"Throwback Hip-Hop and R&B" Surfaces in Tampa Bay. The classic rock format on
iHeartMedia Tampa's WMTX-HD2 relayed by its FM translators W233AV 94.5 in Gulfport and 105.9 W290BJ in West Tampa transition to "Throwback Hip-Hop and R&B." According to iHeartMedia Tampa market president
Sam Nein, "`Throwback 94.5 and 105.9' is unlike anything on Tampa Bay's airwaves, and is the perfect special holiday gift for our local listeners. We have seen Tampa Bay's passion for hip-hop and R&B through on-air requests and downloads. We are excited to bring these hits to our listeners." The format change begins with 20,000 commercial-free songs. Representative artists on "Throwback 94.5 and 105.9" include
Mary J. Blige, Jay Z, Notorious B.I.G., and
Tupac. In the last eight
Nielsen Audio PPM ratings periods (April 2016 – November 2016), WMTX-HD2 registered a 6+-share between .5 – .9, including November 2016's .9 (#22). The last time it scored a 6+-share above a one-share was in March 2016 (1.1). No urban AC or urban-rhythmic oldies station appears in Tampa's November 2016 report; iHeartMedia urban contemporary WBTP "The Beat" is #2 (6.3, 6+) while
Cox Media Group adult contemporary WDUV "Lite Favorites" is #1 (9.4, 6+). This is the market's second format shift this week. On Monday (12/12),
RadioInfo reported that
Beasley Media Group rock/talk hybrid WBRN "No Rules Rock" is currently airing Christmas music with a new format to launch the day after Christmas (12/26). Beasley Media Group acquired WBRN (formerly sports WHFS-FM) from
CBS Radio two years ago (December 2014).
