WWRL

{{Infobox radio station

| name = WWRL

| city = New York, New York

| country = US

| area = New York metropolitan area

| frequency = {{frequency|1600|kHz}}

| branding = New York's BIN 1600

| language = English

| format = All-news radio

| affiliations = Black Information Network

| owner = iHeartMedia

| licensee = IHM Licenses LLC

| sister_stations = {{hlist|WAXQ|WHTZ|WKTU|WLTW|WOR|WWPR-FM}}

| airdate = {{start date and age|1926|8|26|p=y|br=yes}}

| callsign_meaning = Woodside Radio Laboratory

| licensing_authority = FCC

| facility_id = 68906

| class = B

| power = {{ubl|{{val|25000|u=watts|fmt=commas}} (day)|{{val|5000|u=watts|fmt=commas}} (night)}}

| coordinates = {{coord|40|47|44|N|74|03|18|W|type:landmark_region:US-NY_source:FCC}}

| repeater = {{Radio Relay|105.1|WWPR-HD3|New York}}

| webcast = {{iHeartRadio|8772}}

| website = {{URL|https://newyork.binnews.com/}}

}}

WWRL (1600 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station licensed to New York, New York, owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. The station airs an all-news radio format as an affiliate of the Black Information Network (BIN).

Founded in 1926, WWRL originally had a multi-lingual format serving the various ethnic communities of New York City. The station took on a mostly Spanish identity in the 1950s, then became primarily oriented towards African Americans in the mid-1960s, under the direction of news director Dick London, who invited community leaders to voice their concerns publicly on air, as the station became an advocate for legislative change. The music and news advocacy was an integral part of the Black American community. WWRL played R&B music from 1964 to 1982, before changing to urban contemporary gospel music and religious programming from 1982 to 1997.

After a brief return to R&B in the late 1990s, WWRL gradually de-emphasized music in favor of more talk radio programming. In 2006, WWRL replaced 1190 WLIB as the flagship station for the Air America Radio network and retained a progressive talk radio format for seven years.

From 2014 to 2016, WWRL had a regional Mexican music format before changing to South Asian programming as an affiliate of Radio Zindagi. Since 2020, the station has served as the New York City outlet for iHeartRadio's Black Information Network service. Ethel Merman began her career singing on WWRL; notable hosts in WWRL's history include Frankie Crocker, Al Sharpton, Steve Malzberg, Mark Riley, and Richard Bey.

History

=Early history (1926–1963)=

File:Ethel Merman by J. Knowles Hare - Radio Mirror, August 1935.jpg's career in show business had early roots as a live performing artist on WWRL during the station's first years of operation.]]

File: WWRL advertisement (1959).gif

Founded by radio enthusiast William Reuman, doing business as Woodside Radio Laboratory, WWRL signed on at midnight on August 26, 1926, from a studio and transmitter located in his home at 41-30 58th Street in Woodside, Queens. It originally broadcast on 1160 kHz.{{rp|188}}{{citation|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Radex/Radex%203-1%2026%2010.pdf|title=Radio Index: The Tuning Book|page=13|date=October 1926|volume=3|issue=1}} In its first year of operation, WWRL broadcast live musical performances, usually from Reuman's friends and neighbors. Among them were Astoria singer Ethel Zimmerman, who would later achieve stardom as Ethel Merman.{{rp|188}}

