One FM 91.3
{{Cleanup rewrite|date=September 2024}}
{{About|the radio station in Singapore | the radio station in Australia|ONE FM (Shepparton)|the Chinese-language radio station in Malaysia which was known as One FM|Eight FM}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Use Singapore English|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = One FM 91.3
| country = Singapore
| logo =
| logo_size =
| former_names = {{ubl|NTUC Heart Radio 91.3 (1991–2001)|WKRZ 91.3 (2001–2006)|Radio 91.3 (2006–2012)|Hot FM 91.3 (2012–2015)}}
| airdate = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1991|03|02}}
| frequency = 91.3 MHz
| format = Classic hits, adult contemporary
| erp =
| owner = SPH Media Trust
| sister_stations = {{hlist|MONEY FM 89.3|Kiss92 FM|96.3 Hao FM|UFM100.3}}
| website = [http://www.onefm.sg/ onefm.sg]
}}
ONE FM 91.3 (formerly known as HOT FM 91.3 before 19 January 2015, Radio 91.3 before 1 August 2012, and WKRZ 91.3 before 14 July 2006) is an English-language radio station based in Singapore. This radio station is owned by SPH Media Trust. ONE FM 91.3 is an English music station playing hits from the 80s’ to now.
History
The National Trade Union Congress began plans to start radio stations in April 1990, with the launch set for early 1991. Known as NTUC Radio at the time, it broadcast on 91.3 MHz in English and 100.3 MHz in Mandarin,{{cite news |title=TWO FM CHANNELS |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/newpaper19900420-1.2.15.5 |access-date=22 January 2024 |work=The New Paper |date=20 April 1990}} with 10% aside for Malay and Tamil programmes on the two stations respectively. Both stations were the first "wireless" private radio stations in Singapore. Being not profit-driven, the radio stations would have a "social purpose" besides providing entertainment. It planned to compete with SBC and the two radio stations from Batam.{{cite news |title=Radio days |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19901115-1.2.89.6.2 |work=The Straits Times |date=15 November 1990}} NTUC would later adopt the name Radio Heart in January 1991,{{cite news |title=Radio Heart faces tough airwaves |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/newpaper19910112-1.2.15.1 |access-date=22 January 2024 |work=The New Paper |date=12 January 1991}} which was also the name of its sponsored radio programme, "Voice from the Heart", which aired on SBC.
Radio Heart began trial transmissions on 28 January 1991 and launched on 2 March by the then secretary-general of NTUC, Ong Teng Cheong.{{cite news |title=Crazy? Maybe, but maybe not |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/newpaper19910302-1.2.11.10 |access-date=22 January 2024 |work=The Straits Times |date=2 March 1991}} His brief speech at 10:45 am was followed by NTUC's theme song, "Voices from the Heart", requested by Ong himself to the NTUC members.{{cite news |title='Voices From The Heart' buka rasmi stesen 'Jantung Hati' |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/beritaharian19910303-1.2.7 |access-date=22 January 2024 |work=Berita Harian |location=Singapore |date=3 March 1991}}
Radio Heart was operated by NTUC Voice Cooperative Society Limited,{{cite news |title=New co-op to run NTUC radio station |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/newpaper19900420-1.2.15.4 |access-date=22 January 2024 |work=The New Paper |date=20 April 1990}} which also owned "other communication and publication ventures", with studios located at the basement of Singapore Labour Foundation building at Thomson Road. It operated with an initial budget of $10 million. In its early weeks, the station carried Radio Kiasu, a programme in Singlish.{{cite news |title=English-Mandarin mix on Radio Heart upsets some |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19910327-1.2.33.1 |access-date=8 June 2025 |work=The Straits Times |date=27 March 1991}}
By mid-1991, the English service Heart 91.3 had 9,000 listeners in the one-hour period between 12 pm and 1 pm.{{cite news |title=Strong and steady waves |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/biztimes19910718-1.2.32.7 |access-date=27 January 2024 |work=Business Times |date=18 July 1991}}
On 15 July 1991, transmissions of Radio Heart's 91.3 and 100.3 were suspended for 32 hours due to problems with the transmitter at the SLF building in Thomson Road. Both stations resumed broadcasting on 17 July on low power.{{cite news |title=Radio Heart transmission disrupted for 32 hours |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19910718-1.2.31.12 |access-date=9 February 2024 |work=The Straits Times |date=18 July 1991}}
In October 1992, Heart 91.3 revamped its programming to shed its "teeny-bopper" image and to appeal to a wider audience, with each programme having a specific theme and play a wide range of music from reggae to country. The changes were not related to the competition with SBC as their target audience was different.{{cite news |title=Radio Heart undergoes revamp to attract wider audience |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19921030-1.2.36.14 |access-date=28 January 2024 |work=The Straits Times |date=30 October 1992}} By 1992, Heart 91.3 had an average daily listenership of 61,000, or three percent of adults, lower than the Class 95 and Perfect 10.
The Straits Times in 1993 described Radio Heart's programming which include lifestyle, fitness and health, current affairs, education and entertainment.
