Friday, 15 April, 2005 11:41 AM

93.1 DRQ Becomes Doug FM on April 1

No it wasn't an April Fools stunt. 93.1 WDRQ has switched formats to DOUG FM with tagline "We Play Everything." They left the top 40 market to play adult contemporary.

They have been a top 40 station for the last nine years. DRQ has been losing its audience to Channel 95.5 the other top 40 station who is now the only one in that category. Spectulation is that Channel 955 will have the opportunity to become the #1 rated station in Detroit with all of the top 40 market now.

This has been the biggest flip since when 106.7 W4 Country became Alice 106.7 and currently 106.7 The Drive. Everyone was fired and the station basically started all over. Don't worry, W4 Country is back on the air at 102.9 FM in Ann Arbor.

The airstaff had no idea what was going on. Everyone got fired without reason. The only person who remains at the station is Jay Towers from the morning show because he's on a contract that doesn't expire yet. Rachel Hunter, his co-host was vacationing in Florida when she got the bad news. Other jocks who got the axe include Steve Grunwald, Lisa Lisa, Alex Tear and Keith Curry. They will all have to find new jobs now.

There was rumours that DRQ's owner ABC/Disney would do something with the station but nobody knew what.

The new station is being called "DOUG FM." They are going to play everything just like your iPod or other MP3 player. It has been proven that radio is losing its audience because people want to hear what they want when they want.

Other stations have been adopting a similar format across the country.

A few years back, 105.1 FM became Magic. They are an adult contemporary station that's competiting with the leader in that category, 100.3 WNIC. Even without Jim Harper, the station remains near the top. The AC category will now have three stations in Detroit: WNIC, WMGC and WDRQ.

Here's a summary of the stations that ABC/Disney owns in Detroit:

• WJR 760 AM: News/Talk
• WDRQ 93.1 FM: AC
• WDVD 96.4 FM Variety

Sources: Detroit Free Press / The Oakland Press