WWRL began operations during a chaotic period when most government regulation had been suspended, with new stations free to be set up with few restriction. Following the reestablishment of government control by the formation of the Federal Radio Commission (FRC), the new regulators issued a series of temporary authorizations beginning on May 3, 1927, with WWRL at first continuing to be assigned to 1160 kHz,[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112106763078&view=1up&seq=63 "List of broadcasting stations issued temporary permits"], Radio Service Bulletin, April 30, 1927, page 9. which a month later was changed to 1120 kHz.[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112106763078&view=1up&seq=86 "Broadcasting Stations Alphabetically by States and Cities"] (effective June 15, 1927), Radio Service Bulletin, May 31, 1927, page 8. Stations were also informed that if they wanted to continue operating, they needed to file a formal license application by January 15, 1928, as the first step in determining whether they met the new "public interest, convenience, or necessity" standard.[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112106763078&view=1up&seq=205 "Extension of Broadcasting Station Licenses"], Radio Service Bulletin, December 31, 1927, page 7. On May 25, 1928, the FRC issued General Order 32, which notified 164 stations, including WWRL, that "From an examination of your application for future license it does not find that public interest, convenience, or necessity would be served by granting it."[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015011384305&view=1up&seq=182 "Appendix F (2): Letter to and list of stations included in General Order No. 32, issued May 25, 1928"], Second Annual Report of the Federal Radio Commission for the Year Ended June 30, 1928, Together With Supplemental Report for the Period From July 1, 1928, to September 30, 1928, pages 146-149. However, the station successfully convinced the commission that it should remain licensed.

On November 11, 1928, the FRC implemented a major reallocation of station transmitting frequencies, as part of a reorganization resulting from its implementation of General Order 40. WWRL was assigned to 1500 kHz, sharing this frequency with three other regional stations.[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015011384305&view=1up&seq=219 "Broadcasting Stations"], Second Annual Report of the Federal Radio Commission (June 30, 1928), page 183.

In 1927, Reuman had begun selling commercial airtime to local merchants, and in 1929 incorporated as the Long Island Broadcasting Corporation.{{citation|author=Jaker, Bill; Sulek, Frank; and Kanze, Peter|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pLTB4E5wVBAC&pg=PA188|title=The Airwaves of New York: Illustrated Histories of 156 AM Stations in the Metropolitan Area, 1921-1996|place=Jefferson, North Carolina|publisher=McFarland & Company|year=1998|isbn=078643872X}}{{rp|188}} With the slogan "The Voice of Queens County," WWRL began to broadcast programs in Italian, German, French, Polish, Hungarian, Slovak, and Czech, as well as English.{{rp|188}}

Following implementation of the 1941 North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement the station again changed its frequency, first to 1490 kHz on April 29 that year, then within the year to the 1600 kHz, where the station remains to this day. In 1951 the station's city of license changed from Woodside to New York City. Most programs on the station were oriented towards Hispanic and Black listeners, and Greek, Syrian, Irish, Ukrainian, Russian, and Scandinavian shows also joined the schedule. By decade's end, WWRL had a 24-hour broadcast day primarily in Spanish. Leading black disc jockeys joined the station, including Tommy Smalls (known as "Dr. Jive") and Hal Jackson.{{rp|188–190}}

=R&B format (1964–1982)=

Egmont Sonderling bought WWRL from the retiring Reuman in January 1964, and changed its format to R&B.{{cite news|last=Hinckley |first=David |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/wwrl-spanish-language-station-article-1.1561602|title=WWRL switching to Spanish-language station, ending an era in black radio |work=Daily News |location=New York |date=December 31, 2013 |access-date=May 5, 2017}}{{cite news |title=Egmont Sonderling, 91; Founded Company |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/04/business/egmont-sonderling-91-founded-company.html |access-date=May 5, 2017 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=August 4, 1997 |page=B-6}}{{rp|190}} WWRL was "the premier radio station serving New York's Black community" at the time, wrote Dan Charnas.{{rp|9–10}} Billboard magazine wrote in May 1964 that WWRL and black radio stations offered "specific information, personal identification[,] and entertainment not provided by other type stations."