In July 1993, Radio Heart opened a satellite studio {{endash}} a "branch" of the main studio {{endash}} at the Takashimaya complex of Ngee Ann City{{cite news |title=RADIO HEART IN TAKASHIMAYA |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19930806-1.2.71.6.14 |access-date=10 February 2024 |work=The Straits Times |date=6 August 1993}} in Orchard Road, operating from 12 pm to 8 pm. Over four hours of live programming came from the studio, with 91.3 from 12 to 2 pm and 100.3 from 6 to 8 pm.{{cite news |title=Radio Heart to set up studio at Takashimaya |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19930507-1.2.38.11 |access-date=9 February 2024 |work=The Straits Times |date=7 May 1993}}
As part of National Day celebrations in August 1993, 91.3 aired Lion City Heartbeat,{{cite news |title=Heart goes 'home' again |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19940729-1.2.69.9.9 |access-date=10 February 2024 |work=The Straits Times |date=29 July 1994}} airing only Singaporean music throughout its broadcast day, divided into easy listening, blues and alternative. The station collaborated with local magazine BigO for sourcing older music materials and relevant information.{{cite news |title=Quests for S'pore songs |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19930808-1.2.48.3.8 |access-date=10 February 2024 |work=The Straits Times |date=8 August 1993}} The broadcast continued the following year, lasting for 21 hours.
Heart 91.3 began 24 hour broadcasting on 1 May 1994. Roland Tan, general manager of NTUC Radio, said that the stations' overnight presenters made the station different to other stations. The response was positive, with callers coming in at 2 am, mostly students in the higher institutions studying for exams and want to relax after studying.{{cite news |title=Can't sleep at 3 am? Call the radio deeiay |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19940514-1.2.72.6.7 |access-date=27 January 2024 |work=The Straits Times |date=14 May 1994}}
On 3 September 1995, Heart 91.3 relaunched as a station playing adult contemporary songs targeting listeners between ages of 25 and 45 to avoid the misconception that the station is for the younger listeners.{{cite news |title=Have English radio stations here lost their identity? |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19951114-1.2.62.3.1 |access-date=27 January 2024 |work=The Straits Times |date=14 November 1995}}
In October 1995, NTUC members proposed to Radio Heart to use Standard Malay in its programmes; however it was already implemented. The members also propose Radio Heart to air Malay programmes in earlier slots for the convenience of listeners.{{cite news |title=Wanted: More Indian, Malay programmes |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19951022-1.2.37.11 |access-date=9 February 2024 |work=The Straits Times |date=22 October 1995}} By 1997, Heart 91.3 had an extensive playlist, ranging from "pop to alternative to classical" and multilingual programmes that feature English, Japanese, Thai and Chinese-dialect music.{{cite news |title=Now Radio Heart pumps it up to woo new listeners |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19980102-1.2.69.15 |access-date=27 January 2024 |work=The Straits Times |date=2 January 1998}}
MediaWorks had the intention of buying radio stations from NTUC in March 2001, with the creation of a joint-venture between the two, taking over 91.3 and 100.3, then now known as Most Music and Heart FM respectively.{{cite web |date=15 March 2001 |title=MediaWorks to go 'on air' |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/today20010315-1.2.6.7 |access-date=13 September 2023 |website=Today (retrieved from NLB)}} The tentative name of the new company was UnionWorks{{cite web |date=15 March 2001 |title=You'll soon be listening to... UnionWorks |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/streats20010315-1.2.7.3 |access-date=13 September 2023 |website=Streats (retrieved from NLB)}} and the relaunch was initially set for the end of May.{{cite web |date=15 March 2001 |title=Media Works in radio scene |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/eyeball20010315-1.2.3.4.3 |access-date=13 September 2023 |website=Project Eyeball (retrieved from NLB)}}
Ahead of the relaunch of More Music as WKRZ, SPH MediaWorks announced that it would carry at least 22 hours of syndicated MTV content per week.{{cite web |date=27 September 2001 |title=Let's rock to MTV over the airwaves |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes20010927-1.2.69.2.1 |access-date=14 September 2023 |website=The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB)}} On 3 October 2001, SPH Radio Broadcasting Arm, a joint management between SPH Multimedia and NTUC Media was launched as SPH UnionWorks; owns, manages, and operates UFM 1003 and WKRZ 91.3FM. More Music was given a US-style name, going under the fake callsign WKRZ.{{cite web |date=3 October 2001 |title=SPH's new radio station is launched |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes20011003-1.2.71.7.5 |access-date=14 September 2023 |website=The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB)}}
Controversies
WKRZ 91.3 was probed for including explicit language in an edition of The Morning Show on 27 July 2003. The fine, worth $15,000, involved a woman simulating an orgasm. Sex scenes were, then as now, not allowed on Singaporean media, in an attempt to prevent tensions between ethnic groups.{{cite web |title=Live sex rap for radio station |url=https://variety.com/2001/tv/news/webs-slug-it-out-1117801680/ |website=Metro |access-date=14 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626112737/http://metro.co.uk/2003/09/26/live-sex-rap-for-radio-station-382249/ |archive-date=26 June 2015 |date=26 September 2003 |url-status=live}}
In January 2013, popular DJs The Married Men were dropped due to content deemed inappropriate during a morning "Kena Pluck" segment during the Morning Drive Time show.{{cite web|title=The Married Men axed by 91.3.|url=https://sg.celebrity.yahoo.com/blogs/singapore-showbiz/married-men-pulled-off-air-inappropriate-prank-091451601.html|website=HOTFM 91.3 deejays The Married Men axed by station|date=18 January 2013 |access-date=30 April 2016}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.onefm.sg/ ONE FM 91.3 Official Website]
{{SPH Media Trust}}
{{Radio stations in Singapore}}
Category:1991 establishments in Singapore
Category:Radio stations in Singapore