City Memphis, Tennessee Branding K97.1 | Broadcast area Memphis, Tennessee First air date 1961 | |
Slogan Memphis' Only Hip-Hop and R&B Frequency 97.1 (MHz) (also on HD Radio)
97.1-HD2 for Classic Hip Hop | ||
WHRK is a Urban Contemporary station owned by iHeartMedia, Inc.. It is licensed to Memphis, and it broadcasts at 97.1 MHz frequency. The station's studios are located in Southeast Memphis, and the transmitter site is in North Memphis.
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History
The station was originally WMPS-FM and had offered a classical format during the 1960s and 1970s. That was until October 1976 when it flipped to a Rhythmic Contemporary Hit Radio hybrid format that featured Disco. Even after Disco's demise they still continued to add Dance and Pop/Rock product throughout the 1980s but would evolve to Urban contemporary format by the end of that decade. It was purchased by Chancellor in the late 1990s along with sister station WDIA and former competitor KJMS. Today the station continues to dominate the Memphis Urban radio wars against KXHT. The call letters were changed in 1977 to honor Harold R. Krelstein, who had been the President and CEO of Plough Broadcasting, Inc. Krelstein retired in 1976. In 1977 he was awarded the National Association of Broadcasters Distinguished Service Award for his contributions to broadcasting and especially, radio. He died in July 1977.