DJ's for WWRL in the 1960s included Frankie Crocker and Jocko Henderson, whose "on-air shtick... was as important as the music they played."{{cite book|author=Charnas, Dan|title=The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip-Hop|url=https://archive.org/details/bigpaybackhistor00danc|url-access=registration|place=New York|publisher=New American Library|year=2010|isbn=9780451229298}}{{rp|10}} The station was known as "The Big RL" in the 1960s and "Super 16" in the 1970s.{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/abcs-black-djs-key-voices-60s-70s-saluted-article-1.910240 |title=ABCs of Black DJs: Key voices of '60s and '70s saluted |last=Hinckley |first=David |newspaper=Daily News |location=New York |date=February 27, 2001|access-date=May 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123190506/http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/abcs-black-djs-key-voices-60s-70s-saluted-article-1.910240 |archive-date=January 23, 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://blog.backspinradio.net/2013/09/music-survey-wwrl-york-ny-super-16-week-september-15-1975/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131107085234/http://blog.backspinradio.net/2013/09/music-survey-wwrl-york-ny-super-16-week-september-15-1975/ |archive-date=November 7, 2013 |title=Music Survey: WWRL New York, NY "Super 16" Week of September 15, 1975 |website=BackspinRadio.net |access-date=May 5, 2017}}

WWRL's first year in its R&B format included a three-hour urban gospel music show in the evenings.{{citation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8iIEAAAAMBAJ&q=wwrl+1964&pg=PA12|title=WWRL Example of Negro Radio's Vital Resurgence|magazine=Billboard|date=May 2, 1964|pages=12, 38|volume=76|issue=18}} Billboard wrote in May 1964 that WWRL and other black radio stations "are monitored as a guide to which r.&b. records could be popular with white audiences... [and] are exerting a great influence on the music played on contemporary and pop-contemporary formatted stations."

Beginning in May 1966, WWRL instituted an "integrated music programming policy" that added rock and pop hits in addition to R&B to the playlist.{{citation|author=Hall, Claude|title=R&B'er WWRL Gives Pop a Whirl|magazine=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0ygEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA3|volume=78|issue=20|date=May 14, 1966|page=3}} By late 1967, however, WWRL began playing more blues tracks and those from lesser-known performers like Johnnie Taylor and Wilson Pickett, to distinguish itself from mainstream pop stations that had begun playing R&B.{{citation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xScEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA30|title=Pop Stations Play 'Our Music', So WWRL Drifts to Gutsy|magazine=Billboard|author=Hall, Claude|page=30|volume=79|issue=50|date=December 16, 1967}} A 1971 profile of WWRL by Billboard found that WWRL played "three oldies an hour from one of the largest vaults of soul music in the nation."{{citation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6QgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA30|title=WWRL's Survey More Than Poll|magazine=Billboard|date=February 20, 1971|pages=30, 36|volume=83|issue=8}}

The Federal Communications Commission reprimanded Sonderling Broadcasting in May 1971 for allowing the Reverend James Lofton Jr. to use WWRL facilities to solicit money in exchange for tips for a numbers game.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/05/22/archives/fcc-chides-wwrl-over-clerics-blessings.html|title=F.C.C. Chides WWRL Over Cleric's 'Blessings'|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 22, 1971|access-date=May 5, 2017}}

On June 5, 1972, WWRL simulcast with WMCA from 8 to 10 p.m. for a special call-in program, Black and White, owing to WMCA focusing on a general audience in contrast to WWRL's primarily black audience.{{cite web|author=O'Connor, John J.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/06/07/archives/radio-black-and-white-at-2-ends-of-the-am-dial-dialogue-is.html|title=Radio: 'Black and White' at 2 ends of the AM dial|work=The New York Times|date=June 7, 1972|access-date=May 5, 2017}}

Briefly in the late 1970s, WWRL was an affiliate of the Mutual Black Network.{{rp|190}}

In 1979, Sonderling Broadcasting merged with Viacom.{{cite web|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1970s/1979/RR-1979-11-09.pdf|title=FCC Approves Viacom-Sonderling Merger|work=Radio & Records|date=November 9, 1979|access-date=May 5, 2017}} WWRL carried sports talk programming from Enterprise Radio Network briefly in 1981, beginning on January 1.{{rp|190}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/01/12/sports/sports-world-specials-scores-on-scores.html|title=Sports World Specials; Scores on Scores|author=Benagh, Jim|work=The New York Times|date=January 12, 1981|access-date=May 10, 2017}} In an era when sports programming on radio was limited to live play-by-play, news briefs, and a select few call-in shows,{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/sports-wfan-chapter-117-article-1.521544|title=All Sports WFAN Chapter 117|work=Daily News|location=New York|author=Hinckley, David|date=July 17, 2003|access-date=May 10, 2017}} Enterprise was described as an "abortive attempt to launch the all-sports format" and shut down before year's end.{{citation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vKa3eLrOpdcC&q=wwrl+sports+1981&pg=PA8|title=Sports-Talk Radio in America: Its Context and Culture|author=Hoffman, Frank; Dempsey, Jack M.; and Manning, Martin J.|place=New York|publisher=Routledge|year=2012|isbn=978-1136428913|page=8}} By the spring of 1981, WWRL went back to playing music.{{cite web|url=http://las-solanas.com/arsa/surveys_item.php?svid=75439|title=WWRL 1600 New York Survey 05/01/81|access-date=May 10, 2017}}

