DWLS

DWLS (97.1 FM), broadcasting as Barangay LS 97.1, is a radio station owned and operated by GMA Network. It serves as the flagship station of Barangay FM. The station's studio is located at the 3rd floor of GMA Network Studio Annex, GMA Network Drive corner Samar Street, Diliman, Quezon City, and its transmitter is located at GMA Tower of Power, Charles Conrad Street, Brgy. Culiat, Tandang Sora, Quezon City and 23 Sumulung Highway, Barangay Santa Cruz, Antipolo, Rizal.

Barangay LS is currently held its position as the top FM radio station in Metro Manila, according to the Nielsen Radio Audience Measurement survey conducted in the month of April 2025, and the KBP-Kantar Media Radio Audience Measurement Survey for 1st Quarter of 2025.

History

1955–1986: DZXX/DWXX

The station first aired in June 6, 1955, when "Uncle Bob" Stewart opened DZXX-AM 890 kHz under the Republic Broadcasting System (RBS). DZXX made history as the first pop music station in the country using the then-standard AM band, playing both local and international pop music of that era. In 1972, DZXX was temporarily shut down due to Martial Law, but was revived under the label DZXX/DWXX 1000 (Double X) and ownership of Hypersonic Broadcasting Center. In 1978, DWXX changed frequencies to 1026 kHz (based on GE75). In 1986, NBC acquired the station and changed its callsign to DZAM-AM.

1976–1992: WLS FM/The Giant

In July 1976, GMA launched its third radio station 97.1 WLS FM, airing adult standards and jazz music. In 1981, at the height of pop music's popularity, it switched to Adult Top 40 format, with the slogan ''The Best Music''. Among its programming staples was playing hourly Beatles music every weekday early mornings, a legacy that was later on adopted by 100.3 RJFM. In November 1988, upon the completion of GMA's Tower of Power, WLS earned the brand, The Giant 97.1 WLS FM.

1992–2007: Campus Radio

On April 30, 1992, the station was reformatted as Campus Radio 97.1 WLS FM, with a Top 40 format, targeting teens & early adults. Its notable programs were the longest-running "Top 20 at 12" (hosted by Milo Cavarlez, a.k.a. "The Triggerman,") which was first heard on Kiss FM 101.1 (now 101.1 Yes FM). The top 20 songs of the day were counted down in the mold of BBC Radio 1's The Official Chart Show at noontime.

Another innovation of DWLS was its "Campus Aircheck", an institution of sorts for aspiring DJs to get hired by the station, touted as "the first school on the air".

Upon Mike Enriquez's hiring and takeover of GMA's radio operations in 1994, Campus Radio was reformatted to a contemporary MOR format, earning its slogan "Forever!" and debuting additional programs, notably the "Message Center", wherein one's message must not be just a simple greeting to loved ones, which rivals Pager 106 by Kool 106. By 1999, DWLS shifted back to Top 40. During its heyday as an English-language radio station, the station used customized jingles originally designed by JAM Creative Productions for Chicago, Illinois outlet WLS-AM.

2007–present: Barangay LS

On February 14, 2007, Campus Radio rebranded as Barangay LS 97.1, reusing its old slogan, "''Forever''!" and reverting to a masa format. The impetus and justification for the format change was the struggle of GMA's FM radio sales unit to turn a profit from the format and consistently low sales figures in prior years despite Campus Radio's dominant ratings performance in the pop category. The above impetus paved the way for Mike Enriquez to successfully persuade the network's upper management to greenlight WLS's shift to a seemingly more profitable "masa" format. Most of the staff were retained, albeit changing their on-air names (such as Braggy Braganza becoming "Barako Jones" and Manny Pagsuyuin - familiar to erstwhile Campus Radio listeners as "Jimmy Jam" - becoming "Atong Bomb") and using the vernacular Filipino in station imaging and live spiels. Contrary to expectations, the industry reception became lukewarm with die-hard supporters of the old format heavily criticizing the change. By January 2008, Barangay LS had yet to regain the revenue losses incurred by the shift of advertisers to competing FM stations.

On January 16, 2008, at around 6 pm PHT ( UTC+08:00), the station launched its new tagline, "''Ayos!''" (). The new tagline was also rolled out for RGMA's provincial Campus Radio stations.

That same day, almost all of the staff carried over from the former Campus Radio format, were summarily dismissed by Mike Enriquez after years of loyal service to GMA Network, Despite rising from #7 to #4 in the ratings, Enriquez deemed them unfit to take the format to the ratings game. In turn, they were replaced unceremoniously by on air staff brought over from RGMA provincial radio stations as well as jocks from competing networks.

The displaced Campus Radio airstaff would eventually transfer to 99.5 and launch Campus 99.5 on March 23, 2008 but discontinued the format on August 14 that same year due to managerial and sales struggles.

On January 17, 2011, facing increased competition from other masa stations, the new tagline "''Tugstugan Na!''" () was launched and the station adopted the "crazy fun" sound brand in the market. By that point, Mike Enriquez was replaced by Glenn F. Allona as program director/station manager, aiming Barangay LS to bring back the focus on the staple of FM programming which was being music-driven.

On February 17, 2014, Barangay LS 97.1 was revamped with reformatted programs, a new jingle, a new logo & a new slogan called "''Isang Bansa, Isang Barangay''" (). Along its reformat, RGMA's FM radio stations carrying the Campus Radio brand (including 99.5 RT in Cebu, 103.5 Wow FM in Davao and Super Radyo DYRU 92.9 in Kalibo) adopted the Barangay FM branding. The network rebranding was made to compete with its rival FM radio network My Only Radio, owned by ABS-CBN Corporation, following the relaunch of DWRR-FM as MOR's flagship station seven months prior.

In July 2019, the station readapted its original slogan "Forever!" after it was dropped in 2008. Ken Chan and Rita Daniela performed its station's new jingle entitled ''Tayo ay Forever'' under GMA Music.

On March 20, 2020, the station implemented a scaled-down programming operation due to the situation and conditions affecting the radio station's staff caused by the enhanced community quarantine against COVID-19. On the same day, the station began its hookup with its sister AM-station Super Radyo DZBB 594. Normal programming and full personnel was resumed in early 2022 with the discontinuation of the DZBB simulcast

See also

*GMA Network
*GMA Integrated News
* DZBB-AM
* GTV
* Dobol B TV

References

External links

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Barangay FM stations
Barangay LS 97.1
Radio stations in Metro Manila
Radio stations established in 1955
1955 establishments in the Philippines
{{coord missing, Metro Manila