View source for WQHT

{{short description|Urban contemporary radio station in New York City}}
{{redirect|Hot 97|the Roswell, New Mexico-based pop radio station of the same name|KBCQ-FM}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2025}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = WQHT
| city = [[New York, New York]]
| country = US
| logo = HOT97 WQHT logo.png
| logo_upright = .8
| area = [[New York metropolitan area]]
| frequency = {{Frequency|97.1|[[MHz]]}} {{HD Radio}}
| branding = ''Hot 97 FM''
| language = [[American English|English]]
| format = [[Urban contemporary]]
| subchannels = {{ubl|HD2: "La Buena 97.1 HD2" ([[Regional Mexican]])|HD3: [[Talk radio]]}}
| owner = [[MediaCo]]
| licensee = Mediaco WQHT License LLC
| sister_stations = {{ubl|Radio: [[WBLS]]|TV: [[WASA-LD]]}}
| airdate = {{start date and age|1940|01|11|p=y|br=yes}}
| former_callsigns = {{ubl|W2XWG (1940–1944)|WEAF-FM (1944–1946)|WNBC-FM (1946–1954)|WRCA-FM (1954–1960)|WNBC-FM (1960–1975)|WNWS-FM (1975–1977)|WYNY (1977–1988)}}
| callsign_meaning = "Hot"
| licensing_authority = [[FCC]]
| facility_id = 19615
| class = B
| erp = 6,700 watts
| haat = {{convert|408|m|ft|sp=us}}
| coordinates = {{coord|40|44|54.4|N|73|59|8.5|W|region:US-NY_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| webcast = {{ubl|{{listenlive|https://www.hot97.com/listen-to-hot97}}|HD2: {{listenlive|https://www.estrellatv.com/es/radio/la-buena}}}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.hot97.com/}}
}}
'''WQHT''' (97.1 [[FM broadcasting|FM]], Hot 97) is a commercial radio station, licensed to [[New York, New York]], which broadcasts an [[urban contemporary music]] format. The station is owned by [[MediaCo]] Holding, a subsidiary of the [[Standard General]] hedge fund.

WQHT's studios are located in the [[Hudson Square]] neighborhood of [[Lower Manhattan]], and its transmitter is located at the [[Empire State Building]].

== History ==
[[File:1945 RCA advertisement featuring WEAF-FM's facilities.jpg|thumb|1945 RCA advertisement featuring WEAF-FM's facilities<ref>[https://archive.org/details/broadcasting28unse/page/12/mode/2up RCA Advertisement] (featuring WEAF-FM), ''Broadcasting'', June 25, 1945, pages 12-13.</ref>]]
WQHT began as an experimental station, W2XWG, licensed to the [[National Broadcasting Company]] (NBC) and located at the [[Empire State Building]] in New York City. W2XWG started operations in April 1939, initially as an [[Apex (radio band)|"Apex"]] station, used for determining the coverage area of transmitting frequencies higher than those used by the standard AM broadcast band.<ref name="togo">[https://archive.org/details/Radio-Craft_1942_03/page/n19/mode/1up "NBC New York FM Station to go to 10,000 Watts"] by O. B. Hanson, ''Radio-Craft'', March 1942, pages 402-403.</ref> These tests also compared [[amplitude modulation]] (AM) transmissions with the then-new technology of wide-band [[frequency modulation]] (FM). On January 11, 1940, W2XWG began regular FM broadcasts,<ref>[https://archive.org/details/broadcastingtele41unse/page/n84/mode/1up "NBC's 25 Years: 1940]. ''Broadcasting'', July 2, 1951, page 79.</ref> and that July, it was reported that the station was broadcasting on 42.6&nbsp;MHz from 3 to 11 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/broadcasting19unse/page/n155/mode/1up Notice], ''Broadcasting'', July 15, 1940, page 58.</ref>

In May 1940, the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) announced the establishment, effective January 1, 1941, of an FM band operating on 40 channels spanning 42–50&nbsp;MHz.<ref>[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112059131711&view=1up&seq=767 "FCC Order No. 67"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115061240/https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112059131711&view=1up&seq=765 |date=January 15, 2022 }}, ''Federal Register'', May 25, 1940, page 2011.</ref> The [[List of the initial commercial FM station assignments issued by the Federal Communications Commission on October 31, 1940|first fifteen]] commercial FM station construction permits were issued on October 31, 1940, including one to NBC for 45.1&nbsp;MHz in New York City,<ref>[https://archive.org/details/broadcasting19unse/page/n1074/mode/1up "New FM Call Letters Proposed"], ''Broadcasting'', November 15, 1940, page 77.</ref> which was issued the call sign W51NY.<ref>The initial call sign policy for commercial FM stations included an initial "W" for stations located east of the Mississippi River, followed by the last two digits of a station's frequency assignment, "51" in this case, and closing with a one or two character city identifier, which for New York City area stations was "NY".</ref> However, NBC reported that equipment shortages resulting from the outbreak of [[World War II]] meant it was unable to get delivery of W51NY's high powered transmitter,<ref name="togo"/> and on June 10, 1942, the construction permit for commercial operation was canceled, and the W51NY call sign deleted.<ref>[https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=84018 History Cards for WQHT] (FCC.gov)</ref>