{{Gallery

| title =

| height = 170

| width = 160

| align = center

| footer =

|File:Frankie Crocker - 1975 ad.JPG

|Caricature of Frankie Crocker used for a radio trade magazine advertisement; Crocker later became famous for developing and naming the urban contemporary format.

|File:Johnnie Taylor (1967).png

|Johnnie Taylor

}}

=Religious and community station (1982–1997)=

In 1982, Viacom donated WWRL to the United Negro College Fund, which immediately sold the station to National Black Network subsidiary Unity Broadcasting. On August 14, 1982, Unity changed WWRL's format to Christian talk and teaching.{{rp|190}}{{cite web|url=http://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/the-soul-of-an-old-radio-station-at-75-wwrl-once-new-yorks-r-b-powerhouse-soldiers-on-1.324191|title=The soul of an old radio station: At 75, WWRL, once New York's R&B powerhouse, soldiers on|work=Newsday |author=Goodman, Peter|date=April 9, 2001|access-date=May 12, 2017}} Replacing the contemporary R&B were urban gospel and reggae music, plus worship services from local black churches were broadcast live on evenings and weekends.{{rp|190}}

By that time, increasing competition from FM stations like WBLS decreased the appeal of AM music stations, to the point that even the once-dominant WABC ended its popular music format in 1982, switching to talk radio.

WWRL also broadcast rallies and meetings held by the Reverend Al Sharpton.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/19/nyregion/street-wise-impresario-sharpton-calls-the-tunes-and-players-take-their-cues.html?pagewanted=all|title=Street-Wise Impresario; Sharpton Calls the Tunes, and Players Take Their Cues|author=Gottlieb, Martin, and Baquet, Dean|work=The New York Times|date=December 19, 1991|access-date=May 12, 2017}} These rallies included a controversial one on September 9, 1995, in which Sharpton claimed that Jewish building owner Fred Harari wanted to evict a record store so that a "white interloper" could "expand his business on 125th Street."{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/12/13/nyregion/death-on-125th-street-the-protests-blaze-inquiry-is-focusing-on-protests.html?pagewanted=all|title=Death on 125th Street: The Protests; Blaze Inquiry Is Focusing on Protests|work=The New York Times|date=December 13, 1995|author=Van Natta Jr., Don|access-date=May 5, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishpost.com/archives/news/massacre-at-freddys-in-harlem-fire-fueled-by-anti-semitism-kills-8.html|title=Massacre at Freddy's in Harlem|work=Jewish Post of New York|author=Drusin, Hy|access-date=May 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980125033459/http://www.jewishpost.com/jpn201d.html|archive-date=January 25, 1998|date=January–February 1996}} Following that comment, Harari's business, a clothing store named Freddy's Fashion Mart, was destroyed in an arson, leading to eight deaths. The New York Times later said this comment "was later widely blamed for fomenting racial tension."{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/01/28/nyregion/the-buzz-on-black-radio.html|title=The Buzz on Black Radio|author=Pogrebin, Robin|authorlink=Robin Pogrebin|work=The New York Times|date=January 28, 1996|access-date=January 28, 2025|url-access=limited|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201000122/https://www.nytimes.com/1996/01/28/nyregion/the-buzz-on-black-radio.html|archive-date=February 1, 2018|url-status=live}} The Freddy's Fashion Mart controversy was just one of several instances of anti-Semitism said to be broadcast on WWRL.{{cite web|last=Williams|first=Monte|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/01/21/nyregion/talking-back-black-talk-radio-roiling-conversation-air-that-can-amuse-embolden.html|title=Talking back on black talk radio|work=The New York Times|date=January 21, 2000|access-date=January 28, 2025|pages=B1, B7|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20190411040340/https://www.nytimes.com/2000/01/21/nyregion/talking-back-black-talk-radio-roiling-conversation-air-that-can-amuse-embolden.html|archive-date=April 11, 2019|url-status=live|url-access=limited}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/05/19/nyregion/making-it-work-fair-or-not.html|title=Making it work: FAIR or not?|author=Hays, Constance L.|work=The New York Times|date=May 19, 1996|access-date=May 12, 2017}}{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19981201175715/http://www.jewishpost.com/jewishpost/jpn201g.html|archive-date=December 1, 1998|title=Reverend Sharpton's anti-Semitic & racist broadcasts|url=http://www.jewishpost.com/archives/news/reverend-sharptons-anti-semitic-and-racist-broadcast.html|work=Jewish Post of New York|date=January–February 1996|access-date=January 28, 2025}}

