| City of license | Jenkintown, Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Greater Philadelphia (Delaware Valley) |
| Branding | Praise 103.9 |
| Slogan | Philadelphia's Inspiration Station |
| Frequency | 103.9 MHz |
| First air date | November 1, 1960 |
| Format | Urban Gospel |
| ERP | 270 watts |
| HAAT | 338 meters (1,109 ft) |
| Class | A |
| Facility ID | 30572 |
| Callsign meaning | Philadelphia PraiZe (play on the word Praise) |
| Former callsigns | WPHI-FM (1997–2005) WDRE (July 1996–April 1997) WIBF-FM (1960–1979, 1979–1996) WIBF (January–September 1979) |
| Owner | Radio One (Radio One Licenses, LLC) |
| Sister stations | WPHI-FM, WRNB |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | praisephilly.com |
WPPZ-FM, also known as "Praise 103.9 FM", is a Radio One-owned Philadelphia-area radio station licensed to Jenkintown, Pennsylvania and featuring a Gospel Music format.
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103.9 originally started out on November 1, 1960 as WIBF-FM Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, which was owned by Fox Broadcasting, not related to the more recent Fox Broadcasting television network. WIBF stood for the station's owners — William, Irwin, and Benjamin Fox — who also owned WIBF-TV, channel 29, at the time.
In the 1960s and 1970s, the station featured a format of MOR, big bands, Dixieland jazz and the area's first FM country music show, plus religious and ethnic programs. By the mid-1970s, the station switched to religious and ethnic programming during the day and Spanish music at night. The Barry Reisman Show, featuring Jewish music and programming, was broadcast during the afternoon drive time from 1969 through the station's sale in 1992.
The station was bought in October of 1992 by Jarad Broadcasting, and on November 9, 1992, 92.7 WDRE Garden City, New York started simulcasting its programming with WIBF-FM, and shortly after the simulcast began, WIBF's branding was changed to WDRE to match the New York station. It was decided however in 1995 that WDRE New York would change its call letters back to WLIR, thus making WDRE in Philadelphia an independent local modern rock station; WIBF-FM then changed its own callsign to WDRE - "We DaRE to be Different" to match its branding.
WDRE was branded as "Philly's Modern Rock". Alive by Pearl Jam is the first and last song ever played on WDRE 103.9 FM.
The station helped launch the careers of many famous disc jockeys and local personalities. They include Preston Elliot and Steve Morrison of the Preston and Steve morning show on 93.3 WMMR Philadelphia, Bret Hamilton of WCAU-TV, Marilyn Russell (formerly of Y100, WXPN, WMGK), Jim McGuinn (also known as Rumour Boy), the former Program Director of WPLY Y100 Philadelphia - currently programming 89.3 The River in Minneapolis / St. Paul, and Mel "Toxic" Taylor who went on to WYSP Philadelphia.
Veteran Philadelphia DJ Mel "Toxic" Taylor (WPST, WIFI), was the first DJ hired for the only 2 local shows that would be live from Philadelphia each week.
When WDRE Philadelphia became a local radio station, talent was hired from within the city (e.g. Bret Hamilton, formerly of WIOQ) and outside of the city. While WDRE never became a true mainstream radio station in the Philadelphia radio market, the station gained a cult status in the Philadelphia area, and as a result, events like the station's music festival held in (known as "DREfest") sold out to a crowd of over 25,000 people.
However, in December of 1996, Radio One bought WDRE from Jarad Broadcasting, and it was announced that WDRE would be permanently kicked off the air for a Hip Hop/R&B radio station.
Due to the informed notice of the station's flip, the staff at WDRE were able to organize a concert called "Bitterfest", which was to be held at The Electric Factory. The concert featured local acts G Love and the Fun Lovin' Criminals, and was created to celebrate the life of WDRE as a local institution for modern rock. On February 7, 1997, "Bitterfest" was held to a sold out crowd of over 3,000 people, with all of the WDRE staff present at the event. At midnight on February 8, 1997, a lucky (or unlucky) listener was selected to "pull the plug" on WDRE. Two of the WDRE disc jockeys (Preston Eliot, Bret Hamilton) went to local radio station WPLY Y100 Philadelphia, as did the DRE Program Director, Jim McGuinn and midday and Sunday night DJ, Marilyn Russell (as Promotions Director for Y100). WPLY was itself also bought out by Radio One (in 2000), and was later flipped in 2005 to a Hip Hop/R&B format.
Then, on February 7, 1997, under new ownership, the format became Urban Contemporary and the call letters WPHI. (Sister station WPLY picked up the Modern Rock format in 1995.) When the station rebranded as The Beat it became a rhythmic top 40 station in 2002. By 2006, Radio & Records/Nielsen BDS moved it to the urban contemporary panel, but Mediabase followed suit in 2011, completing the rhythmic to urban shift.
On February 25, 2005, Radio One moved "The Beat" format to the 100.3 frequency, which was formerly WPLY (Y100).
On February 27, 2005, WPPZ started on 103.9. The callsign was changed to WPPZ-FM on March 3.
Except for The Yolanda Adams Morning Show and CeCe McGhee weekdays afternoon, the station ran jockless throughout the day until August 2007. In late August the addition of performer Lonnie Hunter from Chicago was made to be the mid-day personality along with Sheik Meah. Famous Speaker Les Brown was also added to be on Sunday nights from 7–9pm. In September, Pastor Alan E Waller joined the staff to do a Saturday morning show from 10–11am and two more weekend shows were added. The Holy Hip-Hop show was added on Saturday nights from 7–9pm and a Christian dating show was added on Sundays frm 9–11pm. Its transmitter is located in the Roxborough section of Philadelphia.
WPPZ has DJs Lonnie Hunter, Coco Brother, and CeCe Magee. Former DJs include Church Lady (2007–2008), Ed Long (2005–2007), and Les Brown and B.I.G. C.I.T.Y. (2008–2009; 2009–present)
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