It’s full speed ahead for Radio Romance

Nothing is sweeter than to be at the top after four short years of improved programming. WRR 101.9 shed off its wholesome Radio Romance image in 1996 to adapt to the changing taste of its listeners. This year, the KBP survey ranked the station as No. 1 in its overall category (both FM and AM).

"Our secret is in coming up with a mix of songs based on the lifestyle of our audience," says Eli Capuyan, program and production services chief. "I have to admit that our shows are based on a winning formula used by other stations. What makes us different is that we incorporate certain segments that have special appeal to listeners."

WRR has moved on with the times. The station can be heard on real time via www.abs-cbn.com. Email requests and dedications from Pinoys living abroad are entertained on the all-OPM Sunday show Tugtugang Pinoy. Even cable TV has become a medium for the station. The Filipino Channel (ABS-CBN’s cable arm) provides a dedicated channel to WRR.

Unmistakably, being part of a giant network has its merits, but there is always the risk of being eaten alive by your own machinery. WRR lives in the same stable with Star Records and its mini labels. But Eli insists the station does not play favorites when it comes to choosing which songs to air. In fact, they have never been pressured to push certain artists just because they’ve got that ABS-CBN backing.

Though things seem to come easy for the new WRR, the truth is that it was tough living down the image created by Radio Romance. Even when it was relaunched as WRR 101.9, All the hits all the time, it continued to be associated with love songs and mellow music. The shift was felt in July of 1999 when WRR took on a different tagline –"For Life."

Gone are the lady jocks that firmed up the Radio Romance image. Instead, WRR boasts of a more varied group: Danny Bravo shakes and wakes us up mornings; Martin D handles the morning to noontime shift; Toni carries on the light and easy mood for the afternoon (she also doubles as a news reporter); music programmer Johnny Ace brings in the nostalgia on late afternoons; Benny Davies offers a selection of folk, rock and country music while you drive or sit in traffic; Geri brings in love songs to wind the day (her new segment Heart to Heart allows listeners to call and pour out troubles or just say hello); Michael Vincent takes on the graveyard shift with sentimental songs and China Heart comes in Sundays for Tugtugang Pinoy, Sunday Disco Rewind and Sunday Hit Parade.

Radio can’t be called radio without exciting events. Its annual Halloween concert party is set for Oct. 30. Soon to follow is the premiere of Scary Movie.

"We’re happy with the way things are going for the station," Eli concludes. "That’s why we’re not making major changes to our programming. What we promise to do is to continue entertaining people with good music."