Very sad news for Detroiters and those of you who have ties to the city. WGPR, the African-American owned Adult R&B radio station, is no more. It has been purchased by Channel One and is now being turned into a Hip-Hop station. WGPR was very special to me. On the rare ocassion where I did listen to radio, WGPR was the only station I listened to. It was the only station that dared to go outside of the box by playing songs and artists that the other adult stations wouldn't touch. WGPR did not stick to established playlists. They did not have favorite artists. They did not play only the usual, "recognizable" hits. No. They played album cuts. They played the big hits from back in the day that people had forgotten about. They played Jazz. They played Gospel. This was a station for grown folks where you weren't relegated to listening to Anita Baker, Sade, Micheal Jackson and Marvin Gaye every hour on the hour. Over the years, I discovered a lot of great music on this station that I would not have otherwise been exposed to. WGPR dared to be different. They were trailblazers. I will truly miss them. I have now officially retired from listening to radio.

http://www.allaccess.com/...wgpr-moves

RADIO ONE/DETROIT has entered into a Local Marketing Agreement to assume operating responsibility for WGRP INC. Urban AC WGPR/DETROIT. RADIO ONE/DETROIT moved Urban WHTD (HOT 102.7) from 102.7 to its new home on 107.5 at 12:01a this morning.

The current lineup of THE RICKEY SMILEY MORNING SHOW 6-10a, PAIGION in middays 10a-2p, BIG GREG afternoons 2-7p and SHORTY DA PRINCE evenings 7p-midnight will stay the same.

RADIO ONE will also bring a brand new station into the DETROIT market on 102.7. A recent research project showed a substantial demand for inspirational music. RADIO ONE has decided to launch PRAISE 102.7 on MONDAY, OCTOBER 31st. YOLANDA ADAMS will host morning drive from 6-10a.

"Adding WGPR to our existing portfolio of stations and introducing a brand new inspirational station means RADIO ONE will become the dominant Urban provider in the marketplace," stated VP/GM KATHY STINEHOUR. "We are looking forward to better serving the community and are thrilled Ms. CATHY HUGHES and ALFRED LIGGINS are choosing to make this type of major investment in DETROIT."

WGPR Pres./GM JAMES DOGAN commented, "While this was a very tough decision for us, it is the right thing to do for Urban radio in our city. WGPR will perform better as part of the critical mass RADIO ONE delivers."

kitbradley said:

Very sad news for Detroiters and those of you who have ties to the city. WGPR, the African-American owned Adult R&B radio station, is no more. It has been purchased by Channel One and is now being turned into a Hip-Hop station. WGPR was very special to me. On the rare ocassion where I did listen to radio, WGPR was the only station I listened to. It was the only station that dared to go outside of the box by playing songs and artists that the other adult stations wouldn't touch. WGPR did not stick to established playlists. They did not have favorite artists. They did not play only the usual, "recognizable" hits. No. They played album cuts. They played the big hits from back in the day that people had forgotten about. They played Jazz. They played Gospel. This was a station for grown folks where you weren't relegated to listening to Anita Baker, Sade, Micheal Jackson and Marvin Gaye every hour on the hour. Over the years, I discovered a lot of great music on this station that I would not have otherwise been exposed to. WGPR dared to be different. They were trailblazers. I will truly miss them. I have now officially retired from listening to radio.

http://www.allaccess.com/...wgpr-moves

RADIO ONE/DETROIT has entered into a Local Marketing Agreement to assume operating responsibility for WGRP INC. Urban AC WGPR/DETROIT. RADIO ONE/DETROIT moved Urban WHTD (HOT 102.7) from 102.7 to its new home on 107.5 at 12:01a this morning.

The current lineup of THE RICKEY SMILEY MORNING SHOW 6-10a, PAIGION in middays 10a-2p, BIG GREG afternoons 2-7p and SHORTY DA PRINCE evenings 7p-midnight will stay the same.

RADIO ONE will also bring a brand new station into the DETROIT market on 102.7. A recent research project showed a substantial demand for inspirational music. RADIO ONE has decided to launch PRAISE 102.7 on MONDAY, OCTOBER 31st. YOLANDA ADAMS will host morning drive from 6-10a.

"Adding WGPR to our existing portfolio of stations and introducing a brand new inspirational station means RADIO ONE will become the dominant Urban provider in the marketplace," stated VP/GM KATHY STINEHOUR. "We are looking forward to better serving the community and are thrilled Ms. CATHY HUGHES and ALFRED LIGGINS are choosing to make this type of major investment in DETROIT."

WGPR Pres./GM JAMES DOGAN commented, "While this was a very tough decision for us, it is the right thing to do for Urban radio in our city. WGPR will perform better as part of the critical mass RADIO ONE delivers."

I dont know life without listening to WGPR here in the D. One of the last stations to be bought by one of the media hoses in the country-sucking the life out of our culture. It's truly sad to see a landmark for 50 years get sold..to "better service the community" REALLY?!?!? The history this station has....come on now......the got "It's So hard to Say Goodbye" playing on repeat until the new regime beings.......no more jazz, rare album cuts,house music/ol' school techno, they help enhanced my music collection........This is where the Electricfying MOJO first woke up the city and the TV studio where the famed dance show "The Scene" came from.....Im staying with college radio and hopefully get back on the air to play the music that station influenced me to play.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WGPR