Effective November 1, 1943, the FCC modified its policy for FM station call letters.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=mwwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT6 "Standard Broadcast Station Call Letters for All Outlets Starting Nov. 1, FCC Rule"], ''The Billboard'', September 4, 1943, page 7.</ref> Thus, when the construction permit for commercial operation was reactivated, it was assigned the call letters WEAF-FM. The station's last broadcast as W2XWG took place on September 23, 1944,<ref>[https://archive.org/details/broadcasting27unse/page/n1455/mode/1up/ "Actions of the Federal Communications Commission: Decisions: October 23"], ''Broadcasting'', October 30, 1944, page 68.</ref> with its debut as WEAF-FM coming the next day, now with seven-day-a-week programming from 3-11 p.m. that was an expansion over W2XWG's schedule of only operating Saturday through Wednesday.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/broadcasting27unse/page/n1149/mode/1up/ "WEAF-FM Airs Net On 7-Day Schedule"], ''Broadcasting'', October 2, 1944, page 60.</ref>

The FCC later reassigned the original FM band frequencies to other services, and ordered existing stations to move to a new band from 88 to 106&nbsp;MHz, which was later expanded to 88–108&nbsp;MHz. During a transition period from the original FM "low band" to the new "high band", some stations for a time broadcast simultaneously on both their old and new frequencies. However, WEAF-FM did not, and in October 1945, it was announced that the station was shutting down the broadcasts on 45.1&nbsp;MHz and was temporarily going silent while it made the technical adjustments needed to operate on its new assignment at 97.3&nbsp;MHz.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/broadcasting292unse/page/n473/mode/1up "Nets Take FM Off Air For Transition"], ''Broadcasting'', October 29, 1945, page 98.</ref>

=== WNBC-FM / WRCA-FM / WNWS-FM (1946–1977) ===
In late 1946, the station's call letters were changed to WNBC-FM.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/nbctransmitter1111nati/page/n122/mode/1up "WEAF, Key NBC Outlet Changes Call to WNBC"], ''NBC Transmitter'',  October 1946, page 5.</ref> Programming was usually [[simulcast]]s of [[WFAN (AM)|WNBC (AM)'s]] programming. A reallocation in the fall of 1947 moved the station to its current frequency assignment of 97.1&nbsp;MHz.<ref>[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1947/1947-06-23-BC.pdf#page=38 "New Frequency Assignments for FM Stations in the United States"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609111409/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1947/1947-06-23-BC.pdf#page=38 |date=June 9, 2020 }}, ''Broadcasting'', June 23, 1947, page 38.</ref> In the 1950s, WNBC-FM played classical music, later switching to pop music. It ran network programming for some time, such as the [[Monitor (NBC Radio)|NBC Monitor]] weekend series. On October 18, 1954, the call letters were changed to WRCA-FM,<ref>[https://archive.org/details/broadcastingtele47unse_0/page/n83/mode/1up "RCA Replaces NBC in O&O Calls"], ''Broadcasting'', October 4, 1954, page 78.</ref> reflecting NBC's then-parent company, the [[Radio Corporation of America]], but returned to WNBC-FM on May 22, 1960.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/broadcastingtele58unse_0/page/n873/mode/1up "A lesson in memory"], ''Broadcasting'', May 16, 1960, page 114.</ref>