File:WWRL bldg jeh.jpg]]

==Community Chorale==

Beginning in 1985,{{cite web|title=The Glory Gospel Singers aus New York in der Gerstunger Kirche|url=http://www.gerstungen.de/scripts/news/303,877,889/7749?layout=6|date=October 23, 2003|publisher=Gerstungen.de|language=de|access-date=May 11, 2017}} the station also sponsored a choir with around 70 members called the WWRL Community Chorale, which grew to nearly 100 members by 1996.{{citation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VxAEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22wwrl+community+chorale%22&pg=PA32|title=In the Spirit|author=Collins, Lisa|magazine=Billboard|date=August 8, 1992|page=32|volume=104|issue=32}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/boroughs/heart-soul-community-chorale-article-1.735407|title=She's the heart and soul of Community Chorale|work=Daily News|location=New York|author=Coleman, Chrisena|date=December 20, 1996|access-date=May 11, 2017}} The Community Chorale toured 26 cities in Germany in December 1996.

==Technical improvements==

In the fall of 1996, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved WWRL's request to increase its power from 5 kW to 25 kW.{{cite web|author=Hinckley, David|title=WWRL clears way for stronger signal|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/wwrl-clears-stronger-signal-article-1.742125|work=Daily News|location=New York|date=September 30, 1996|access-date=January 28, 2025|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20170829121520/http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/wwrl-clears-stronger-signal-article-1.742125|archive-date=August 29, 2017}}

To resolve issues of co-channel interference, WWRL bought and later shut down three nearby stations on the 1600 or 1590 frequencies: WERA 1590 in Plainfield, New Jersey, WLNG 1600 in Sag Harbor, New York, and WQQW 1590 in Waterbury, Connecticut.{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/inspirational-wwrl-advances-quest-higher-power-article-1.758549|title='Inspirational' WWRL advances in its quest for higher power|work=Daily News|location=New York|author=Hinckley, David|date=March 6, 1997|access-date=January 28, 2025|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20170829121757/http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/inspirational-wwrl-advances-quest-higher-power-article-1.758549|archive-date=August 29, 2017|url-status=dead}} WWRL's signal could be better heard in the suburbs of New York by removing these other stations from the airwaves. By this time, WWRL used the slogan "The Spirit of New York".

