Yesterday, I hinted that the urban Hot 107.9 was changing formats to a throwback hip hop sound. Today, Radio One, which owns Hot 107.9, has made that change official. The new station will be called Boom 107.9 and is modeled after Boom 92.1 in Houston.
A release cited poor ratings performance for the change in format, adding that nine employees have been affected by the format change. The last couple of months had seen a decline in ratings for the station (WPHI), and it was consistently beat by similarly formatted Power 99 (WUSL).
"We take the loss of employees seriously," Shawneen Thompson, General Manager, Radio One, said in a statement. "We are working to ensure all of our impacted employees are transitioned with the dignity and respect they deserve."
Thompson adds in the release, "Though disappointed by this unfortunate, but necessary decision, we are excited about our future with Boom 107.9 FM."