On December 31, 1976, the station discontinued carrying NIS (which NBC would end by June 1977). The final story on ''NewsCenter 97'', was reported by Wayne Howell Chappelle, known professionally as [[Wayne Howell]]. The station then went to a commercial break and, after airing the hourly [[legal ID]] at midnight, switched to an [[adult contemporary music]] format with a [[soft rock]] lean, under the moniker ''Y-97''. The first song played under the new format was "[[Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)|Tonight's the Night]]" by [[Rod Stewart]].<ref>{{cite web |title=WNWS-FM Becomes Y97 WYNY |url=https://formatchangearchive.com/wnws-fm-becomes-y97-wyny/ |website=formatchangearchive.com |date=March 2013 |access-date=April 19, 2021 |archive-date=April 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418222320/https://formatchangearchive.com/wnws-fm-becomes-y97-wyny/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== WYNY (1977–1988) ===
In April 1987, [[country music]] station [[WEPN (AM)|WHN]] announced plans to go to [[sports radio|sports]] full-time on July 1, becoming all-sports WFAN. In response, WYNY announced it would change to [[country music]] on the same day. This format change was told to the press in advance, but not over the air except on ''Saturday With Sinatra''. At 12:01&nbsp;a.m. on July 1, WYNY ended its AC format with "[[Hello, Goodbye]]" by The Beatles. It flipped to country music, playing "[[Think About Love (song)|Think About Love]]" by [[Dolly Parton]].<ref>{{cite web |title=97.1 WYNY flips from AC to Country |url=https://formatchangearchive.com/971-wyny-flips-from-ac-to-country/ |website=formatchangearchive.com |date=July 1987 |access-date=April 19, 2021 |archive-date=April 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418222320/https://formatchangearchive.com/971-wyny-flips-from-ac-to-country/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== WQHT (1988–present) ===
{{Further|topic=the history of this station prior to its move to the 97.1 frequency|WKTU#WQHT (1986–1988)}}
In 1988, NBC began to sell its roster of radio stations, and [[Emmis Communications]] made arrangements to buy its two New York City stations, WYNY 97.1 and WNBC 660 AM.<ref>[https://apnews.com/6d2d55ab17fec6513e7bb9b76496ce94 "NBC Agrees to Sell Five Radio Stations to Emmis Broadcasting"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203041432/https://apnews.com/6d2d55ab17fec6513e7bb9b76496ce94 |date=December 3, 2020 }}, February 19, 1988. (AP.com)</ref>

Emmis sold the 103.5 FM license for the original WQHT to [[Westwood One (1976–2011)|Westwood One]], as well as the intellectual property for WYNY, which resulted in the WYNY call letters and country format transferring from 97.1 to 103.5 FM. Conversely, Emmis transferred the WQHT call sign and [[rhythmic contemporary]] format from 103.5 to the former WYNY at 97.1 FM, becoming "Hot 97" at 5:30&nbsp;pm. September 22, 1988. The last song played on "Hot 103" was [[Debbie Gibson]]'s "Stayin' Together"; the first song played on "Hot 97" was [[MARRS]]' "[[Pump Up the Volume (song)|Pump Up the Volume]]".<ref>{{cite news |title=NY Dial Flips To Affect 34% Of Cume |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-RandR/1980s/1988/RR-1988-09-16.pdf#page=41|access-date=April 19, 2021 |work=RandR |date=September 16, 1988}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=97.1 WYNY Becomes Hot 97 WQHT |url=https://formatchangearchive.com/97-1-wyny-becomes-hot-97-wqht/ |website=formatchangearchive.com |date=September 22, 1988 |access-date=April 18, 2021 |archive-date=April 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418060150/https://formatchangearchive.com/97-1-wyny-becomes-hot-97-wqht/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

WQHT started to lean towards [[top 40]] by 1989 due to decreasing ratings. By 1990, the station started playing more [[house music|house]], [[freestyle music|freestyle]], and rhythm and blues music, and launched the ''Saturday Night House Party'' show.<ref name="Charnas">{{cite book|author=Charnas, Dan|title=The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip-Hop|url=https://archive.org/details/bigpaybackhistor00danc|url-access=registration|place=New York|publisher=New American Library|year=2010|isbn=9780451229298}}</ref>{{rp|320, 334}}

==== From dance to hip-hop and R&B ====
Towards the end of 1992 and early 1993, Hot 97 dropped to "dead last among New York's three pop stations."<ref name="Charnas"/>{{rp|336}} In response, Emmis named Judy Ellis its general manager (a position in which she served until 2003), and WQHT started to add more R&B and [[hip hop music]]. The station started a gradual two-year change towards an urban-oriented [[rhythmic top 40]] format.<ref name="Charnas"/>{{rp|320, 334–336}}

A new generation of "hot jocks" began appearing on "Hot 97". [[Dan Charnas]] recounted the perception of this move: "The trades ran stories on the new trend, typified by the Emmis stations, Hot 97 and [[Power 106]]: hiring street kids or entertainers with little or no radio experience at the expense of longtime professionals who had paid their dues."<ref name="Charnas"/>{{rp|347}} Among the most famous was the addition of a new morning show hosted by [[Ed Lover]] and [[Doctor Dré]] of ''[[Yo! MTV Raps]]''. With rising ratings and a focus on [[East Coast hip hop|East Coast]] artists like the [[Wu-Tang Clan]], Charnas credited "Hot 97" as leading a comeback for East Coast hip hop.<ref name="Charnas"/>{{rp|347–348}}