=From R&B oldies to urban talk (1997–2006)=

Image:WWRL.jpg

In April 1997, WWRL reduced gospel programming to Sundays, a move that drew criticism from former program director Reverend Paul Stephens. On April 16, WWRL switched to an R&B oldies format nicknamed "100% Pure Soul".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-RandR/1990s/1997/RR-1997-04-18.pdf|title=Street talk|magazine=Radio & Records|page=28|date=April 18, 1997|issue=1193|access-date=January 29, 2025|via=World Radio History}} It played music from the 1960s and 1970s, in a nod to what its vice president of programming called the station's "golden age."{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/anger-wrl-soul-ful-switch-gospel-article-1.767185|title=Anger of 'WRL's soul-ful switch from gospel|author=Hinckley, David|work=Daily News|location=New York|date=April 24, 1997|access-date=January 29, 2025|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20180612142332/http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/anger-wrl-soul-ful-switch-gospel-article-1.767185|archive-date=June 12, 2018|url-status=dead}}

To distinguish itself from FM urban contemporary stations WBIX and WRKS, starting in the summer of 1999, WWRL devoted Saturdays to playing Caribbean music, and added R&B from the 1950s and earlier to its playlist.{{cite news|url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AMNEWS&req_dat=0D10F2CADB4B24C0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F114FD9A5B4611E60|title=Now it's Caribbean Saturdays on WWRL|work=Daily News|location=New York|date=May 29, 1999|author=Hinckley, David|access-date=January 29, 2025|via=Newsbank|page=63}} Additionally, WWRL added brokered talk shows to the weekday lineup that year.{{cite news|author=Hinckley, David|title=Tony Brown taking a WWRL afternoon slot|url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AMNEWS&req_dat=0D10F2CADB4B24C0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F114FDB9F64A4FB40|work=Daily News|location=New York|date=July 20, 1999|access-date=January 29, 2025|via=Newsbank|page=80}}

In 2001, WWRL was sold to Access.1 Communications Corporation, an African-American owned and operated radio broadcasting company.{{Cite web|url=https://fccdata.org/?facid=68906|title=FCCdata.org - powered by REC|website=fccdata.org}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2010/08/09/2010-08-09_sydney_l_syd_small_owner_of_radio_station_wwrl_dies_at_age_72.html|title=Sydney L. 'Syd' Small, owner of radio station WWRL, dies at age 72|author=Hinckley, David|work=Daily News|location=New York|date=August 9, 2010|access-date=January 29, 2025|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20100817111232/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2010/08/09/2010-08-09_sydney_l_syd_small_owner_of_radio_station_wwrl_dies_at_age_72.html|archive-date=August 17, 2010|url-status=dead}} By then, WWRL began playing more Caribbean music during the week beyond Saturdays.{{Cite web|url=http://www.wwrl1600.com/caribe.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020608223016/http://www.wwrl1600.com/caribe.html|archive-date=June 8, 2002|title=R&B/Soul & Caribbean Rhythms|publisher=WWRL 1600 |access-date=January 29, 2025}}

In 2002, WWRL added a popular morning 6-10 a.m. "drive time" show co-hosted by Peter Noel, a Black advocacy journalist tied to Al Sharpton, and white Orthodox Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, The Peter and Shmuley Show.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jta.org/2002/11/08/ny/ams-odd-couple|title=AM's Odd Couple|first=Adam|last=Dickter|website=The Jewish Week|place=New York|date=November 8, 2002 |access-date=January 29, 2025|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20021115154820/http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/newscontent.php3?artid=6940|archive-date=November 15, 2002}} Barnard College sociology professor Jonathan Rieder called the show "an interracial buddy pair, the radio equivalent of Lethal Weapon".{{Cite web|url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/2002/12/22/arts/22FREE.html|title= An Unlikely Friendship, an Unusual Morning Show |first=Samuel G.|last=Freedman|date=December 22, 2002|work=The New York Times|access-date=January 29, 2025}} The station reported that after the introduction of the show, it saw a 90% increase in white and Hispanic listeners.{{Cite web|last=Soskis|first=Benjamin|url=https://forward.com/articles/9481/new-talk-radio-format-minorities-spar-with-chasid/|title=New Talk Radio Format: Minorities Spar With Chasids|website=The Forward|date=March 21, 2003|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20030411082805/http://www.forward.com/issues/2003/03.03.21/news15.html|archive-date=April 11, 2003|url-status=live|access-date=January 29, 2025 }} Rabbi Boteach resigned in June 2003 shortly after his co-host Noel did the same; Boteach alleged that station management changed his morning show's format from "harmonious to adversarial."{{cite news|author=Hinckley, David|title=Rabbi: WWRL made show 'adversarial|url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AMNEWS&req_dat=0D10F2CADB4B24C0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F114456DC31C8E368|work=Daily News|location=New York|date=June 25, 2003|access-date=January 29, 2025|via=Newsbank|page=82}}

