Nelly, “Hot in Herre”
• Sean Paul f/Sasha, “I’m Still in Love With You”
• Fugees, “Ready or Not”
• Fat Joe f/Ashanti, “What’s Luv”
• Mase f/Total, “What You Want”
• Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, “The Crossroads”
• Ciara f/Petey Pablo, “Goodies”
• Keyshia Cole, “Let It Go”
• Notorious B.I.G., “Juicy”

104.5 the Beat bills itself as “O-Town’s Number One and Only for Hip-Hop and R&B.” It’s the local affiliate of the Breakfast Club. Here’s 104.5 the Beat on August 2 at 2 p.m., with PD/p.m. driver Dwight “D-Strong” Ricketts:

• A$AP Rocky f/Jessica Pratt, “Highjack” — the Friday hourly premiere that week
• Muni Long, “Made for Me”
• Dr. Dre, “Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang”
• Blxst f/Ty Dolla $ign & Tyga, “Chosen”
• Glorilla, “Yeah Glo”
• Drake f/Lil Durk, “Laugh Now Cry Later”
• Glorilla f/Megan Thee Stallion, “Wanna Be”
• Gunna, “Fukumean”
• Bryson Tiller, “Don’t”
• Future & Metro Boomin, “Like That”
• 21 Savage f/Summer Walker, “Prove It”
• Kendrick Lamar, “Not Like Us”
• SZA, “Snooze”
• J. Cole, “Work Out”

Chip Kelley, author of the Over the Air newsletter, recently posted a 1990 aircheck of 102 Jamz as well as four listens to Power 96 over the years. Check them out here.