=== Sale to Standard General ===
On July 1, 2019, Emmis Communications announced that it would sell WQHT and sister station [[WBLS]] to the public company Mediaco Holding—an affiliate of [[Standard General]]—for $91.5&nbsp;million and a $5&nbsp;million [[promissory note]]. In addition, Emmis will take a 23.72% stake in the new company's common equity, and continue to manage the stations under shared services agreements. The sale was completed November 25, 2019.<ref name="allaccess.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/187565/emmis-forms-new-mediaco-holding-company-with-stand|title=Emmis Forms New Mediaco Holding Company With Standard General, To Transfer WBLS And WQHT (Hot 97)/New York To New Entity|website=All Access|language=en|access-date=July 2, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rbr.com/emmis-mediaco-move-complete-as-are-cumulus-spins/|title=Emmis' Mediaco Move Complete, As Are Cumulus Spins|last=Jacobson|first=Adam|date=November 27, 2019|website=Radio & Television Business Report|language=en-US|access-date=November 28, 2019}}</ref>

In May 2025, Mediaco Holding announced that it would launch Hot 97 TV, a [[free ad-supported streaming television]] (FAST) channel featuring programming on hip-hop music and culture hosted by WQHT personalities and others.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 8, 2025 |title=Radio Meets Streaming As MediaCo Unveils Video Expansion At NewFronts. |url=https://www.insideradio.com/free/radio-meets-streaming-as-mediaco-unveils-video-expansion-at-newfronts/article_8fa0d65a-73be-4a2c-b673-3a853b0e9df1.html |access-date=October 7, 2025 |website=Insideradio.com |language=en |archive-date=May 8, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250508143235/https://www.insideradio.com/free/radio-meets-streaming-as-mediaco-unveils-video-expansion-at-newfronts/article_8fa0d65a-73be-4a2c-b673-3a853b0e9df1.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

== HD radio operations ==
On September 9, 2008, Emmis announced a programming partnership with WorldBand Media and to use WQHT's HD-3 signal to produce programming for the South Asian communities in three major cities including New York City.<ref>{{cite press release |title =Emmis and WorldBand Media Partner to Launch First-of-Its-Kind Digital Radio Network  |agency=[[PR Newswire]]  |date =September 9, 2008 |url =http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/09-09-2008/0004881712&EDATE= |access-date =September 11, 2008 |quote = Top 3 U.S. markets to offer programming in HD for the South Asian ethnic community }}</ref>

== Controversies ==
=== 2004 Indonesia tsunami parody ===
On January 17, 2005, [[Miss Jones (radio personality)|Miss Jones]] provoked a controversy by airing a song entitled "Tsunami Song" a month after approximately 167,000 people in [[Indonesia]] and 227,000 people worldwide were left dead or missing from the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami]] which affected the Asia-Pacific and [[Somalia]]. The song, a parody sung to the 1985 tune "[[We Are the World]]", was criticized for overtly racist mocking of the Asian victims; the song lyrics contain the racially derogatory word "Chinamen," and calls the drowning victims "bitches." Some of the lyrics included the words "Go find your mommy. I just saw her float by, a tree went through her head. And now your children will be sold into child slavery."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1496296/20050126/index.jhtml?headlines=true|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050331025538/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1496296/20050126/index.jhtml?headlines=true|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 31, 2005|title=Hip-Hop Station Blasted For Song Mocking Tsunami Victims|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|date=January 26, 2005|publisher=MTV News|access-date=June 28, 2009}}</ref>

