The Infinite Dial

Last fall, when we considered the prospects for "Organizing the '90s Into A Format," we wondered when somebody would next attempt it on a large-market station. Then came last week's news that Radio One Urban AC WRNB Philadelphia had repositioned itself as "R&B of the '90s and Today" under PD Elroy Smith.

WRNB signed on a few years ago by appropriating syndicated morning man Tom Joyner from rival WDAS, but saw the impact of that hire muted with the rise of the Steve Harvey Show on WDAS and elsewhere. Its move makes sense for a few reasons. It's hard to beat WDAS at its own game. Urban AC has had a hard time grappling with new listeners moving into 25-54 without the same loyalty to the '70s slow jam. And Philly has a Rhythmic AC in WISX (My 106.1), which also uses forgotten '90s R&B as a calling card. (It's also worth noting that in Dallas, Radio One's KSOC is on the other side of an Urban AC battle with the more contemporary KRNB.)

There are parallels here to the "today's AC" of Fresh 102.7 (WWFS New York), but listening to the station this afternoon, the calling card is very much '90s music. The call-in-to-win song is "The '90s song of the hour." "These '90s jams are absolutely amazing," says one stager. Another listener actuality declares that "change has come to America, and change has come to [WRNB]." And to Smith's credit, he's managed to do '90s and now without a lot of obvious records that wouldn't ever test for a more typical Urban AC.

Here's WRNB, just before 4 p.m. today:

Faith Evans, "Soon As I Get Home" (1995)
Lauryn Hill, "Doo Wop (That Thing)" (1998)
Kindred The Family Soul, "Far Away" (2003)
Mary J. Blige, "Be With You" (2006)
Jodeci, "Come And Talk To Me" (1992)
Jamie Foxx, "Unpredictable" (2006)
Glenn Jones, "Here I Go Again" (1992)
Robin Thicke, "The Sweetest Love" (2007)
Soul II Soul, "Keep On Movin'" (1989)
R. Kelly, "Step In The Name Of Love" (2003)
Janet Jackson, "That's The Way Love Goes" (1993)
Chubb Rock, "Treat 'Em Right" (1991) (Hip-hop makes its first appearance at 5 p.m.)
Donnell Jones, "U Know What's Up" (2001)
Marvin Sapp, "Never Would Have Made It" (2008)
Arrested Development, "People Everyday" (1992)