WPOI radio station in Tampa, Florida, has been a steady source of information and entertainment since the early 1960s, offering and upgrading with the changes that occur around the world.
Run by Cox Media Group, WPOI, which runs the channel 101.5 FM, is usually referred to by fans as Hot 101.5 in Tampa Bay. That being said, they decided to rebrand the station after all these years of broadcasting.
The usual Hot 101.5 won’t be available anymore as they’re rebranding it to 101.5 The Vibe starting September 7, 2023. It was also confirmed that the radio station would change its target content to adult R&B instead of the usual Top 40.
So, why did WPOI suddenly rebrand the broadcast channel? And what changes can the frequent listeners expect? Here is everything you need to know.
Why Did CMG Group Change Hot 101.5 to 101.5 The Vibe?
CMG Group, which owns the WPOI radio station, has always been a company that adjusts to the latest trends as it frequently changes its focus on content every few years.
Since the early 1960s, they have covered Religious stories, Love Songs, Jammin Oldies, 80s Hits, and Top 40, and finally, in 2023, they decided to switch to Adult R&B.
The change is due to the modern audiences, who don’t simply listen to the same top songs anymore. Instead, they constantly look for new hits, other podcasts, and such.
So, instead of adding new features to the already pre-existing broadcasting channel, they decided to introduce a new one to grab the listeners’ attention.
The audiences tend to pay more attention to newly introduced brands rather than minor changes that take place with the old ones, so it makes sense for them to rebrand the entire broadcast channel.
What Can We Expect From 101.5 The Vibe?
101.5 The Vibe is a specifically designed niche that aims at the contemporary audience. The change apparently took place on Thursday, just after the day they played the loop of Mary J. Blige’s Just Fine.
The new format comes with songs from popular modern artists like Usher, Alicia Keys, and Mary J. Blige, creating an experience targeting a wide audience spectrum.
Furthermore, unlike the previous channels, which only focused on a particular single niche, this transformation will give rise to the inclusion of several more than just tunes.
Listeners can now look forward to Rickey Smiley’s Morning Show, a highly acclaimed program that delivers a heavy dosage of laughter and insights on new things. The CMG Radio VP of Audience & Operations, Chris Eagon, stated what they intend to do with rebranding. In his words,
“101.5 The Vibe is the latest addition to our portfolio of award-winning Urban AC stations in Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Atlanta. We program our radio stations with local research and audience feedback, so they are tailored to each market.”
Furthermore, this new change in the radio station also brings new opportunities to the advertisers, making them connect better with the Tampa market as well as with audiences.
So, are you a frequent listener of Hot 101.5? How long have you been tuning on the broadcast channel?
Let us know your thoughts on the rebranding in the comment section below.
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