[[Miss Info]], a fellow on-air colleague of Korean descent, was outraged and spoke against the song on the station. She excluded herself from producing the song and said it was wrong for it to be played.<ref>{{citation |last=Hinckley |first=David |date=January 26, 2005 |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/2005/01/26/2005-01-26_hot_97_is_weathering__tsunam.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051230060235/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/story/274679p-235203c.html |title=Hot 97 is weathering 'Tsunami Song' storm |work=Daily News|location=New York|access-date=June 28, 2009 |archive-date=December 30, 2005}}</ref> Miss Info was insulted by other DJs on the air.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.asianweek.com/2005/02/04/stop-the-song/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604180416/http://www.asianweek.com/2005/02/04/stop-the-song/ |title=Stop the Song|date=February 4, 2005|work=AsianWeek|access-date=June 28, 2009 |archive-date=June 4, 2011}}</ref> Another jock on the show, [[Todd Lynn]], muttered "I'm gonna start shooting Asians."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/nyc-nytsun254125015jan25,0,2022540.story |title=Call for federal fines, more apologies after station airs 'We Are the World' parody offensive to Asians |last=Virasami |first=Bryan |date=January 25, 2005 |work=Newsday |access-date=June 28, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208093837/http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/nyc-nytsun254125015jan25,0,2022540.story |archive-date=February 8, 2008 }}</ref> Following angry protests from the public, Miss Jones, [[DJ Envy]], and Tasha Hightower were suspended for two weeks while Todd Lynn and songwriter [[Rick Del Gado]] were fired.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A01E0DF103BF930A35751C0A9639C8B63|title=Tsunami Jokers Fired|last=Ogunnaike|first=Lola|date=February 3, 2005|work=The New York Times|access-date=June 28, 2009|archive-date=June 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629051254/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A01E0DF103BF930A35751C0A9639C8B63|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/2005/02/02/2005-02-02__tsunami_song__fallout__3_su.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051220015058/http://www.nydailynews.com/02-02-2005/front/story/277113p-237107c.html |title="Tsunami Song" Fallout |last=Hinckley |first=David |date=February 2, 2005 |work=Daily News|location=New York |access-date=June 28, 2009 |archive-date=December 20, 2005}}</ref> The station issued an apology on its website. ''[[Newsday]]'', [[Sprint Corporation|Sprint]], [[McDonald's]] and [[Toyota]] all pulled their advertising from the station.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/ny-ethot0211,0,7549258.story?coll=ny-entertainment-headlines |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051214235046/http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/ny-ethot0211,0,7549258.story?coll=ny-entertainment-headlines |title=Newsday pulls ads from Hot 97 show |last=Guzman |first=Rafer |date=February 11, 2005 |work=Newsday |access-date=June 28, 2009 |archive-date=December 14, 2005}}</ref>

=== Fights and shootings ===
On February 25, 2001, a shootout erupted between [[Lil' Kim]] and the entourages of Kim and rival rapper [[Foxy Brown (rapper)|Foxy Brown]] in front of the offices of Hot 97 on [[Hudson Street (Manhattan)|Hudson Street]], with an injury to one of Foxy's friends.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=108920&page=1|title=Lil' Kim Denies Connection to Shootout|publisher=ABC News|access-date=October 31, 2023|archive-date=October 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031164019/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=108920&page=1|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1441041/20010227/lil_kim.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010302174912/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1441041/20010227/lil_kim.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 2, 2001|title=Lil' Kim Present At Hot 97 Shootout, Police Say|last=D'Angelo|first=Joe|date=February 27, 2001|publisher=[[MTV News]]|access-date=June 28, 2009}}</ref> It led to an investigation by the FBI and a trial which found Lil Kim guilty of perjury and sentenced to a year in prison for it in mid-2005. In February 2005, gunfire erupted in front of the same place between [[50 Cent]]'s entourage and [[The Game (rapper)|the Game]]'s entourage after the two rappers had a falling out with each other. The Game was quickly met by 50 Cent's crew after being notified he was at the front entrance of the building. A friend of 50 Cent pulled a gun out and shot at The Game and his entourage. A bullet hit a member of the Game's entourage in the leg.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1497589/20050228/50_cent.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050303020207/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1497589/20050228/50_cent.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 3, 2005|title=50 Drops Game From G-Unit; Shots Fired At Radio Station|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|date=February 28, 2005|publisher=[[MTV News]]|access-date=June 28, 2009}}</ref> Both incidents also led to the nickname "Shot 97" by Wendy Williams.<ref>{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjG33BOUAUE|title=R&B group Total tried to Jump Wendy Williams at hot 97!|via=[[YouTube]]|access-date=December 2, 2016|archive-date=November 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111025208/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjG33BOUAUE|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Concerts ===
{{Main|Summer Jam (festival)}}
[[Wu Tang Clan]] member [[Inspectah Deck]] stated that the group faced a 10-year blacklist by Hot 97 after a fiasco involving their booking at the concert.  In June 1997, the group was on tour with [[Rage Against the Machine]] in Europe in support of the [[Wu-Tang Forever]] album, but was also booked to perform at the Summer Jam.  Deck stated that the station strong-armed the group in to flying back to the United States at their own cost to perform at the show for free, lest their relationship with the station be in jeopardy. As Hot 97 was one of the major stations that gave the group exposure during their early years, they felt it best to perform at the Summer Jam, not wanting to lose a major ally.  Wu Tang member [[Ghostface Killah]] was so infuriated by this, that he shouted ''"Fuck Hot 97!"'' during the set, and got the crowd to repeatedly chant it.  This led to what Deck says was a 10-year blacklist of Wu Tang from Hot 97, and even other New York radio stations, which affected their commercial reputation and music sales. The two sides would later make amends, and Wu Tang Clan performed a set at the 2013 Summer Jam.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://genius.com/a/why-hot-97-blackballed-the-wu-tang-clan-after-the-group-performed-at-summer-jam |title=Wu-Tang's radio play took a hit after they cursed out the station. |publisher=Genius |access-date=December 14, 2019 |archive-date=December 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215052454/https://genius.com/a/why-hot-97-blackballed-the-wu-tang-clan-after-the-group-performed-at-summer-jam |url-status=live }}</ref>

