Love Radio Listeners Moving To Barangay LS?

Alright, my dear Love Radio listeners in Mega Manila. You know that you have ever listen to Love Radio as a #1 FM radio station for 5 years in a row (2003-2008). If you realize that it would remain on the top spot of radio ratings for a long time, think again.

Last year of February, GMA Network's FM radio station 97.1 MHz DWLS introduced a reformat of its station ID—from Campus Radio to Barangay LS. It was believed that this station would offer not only for lower-class radio listeners like you who were currrently listening to Love Radio and other "pang-masa" FM radio stations like Yes FM, iFM, Star FM, and Energy FM, but also for loyal GMA-7 TV viewers. During the soft telecast, DWLS gains to #4 spot from #7 in previous station ID format. Barangay LS failed to reach #1 due to lack of promotional activities, as well as its TV ads on GMA-7.

But for the second time this year, Barangay LS would try to treat you just as you ever watched GMA-7. But before you left Love Radio or other "pang-masa" FM radio stations, there are some things that you won't listen to. One of which is the absence of "kapamilya" hitsongs (referring the hitsongs from ABS-CBN's Star Records), but rather a "kapuso" hitsongs (referring the hitsongs from GMA Records). That is, for example, you won't ever listen the hitsongs of Toni Gonzaga such as Catch Me I'm Fallin' and Sarah Geronimo such as Ikaw. There are a few oldies songs aired every Sunday, as well as the old hitsongs of the 70s, 80s, and 90s aired daily.

Aside from this, the concept of every program segment of the said radio station is partly popular compared that you listen Love Radio's Tambalang Balasubas at Balahura and the popular Kadyut "comics" sound clips. Few of which are Kuwentong Barangay and Talk To Papa. Even some newly DJs of Barangay LS may be partly popular.

The management of Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC), a radio station company that produced AM radio station DZRH and two FM radio stations Love Radio and Yes FM, have worried that the ratings of their top-rated FM radio station like Love Radio would drop in the coming days if GMA Network—with further improvement of their program quality on Barangay LS as well as upcoming promotional activities—would try to challenge for them. The DJs of Love Radio have also worried such local issue, knowing that some loyal Love Radio listeners would likely to move to Barangay LS, since they are also a loyal GMA-7 viewers. Even other "pang-masa" FM radio stations have also worried for that. They have no other choice but to compete very hard.

ABS-CBN's FM radio station DWRR may not affect such issue after it was dropped to #2 spot since Love Radio was dominated in the ratings. A few loyal listeners of DWRR have remained to support them.

It's your decision whether you listen Love Radio or Barangay LS, depending on your own listening taste. The radio ratings might come up in the coming days to see which two FM radio stations will lead their popularity to the general public. Will Barangay LS will become #1 as it would dethrone Love Radio at either #2, #3, or #4 followed by DWRR and Yes FM? We will find out soon!

For comments or reactions, email to albert_i_cornelio@yahoo.com or albcorph02@yahoo.com