DWLA
 | |
| City | Pasig City, Philippines |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Metro Manila, surrounding areas |
| Slogan |
Manila's First & Only Retro Hits Station! It's more than just music, it's a lifestyle. |
| Frequency | 105.9 MHz |
| First air date |
1992 (as LA) 2003 (as Blazin') July 2007 (as UR) July 14, 2011 (as Radio High) March 28, 2014 (as Retro DCG FM) |
| Format | Adult contemporary, Classic hits |
| Power | 25,000 watts |
| ERP | 75,000 watts |
| Owner |
Bright Star Broadcasting Network (DCG Radio-TV Network) |
| Webcast |
Listen Live Listen Live on USTREAM |
| Website |
retrodcgfm |
DWLA, (105.9 FM) branded as Retro 105.9 DCG FM, is a classic hits station owned and operated by Bright Star Broadcasting Network. Its studios are located at the 3rd Floor, Silver City Mall, Frontera Verde, Bgy. Ugong, Pasig City, while its transmitter is situated at Sitio Halang, Brgy. San Roque, Antipolo, Rizal.
History
LA 105.9 (1992–2000)
It was known as LA 105.9, the first all-rock station under Bright Star Broadcasting Network Corporation, initially established on April 1,1992 to provide Pinoy rock music either amateur or professional. In July 1998, LA transformed into electronic dance music format. In late 2000, LA ceased its transmission on-air.LA 105.9 sign-off for the last time in November 26,2000
Blazin' 105.9 (2003–2007)
After 3 years, this station aired initially as Blazin' 105.9 on October 20,2003. It was co-owned and operated by Philippine Hip Hop Awards organizer Empire Entertainment and Cavite businessman - politician Mayor Dino Chua, President of Cavite Broadcasting Network (also the owner of 91.9 The Bomb FM in Cavite). Their former studios was located at Culture Club in Eastwood, Libis, Q.C. and Club Cello (now RJ Bar) in Makati City.
Blazin' played all kinds of rap, hip-hop and R&B whether current or old school on Sundays and underground hip hop. This was the only FM station in the Philippines that aired the 2004–2005 Season of the NBA games courtesy of another media partner, Solar Sports. This station is an old concept of Power 108 FM way back in 2001 and in 2005 it is the second revision of Project: Hip Hop. Blazin'105.9 is the producer of the first ever "BLACK EYED PEAS" concert in the Philippines!
After its operation, the station went into a partnership with the Legendary Ramon "RJ" Jacinto of Rajah Broadcasting Network in late 2006. The station became inactive from January to July 2007. Wave 891 took over the format with the Pinoy hip hop scene in 2007, creating the 1st Urban Music Awards in 2010.
Underground Radio/UR 105.9 (2007–2011)
Another station started broadcasting with relatively low power transmission in mid July at 105.9 MHz, identified as RJ Underground Radio UR 105.9 which has a format quite similar to the old DZRJ-AM and even LA 105.9. The station has become a child station of RJ 100.3 FM. Like its "parent", it also plays three songs in a row featuring a modern rock, classic rock, and a Pinoy rock track, except for some special programs on weekdays and Saturdays, and Sunday Rock Jam. However, they don't usually feature disc jockeys on weekdays; only public address systems were used, although in recent months they started to use on-air talent. On Sundays, veteran DJ's from the old RJ Rock of Manila were heard on Sunday Rock Jam. Within a few months, RJ UR improved its transmission to 25,000 watts, though its signal remained unpenetrated in areas far from its transmitter.
The Rock Of Manila- Sundays featured legendary DZRJ rockjocks Jamie Evora ("The Spirit"), Hoagy Pardo ("Cousin Hoagy"), Mike Llamas ("Stoney Burke"), and Alfred Gonzalez ('The Madman"), broadcasting from the United States of America.
Also, legendary rock DJ Dante David ("Howlin' Dave") made his return on FM radio and to the RJ family as well after a stint with the short-lived & defunct Rock 990 (now Radyo Inquirer 990), with his Sunday afternoon program RJ Pinoy Rock and Rhythm until several health reasons caused his death on May 2008.
After 4 years, UR management decided to forgo lease on 105.9. In May 28, 2011, UR 105.9 was relaunched & migrated to internet as UR Faceradio.[1] However, it aired its feed until the end of June. 4 months after it leased airtime of DWLA-FM, Rajah Broadcasting Network had an issue with the Bright Star Broadcasting Network Corporation due to its illegal use of the network without the permission of the real owner.
Radio High 105.9 (2011–2014)
On July 1, 2011, Hi-Definition Radio Inc. of Mr. Francis Lumen acquired the station's airtime lease for a smooth jazz format.
On July 14, 2011, it returned to the airwaves as a test broadcast, debuting as Radio High 105.9. It adopted the format of the defunct 923 Joey (now Radyo5 92.3 News FM) and 106.7 Dream FM (now 106.7 Energy FM). It essentially picked up where Dream FM left off.
In February 2014, due to financial losses, Lumen decided to end his airtime lease contract with 105.9 FM. Despite this, the station continued to air until March 27,2014.[2]
Retro 105.9 DCG FM (2014–present)
On March 1, 2014, a new management led by Domingo C. Garcia, Jonathan "JJ Sparx" Jabson and a group of veteran DJs (such as Jimmy Jam, The Triggerman, Rudolph Rivera, Joey Pizza, Joshua and Andy Tuna) took over the station's airtime lease, and at the same time, they came up with an innovative radio format that will satisfy the listeners by playing the songs that they grew up with. Teasers were aired throughout the entire month.
On March 28, 2014 at 5:00am, the station signed on as Retro 105.9 DCG FM, with Andy Tuna on board on its initial broadcast. The station's format change proved to be hugely successful, and it became an immediate hit with retro music lovers, competing with 100.3 RJFM & Wish 107.5. And as time goes on, this innovative format, which holds a special spot in a varied class of radio listeners from young adults to mature listeners, has also been adopted by other stations in other key cities in the Philippines such as 103.5 Retro Cebu in Cebu City and Retro 95.5 in Davao City.
On October 20, 2014, the demise of JJ Sparx left Retro without a Station Manager. Cris Cruise was hired as station consultant. As a result, changes in the DJs' line-up occurred, despite its massive success. Since then, Retro developed more new programs, such as Discoteria, Retro In Love and Quarter Attack. In October 12, 2015, Willy "Hillbilly Willy" Inong was hired as Station Manager.