The station also broadcast New York Liberty basketball games.{{Cite web|url=http://www.wwrl1600.com/wnba.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030811174749/http://www.wwrl1600.com/wnba.html|archive-date = August 11, 2003|title = NY Liberty|publisher=WWRL 1600|access-date=January 29, 2025}} By the beginning of 2003, WWRL had talk shows for most of the week, with music only broadcast on weekends, specifically Caribbean on Saturdays and gospel on Sundays.{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/format-talk-wwrl-article-1.660928|title=Format's more than just talk, WWRL says|author=Hinckley, David|work=The New York Daily News|date=March 25, 2003|access-date=January 29, 2025|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20180612140951/http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/format-talk-wwrl-article-1.660928|archive-date=June 12, 2018|url-status=dead}}

WWRL subsequently added local shows hosted by Karen Hunter, Steve Malzberg, and Armstrong Williams among others, in addition to nationally syndicated shows from Larry Elder and Alan Colmes.{{cite web|url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/2005/03/03/arts/television/03arm.html|title=Columnist under fire gets show on radio|last=Kornblut|first= Anne E.|last2= Sisario|first2= Ben|work=The New York Times|date=March 3, 2005|access-date=January 29, 2025|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20060108152552/http://www.nytimes.com:80/2005/03/03/arts/television/03arm.html?ex=1267506000&en=817f2028ed69b4d8&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland|archive-date=January 8, 2006|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/story/248228p-212585c.html|title=Malzberg joins Karen Hunter on WWRL|work=Daily News|location=New York|author=Hinckley, David|date=November 1, 2004|access-date=January 29, 2025|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20041103022710/http://www.nydailynews.com:80/entertainment/story/248228p-212585c.html|archive-date=November 3, 2004|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AMNEWS&req_dat=0D10F2CADB4B24C0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F11348C89E2DBA520|title=A picture-perfect way to honor Hal Jackson|work=Daily News|location=New York|date=August 3, 2006|author=Hinckley, David|access-date=January 29, 2025|via=Newsbank|page=88}}

=Progressive talk station (2006–2014)=

file:Final WWRL talk radio logo.svg

In August 2006, WWRL became the flagship station for Air America, a progressive talk radio network that had previously broadcast on 1190 WLIB.{{cite web|url=https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/12659/air-america-jumps-to-wwrl-a-nyc|title=Air America jumps to WWRL-A/NYC|work=AllAccess.com|access-date=May 5, 2017|date=August 2, 2006}} Beginning on October 29, 2007, Mark Riley and New York television personality Richard Bey co-hosted the WWRL morning show.{{cite web|url=http://www.radiofacts.com/wwrl-launches-new-rl-morning-show-with-riley-and-bey-3/|title=WWRL lanches new "'RL Morning Show" with Riley and Bey|work=Radio Facts|date=October 29, 2007|access-date=May 11, 2017}} Bey resigned in March 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/richard-bey-leaves-wwrl-mornings-change-article-1.285834|title=Richard Bey leaves, WWRL mornings to change again|author=Hinckley, David|work=Daily News|location=New York|date=March 9, 2008|access-date=May 11, 2017}} New York Daily News columnist Errol Louis became the morning host beginning in mid-July 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.radiofacts.com/errol-louis-joins-am1600-wwrl-in-the-mornings/|title=Errol Louis joins AM1600 WWRL in the mornings|author=Ross, Kevin|work=Radio Facts|date=July 16, 2008|access-date=May 11, 2017}}