The 2012 event made headlines when moments before [[Nicki Minaj]] was about to take to the stage, morning host [[Peter Rosenberg]] made a negative comment about her song "[[Starships (song)|Starships]]", saying to the fans, "I see the real hip-hop heads sprinkled in here. I see them. I know there are some chicks here waiting to sing 'Starships' later—I'm not talking to y'all right now." That comment and the alleged sexual relationship between the self-proclaimed "Queen of rap" and the host [[Ebro Darden]] would prompt [[Lil Wayne]] to pull Minaj and the rest of the acts signed to [[Cash Money Records]] out of the event. Minaj later spoke to Funkmaster Flex about the incident. After that, she appeared on Rosenberg's show, with the host apologizing to her on air. She performed two songs with [[2 Chainz]] at the following year's Summer Jam.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radio-info.com/programming/urban/summer-jams-hip-hop-battles |title=Summer Jams & Hip-Hop Battles |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608050721/http://www.radio-info.com/programming/urban/summer-jams-hip-hop-battles |archive-date=June 8, 2012 |first=Dana |last=Hall |publisher=Radio-Info |date=June 6, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Jen |last=Carlson |url=http://gothamist.com/2012/06/07/dj_peter_rosenberg.php |title=Hot97's DJ Peter Rosenberg: Nicki Minaj 'Is Inherently Hip Hop... It's Just That Starships Is Not' |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110041230/http://gothamist.com/2012/06/07/dj_peter_rosenberg.php |archive-date=January 10, 2016 |publisher=[[Gothamist]] |date=June 7, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Latifah |last=Muhammad |url=https://www.bet.com/article/9fsp0c/nicki-minaj-makes-peace-with-hot-97-dj-peter-rosenberg |title=Nicki Minaj Makes Peace With Hot 97 DJ Peter Rosenberg |publisher=[[BET]] |date=May 28, 2013}}</ref>

The 2014 event that took place on June 2 would be blasted in a comment five days later (on June 6) by [[Chuck D]] of [[Public Enemy]], who accused the station of allowing artists who were performing there to use racial slurs and offensive language, calling it a "Sloppy Fiasco," adding that "If there was a festival and it was filled with anti-Semitic slurs... or racial slurs at anyone but black people, what do you think would happen? Why does there have to be such a double standard?" He also cites the lack of WQHT not allowing more up-and-coming artists to perform on stage.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/6114010/chuck-d-on-hot-97s-sloppy-fiasco-summer-jam-goal-is-to-change-urban-radio |title=Chuck D on Hot 97's 'Sloppy Fiasco' Summer Jam: 'Goal is to Change Urban Radio' |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611201400/http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/6114010/chuck-d-on-hot-97s-sloppy-fiasco-summer-jam-goal-is-to-change-urban-radio |archive-date=June 11, 2014 |magazine=Billboard |date=June 6, 2014}}</ref> This was later addressed by Ebro Darden and Rosenberg on their morning show, responding to remarks that include the charge that Hot 97 is a "CORPlantation," but Darden, who admits that he agrees with Chuck D on addressing the issues, later pointed out by responding that "I think there's validity to what he's saying as to, 'I guess Hot 97 could be more local," and added "But people that listen to us when we research the songs don't vote those songs high enough to stay around. I have this debate and I put the onus back on the public to participate."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/6113933/hot-97-co-hosts-respond-to-chuck-ds-harsh-criticism-of-summer-jam |title=Hot 97 Co-Hosts Respond to Chuck D's Harsh Criticism of Summer Jam |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140609233939/http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/6113933/hot-97-co-hosts-respond-to-chuck-ds-harsh-criticism-of-summer-jam |archive-date=June 9, 2014 |magazine=Billboard |date=June 7, 2014}}</ref>

