NYC Radio: WQHT's Dixon Aims To Be Number One

Jay Dixon doesn’t see any reason why Hot 97 can’t be No. 1 again.

Dixon, now the permanent program director of Emmis' WQHT 97.1 FM, tells media writer David Hinckley at the NY Daily News the combination of hip hop’s pervasiveness and Hot’s brand can make it the city’s top station, at least with the 18- to 34-year-old core of its audience.

“I see where the opportunity is. If Z100 (WHTZ) is the No. 1 station now, Hot should be there,” says Dixon, who was interim program director for several months after Ebro Darden stepped down. His extensive radio résumé also includes programming the late Kiss-FM. Dixon notes that the Hot 97 morning show beat both Z100 and hip-hop rival WWPR (105.1 FM, Power 105) among 18-34s in the June ratings.

WQHT 97.1 FM (6.7Kw) 54dBu Coverage

Jay Dixon

“I can only focus on what we’re doing, not on other stations,” he says. “But we can do this. I see some real chances for us to grow.”

In the late 1990s, Hot 97 jockeyed for the top spot in the city. Then Clear Channel started Power 105 and the hip-hop audience was split, which it remains today. In the most recent overall ratings, Power was No. 10 and Hot was No. 12. If their audiences were combined, they would have been tied for No. 1.

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