The Future of Hip-Hop & WQHT (Hot 97)

[Kevin L. Sealy]

One of the biggest questions, is Rap as a music  dieing? It seems today there are less rap songs hitting the pop charts. And the ratings for Hot 97 WQHT and (Power 105.1) WWPR-FM are down from what they were 10 years ago.

Or is Hip -Hop evolving like other genres of music. We've seen this with rock. Rock 'N' Roll of the mid 50s to 63 is different from Rock 'N' Roll after the British Invasion. Then there was Soft Rock, Hard Rock, New Wave and Alternative Rock. There are also sub-genres of Heavy Metal.

Is Rap going through the same evolution? If so, what are the changes? And is there any room for another Hip-Hop station to compete against Power 105.1 and Hot 97?






Thanks,
Kevin L. Sealy

[ansky212]

And is there any room for another Hip-Hop station to compete against Power 105.1 and Hot 97?

Absolutely not.  3 stations running the same format in any market is far too many.  The NYC market is already way too over-homogenized.  It has been discussed how Hot 97 has been declining in the ratings, so I don't see how or why competition would be needed.

[1069_KIFR]

No room for competition. Power 105.1 will fade into a soft A/C and just quietly blend into the airwaves.
Hot 97 will go Country and hold that format for about 3 1/2 years before going NewsTalk 97.

[Red78]

I couldn't wait for disco to die.   Rap started as a novelty song in 1979.  It's been pure hype ever since.

[trock]

Hip hop isn't going anywhere. I still hear it loud and clear in young peoples cars. I think the problem with Hot 97 is that they create so much unnecessary drama that they alienate a lot of would be listeners. Power 105 is just a plain cookie cutter CC urban.

[Morpheux]

Rap is still is by far the sound of the inner city youth.Most of the teens who parents grew up on Rap are listening to it.Mainly the teen boys. But it is definitely has lost it's crown on the pop charts. I do see one of the Hip Hop stations going away unless a new crop of artists reinvent the sound.

Country on Hot 97? I wouldn't bet my house on that happening.

[Kevin L. Sealy]

If Rap music is dieing, then it will be trouble for Hot 97 and Power 105.1. It could be hope for a return for Country music in NYC.

What also could be leading to a decline in the popularity of  rap music is the delcining Black demographics in New York.



Thanks,
Kevin L. Sealy

[disney fanatic]

I couldn't wait for disco to die.   Rap started as a novelty song in 1979.  It's been pure hype ever since.

You mean "Rapper's Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang? This was one of the first examples of hip-hop music to the masses, and they're everywhere.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?nomobile=1&v=ySouWY1Irfw

[Morpheux]

If Rap music is dieing, then it will be trouble for Hot 97 and Power 105.1. It could be hope for a return for Country music in NYC.

What also could be leading to a decline in the popularity of  rap music is the delcining Black demographics in New York.



Thanks,
Kevin L. Sealy

Hot 97's coverage area is strongest in the five boroughs where the population is still favorable for a Hip Hop station or dare I even say a Dance leaning CHR type of station. Also look at stations like WPAT were despite continuous low ratings they remain committed for the most part to their target audience. Of course you could never say never.However,WQHT increase .4 in June's PPM. I would not start circling the wagons around it just yet.Unless their billing starts to take a hit.

[DavidEduardo]

Hot 97's coverage area is strongest in the five boroughs where the population is still favorable for a Hip Hop station or dare I even say a Dance leaning CHR type of station.

Take four FMs... WCBS-FM, WPLJ, WHTZ and WQHT. They have identical coverage areas. Yet one of them, WPLJ, focuses on the suburbs and another more on the City and Boroughs and close-in suburbs.

In fact, give a mile or two, all the full B's licensed to be on the ESB cover identically (WPAT is on a special exception). So the decision to program one format or another on any of them is based on the market, not the signal.