On June 7, 2015, more than 61 people were arrested and 10 [[New Jersey State Police]] troopers were injured after a fight over tickets and crowd capacity overshadows the 2015 Summer Jam event that was held at [[MetLife Stadium]] in [[East Rutherford, New Jersey]]. The sold-out event also caused confusion among the ticket goers who were denied entry, which added to the rioted melee.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/summer-jam-arrests-new-jersey-6590581/ |title=Summer Jam Chaos Prompts Several Arrests Outside N.J. Concert |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208004421/https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/summer-jam-arrests-new-jersey-6590581/ |archive-date=December 8, 2024 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=June 8, 2015}}</ref> The following day (June 8), WQHT addressed the issue on its morning show and plans to refund the customers who could not get into the event, while the [[American Civil Liberties Union]]'s New Jersey chapter called for the state Attorney General's office to investigate if any violations were reported.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6590717/hot-97-summer-jam-fallout-61-arrested-10-troopers-injured |title=Hot 97 Summer Jam Fallout: 61 Arrested, 10 Troopers Injured |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150609225142/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6590717/hot-97-summer-jam-fallout-61-arrested-10-troopers-injured |archive-date=June 9, 2015 |magazine=Billboard |date=June 8, 2015}}</ref>

Although the Festival Village portion was cancelled due to weather for the 2016 event, Hot 97 confirmed their annual Summer Jam will continue "rain or shine".<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.thefader.com/2016/06/05/hot-97-cancels-summer-jam-festival-village |title=Festival Village portion cancelled, but main performances are still on |last=Kim |first=Michelle |date=June 5, 2016 |magazine=[[The Fader]] |access-date=June 5, 2016 |archive-date=June 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160607121107/http://www.thefader.com/2016/06/05/hot-97-cancels-summer-jam-festival-village |url-status=live }}</ref>

The event and its influence, despite losing credibility, constant rivalry between artists and with the station itself, and declining audiences, continues to be a legacy for WQHT. As Funkmaster Flex puts it: "I think a radio station such as Hot 97 has a way of keeping to the pulse...And I think why it has survived so long is you know the radio station knows what artists are on the cusp or on the come up, and they always know the legends that people wanna see."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.spin.com/featured/hot-97-summer-jam-feature/ |title=Does Hot 97's Summer Jam Still Matter? |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170608193059/http://www.spin.com/featured/hot-97-summer-jam-feature/ |archive-date=June 8, 2017 |magazine=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |date=June 8, 2017}}</ref>

===On-air===
On December 13, 2018, rapper [[Kodak Black]] walked out of the ''[[Ebro in the Morning]]'' show after host, [[Ebro Darden]] questioned Black about his ongoing sexual assault case.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2018/12/kodak-black-walks-out-of-hot-97-interview-after-rape-case-brought-up|title=Kodak Black Walks Out of Hot 97 Interview After His Rape Case Was Brought Up|website=Complex|language=en|access-date=December 28, 2018|archive-date=December 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228174647/https://www.complex.com/music/2018/12/kodak-black-walks-out-of-hot-97-interview-after-rape-case-brought-up|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Violence and drill music controversy===
In 2022, some individuals drew connections between the pro-gun content of [[Brooklyn drill]] to real-world gun violence on the streets of New York that had killed a number of Brooklyn drill artists.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2022/02/03/nyc-rapper-tdott-woo-fatally-shot-in-brooklyn-after-signing-with-record-label/|title=Rapper TDott Woo fatally shot in Brooklyn after signing with record label|date=February 3, 2022|access-date=February 8, 2022|archive-date=February 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220208184706/https://nypost.com/2022/02/03/nyc-rapper-tdott-woo-fatally-shot-in-brooklyn-after-signing-with-record-label/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fox5ny.com/news/drill-rapper-killed-in-brooklyn-2nd-in-a-week|title=Drill rapper killed in Brooklyn, 2nd in a week|date=February 7, 2022|website=FOX 5 NY|access-date=February 8, 2022|archive-date=February 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220208183058/https://www.fox5ny.com/news/drill-rapper-killed-in-brooklyn-2nd-in-a-week|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://people.com/crime/nyc-rapper-tdott-woo-fatally-shot-in-brooklyn-hours-after-signing-record-contract/|title=N.Y.C. Rapper Tdott Woo Fatally Shot in Brooklyn Hours After Signing Record Contract|first1=Dan|last1=Heching|date=February 3, 2022|magazine=People|access-date=February 8, 2022|archive-date=February 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220208183101/https://people.com/crime/nyc-rapper-tdott-woo-fatally-shot-in-brooklyn-hours-after-signing-record-contract/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.67808/title.teen-rapper-c-blu-back-in-jail-days-after-posting-250k-bond-for-attempted-murder|title=Teen Rapper C Blu Back In Jail Days After Posting $250K Bond For Attempted Murder|date=February 4, 2022|website=[[HipHopDX]]|access-date=February 8, 2022|archive-date=February 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220208183059/https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.67808/title.teen-rapper-c-blu-back-in-jail-days-after-posting-250k-bond-for-attempted-murder|url-status=live}}</ref>