In January 2010, after Air America shut down, WWRL brought back Mark Riley as morning host and added syndicated liberal hosts such as Ed Schultz, Thom Hartmann, Stephanie Miller, Randi Rhodes, and Al Sharpton.{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/famed-new-york-radio-voices-join-wwrl-article-1.198960|title=Famed New York radio voices join WWRL

|author=Hinckley, David|work=Daily News|location=New York|date=February 22, 2010|access-date=May 5, 2017}}

On December 13, 2013, WWRL announced it would change format to regional Mexican music in Spanish, citing low advertising revenue as a reason.{{cite web|url=http://amsterdamnews.com/news/2013/dec/13/wwrl-pulls-plug-progressive-format-going-spanish/|title=WWRL to replace progressive and Black shows with Spanish programing|author=Barker, Cyril Josh|access-date=May 5, 2017|date=December 13, 2013}} New York's growing Mexican-American community had no other stations playing music of their homeland.

=Ethnic formats (2014–2020)=

Following a few days of stunting, WWRL launched a regional Mexican music format and brand "La Invasora" on January 5, 2014.{{cite web|url=http://radioinsight.com/headlines/86966/wwrl-to-drop-liberal-talk/|title=La Invasora Invades WWRL|author=Venta, Lance|date=January 5, 2014|access-date=May 5, 2017}}

On February 1, 2016, WWRL changed its format to Indian and South Asian talk and music as part of the Radio Zindagi network. Ten days later, Access.1 Communications sold WWRL to NJ Broadcasting, LLC for $7 million.{{cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/96511/wwrl-flips-to-radio-zindagi/|title=WWRL New York Sold/Flips to Indian Programming|work=Radio Insight|date=February 1, 2016|access-date=May 5, 2017}} WWRL also added an HD Radio simulcast on WKXW-HD2 for listeners in central and southern New Jersey.

=Sale to iHeartMedia, BIN (2020–present)=

On September 10, 2020, iHeartMedia announced its intent to acquire WWRL for an undisclosed amount. It began operating the station under a local marketing agreement (LMA) on November 2 as the New York City outlet of the all-news radio formatted Black Information Network (BIN). The flip marked a return to the station's heritage of airing formats serving the region's African-American community.{{Cite web|date=September 10, 2020|title=iHeartMedia Acquires WWRL New York For Black Information Network|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/197424/iheartmedia-acquires-wwrl-new-york-for-black-information-network/|access-date=September 10, 2020|website=RadioInsight|language=en-US}} The purchase, at a price of $8.5 million, was consummated on July 26, 2021.

Technical information

By day, WWRL broadcasts at 25,000 watts; at night, to protect other stations on 1600 AM, it reduces power to 5,000 watts. It uses a directional antenna at all times. Its transmitter is on Radio Avenue in Secaucus, New Jersey, near the Hackensack River.{{Cite web|url=https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/finder?call=wwrl&x=0&y=0&sr=Y&s=C|title=WWRL-AM 1600 kHz - New York, NY|website=radio-locator.com}} WWRL's studios are at 125 West 55th Street in Midtown Manhattan with other iHeart New York stations.{{cite web|last=Jacobson|first=Adam|url=https://rbr.com/for-iheartmedia-nyc-a-covid-19-policy-arrives/|title=For iHeartMedia in NYC, A COVID-19 Policy Arrives|work=Radio and Television Business Report|date=December 23, 2021|access-date=January 28, 2025}}

WWRL is also simulcast WWPR-FM's third HD Radio subchannel and is available online via iHeartRadio.{{cite web|url=https://talkers.com/2024/08/06/july-2024-ppm-ratings-part-one/|title=July 2024 PPM Ratings – Part One|last=Kinosian|first=Mike|work=Talkers|date=August 6, 2024|access-date=January 28, 2025}}

References

External links

{{officialwebsite|https://newyork.binnews.com/}}

{{Cite web|url=https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=68922 |title=History Cards for WWRL |publisher=Federal Communications Commission}} (Guide to reading History Cards)

Category:1926 establishments in New York City

Category:All-news radio stations in the United States

Category:Black Information Network stations

Category:IHeartMedia radio stations

Category:Mass media in Hudson County, New Jersey

Category:New York Liberty announcers

Category:Radio stations established in 1926

WRL