In response to the large number of dead young people connected to the music scene, Hot 97's DJ Drewski  vowed to stop playing gang/[[diss (music)|diss]] records in February 2022 and [[Ebro Darden]] re-iterated his ongoing objection to playing [[Diss (music)|diss]] tracks that incite specific violence.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/hot-97-dj-drewski-vows-not-to-play-diss-gang-music-on-radio|title=Hot 97's DJ Drewski Will No Longer Play Gang Music: 'We R Losing Too Many Young Men and Women to the Streets'|website=[[Complex Networks]]|access-date=February 8, 2022|archive-date=February 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220208183307/https://www.complex.com/music/hot-97-dj-drewski-vows-not-to-play-diss-gang-music-on-radio|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.67734/title.hot-97s-dj-drewski-pulls-plug-on-gang-diss-music-following-tdott-woo-nas-blixky-shootings|title=Hot 97's DJ Drewski Pulls Plug On Gang Diss Music Following Tdott Woo + Nas Blixky Shootings|date=February 2, 2022|website=[[HipHopDX]]|access-date=February 8, 2022|archive-date=February 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220208183430/https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.67734/title.hot-97s-dj-drewski-pulls-plug-on-gang-diss-music-following-tdott-woo-nas-blixky-shootings|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Media in New York City]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
* [https://www.nytimes.com/1974/12/18/archives/wnbcfm-abandons-rock-for-popular-music-format.html WNBC-FM Abandons Rock For Popular Music Format] – ''[[The New York Times]]'', December 18, 1974.
* [http://www.asianmediawatchdog.com/missjones/about.html  Asian Media Watchdog – One of the high profile groups that organized Tsunami Song protest]
* [http://www.clubfreestyle.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-4789/ Freestyle Music Information]
* [http://www.nyradioguide.com/cgi-bin/info.cgi/WQHT-FM Station info on New York Radio Guide]
* [http://www.thuglifearmy.com/news/articles/50908/ Former Presidents and the Hot 97 Controversy]
* [http://www.worldmusiccentral.org/article.php/20050205165145584 World Music Central – ''British MPs deplore Hot 97's racist tsunami song'']
* [http://www.worldmusiccentral.org/article.php/2005021202281579 World Music Central – ''Demonstrations planned outside Hot 97 New York'']
* [http://www.mediaweek.com/mediaweek/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000778160 Media Week Headlines]
* [http://www.ukchinese.co.uk/ UK Chinese – ''Chinese Community ask George Bush and Tony Blair to take action against Hot 97'']
* [http://www.ukchinese.co.uk/ UK Chinese – ''British MPs and the Hot 97 Tsunami Song'']
* [http://www.clublk.us/article142.html/ Club LK.US –  ''UK Sri Lankans denounce Hot 97's racist tsunami song'']
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071203192643/http://www.island.lk/2005/02/13/features2.html Sunday Island Sri Lanka – ''Two tsunami songs mentioned in the British parliament with kudos to Nimal Mendis by Nan'']
* [http://www.house.gov/pelosi/press/releases/Jan05/TsunamiSong012605.html House of Congress Press Release from House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi: ''Pelosi Condemns Broadcast of 'Tsunami Song''']
* [http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/060710fa_fact1 Hot 97 New Yorker article] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504104659/http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/060710fa_fact1 |date=May 4, 2014 }}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|https://www.hot97.com/}}
* {{FM station data|19615|WQHT}}
* {{Cite web|url= https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=84018 |title= History Cards for WQHT (covering 1940–1981 as W51NY / WEAF-FM / WNBC-FM / WRCA-FM / WNBC-FM / WNWS-FM / WYNY)|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]}} ([[Wikipedia:WikiProject Radio Stations/History Cards|Guide to reading History Cards]])<!--Converted from {{FCC letter}}-->

{{New York Radio}}
{{Rhythmic Contemporary Radio Stations in New York}}
{{New York Mets broadcasters}}

[[Category:1940 establishments in New York City]]
[[Category:Hudson Square]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 1940]]
[[Category:Radio stations in New York City|QHT]]
[[Category:Urban contemporary radio stations in the United States]]