 | |
| |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Mega Manila and surrounding areas |
| Frequency | 94.7MHz |
| Branding | Mellow 94.7 BFM |
| Programming | |
| Language | English(main) Filipino(forAgenda) |
| Format | Soft Adult Contemporary |
| Affiliations | Bilyonaryo News Channel(forAgenda) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | FBS Radio Network |
| Operator | Prage Management Corporation |
| Through FBS: DWBL Through Prage: Abante Radyo 1494 | |
| History | |
First air date | February 23, 1973 (1973-02-23) |
Call sign meaning | Luis &Leonida Vera (original owners) |
| Technical information | |
Licensing authority | NTC |
| Class | A/B/C |
| Power | 25,000watts |
| ERP | 72,620watts |
DWLL (94.7FM), branded asMellow 94.7 BFM (Best Friend Mo!), is a radio station owned byFBS Radio Network and operated byPrage Management Corporation. Its studios are located in Unit 908, Paragon Plaza Building,EDSA,Mandaluyong; its transmitter is located at Quarry Road, Brgy. Pantok,Binangonan,Rizal.[1]
The station began its broadcast in 1973 asWLL 94.7 orMellow Touch 94.7. It is the Philippines' pioneeringeasy-listening radio station that only relied on spinners and a newscaster in its programming. While most FM radio stations' format at that time was predominantly strident, Mellow Touch capitalized on a "more music, less talk" programming strategy. This formula proved successful as other radio stations followed suit after the fact. It has, since, established itself as the station for relaxing and feel-good music.[2] At that time, their studios were located at the now-demolished Philippine Communications Center building (PHILCOMCEN) in Pasig.
Former DWBL disc jockey Butch Gonzales provided pre-recorded voiceovers to bridge segues between songs and to serve the purpose of occasional time-checks, usually at the "Top" and "Bottom" of certain hours of each day. Gonzales' voice also became the Mellow Touch's signature, as he softly reminded the loyal listeners of tunes for "a walk in the park" or "a bike ride along the boulevard", every hour as the station ID and jingle played. The sound of his voice would gradually transition to “natural,” soft and sentimental music that was clearly associated with this FM station at the time.[3][4] The station's top of the hour ID became one of the most recognizable radio anthems on Philippine FM radio. The jingle, with the lyrics, "You are the minstrel... and I your guitar…", was produced by Dallas-based TM Studios (formerly TM Productions). The lyrics from this radio branding image were specifically customized and altered to meetMellow Touch's programming philosophy, called "The Mellow Sound". The jingle eventually became the station's most iconic trademark.[5]
In November 1996, in a groundbreaking move, the station instituted a major reformat by accommodating on-air jocks. Scott Free (Drew Domingo), Harry Maze (Harry Corro), Ted Bear (Renan Baluyut), and Riz Taylor (Ariz Peter Fuentez), were the first deejays to go on board. Ruth Cabal (formerly ofGMA News andCNN Philippines and now forNews5) became one of its first lady newscasters, replacing long-time newscaster Ernie Fresnido. Despite the emergence of deejays in its programs, the station maintained its programming objective of "more music, less talk" to this day.
Among its most notable programs wereMellow Midweek, a Thursday special that featured the station's greatestlove songs from the 70s, 80s, and 90s; andStraight from the Heart, a Sunday special that highlighted its classic easy listening staples from the 70s and 80s. These two specials, considered as benchmark classics, became famous for their original and characteristic style of playing songs consecutively (usually for an hour) that have the same theme or words in the title, thus evoking an interaction in between songs. Avid listeners call this signature style as "sagutan" in Filipino. Other noteworthy specials includedPlanet Soul, a Friday night program that played classicurban music from the 70s, 80s and 90s;Extreme, a Saturday night program that airedupbeat music from the 70s and 80s; andAfternoon Cruise, a weekday afternoon special that playedacoustic music and featured live artists' performances.
In 1998, Mellow Touch transferred its studios from PHILCOMCEN Building in Pasig to the Paragon Plaza Building inMandaluyong to share facilities with sister stationsDWBL 1242,Magic 89.9, 99.5 RT (now99.5 Play FM) and 103.5 K-Lite (nowAll Radio 103.5).
In mid-2006, the "Touch" was dropped from the branding, becomingMellow 947 (pronounced as "ninety-four-seven"). It adopted anAdult Top 40 format, as well as a new slogan called "Sounds Good", as it continues its adherence to playing good music. Its programs now generally aim to bring out the mellow side of pop-alternative and light rock music fans.
Among its special programs wereSunday in Time, a Sunday program that featured songs from the 70s and 80s;Decade, a Thursday program that played songs from the 90s;Turn of the Century, a Sunday program that featured songs from the 2000s; andNice & Slow, a Sunday night program that aired easy-listening music. Mellow also opened its doors to student DJs via theSchool of Jocks, which lasted until February 2020.[3]
At the start of 2019, the 90s were added to its standard playlist, thus, expanding its format. Along with the reorganization of its programs, the station adopted another slogan, "All Hits", as it focuses on "less talk, less commercials and more music". On July 6, 2019, it also brought backStraight from the Heart, a weekend program that plays easy listening music from the 70s through the 90s, similar to the format used during the Mellow Touch era.
Mellow was among many radio stations in the Philippines that halted regular overnight broadcasts in 2020, amid lockdown measures caused by theCOVID-19 pandemic; it never resumed 24-hour operations ever since. On November 18, it launchedMellow Midweek Special (frequently abbreviated as MMS, named after its old program), a Wednesday program that played upbeat music from the 70s through the 90s.
In 2021, it shifted back to itseasy listening format. The former station jingle "The Mellow Sound" was played as its top-of-the-hour jingle from October 13, 2022, until it was retired following a change of management.
In February 2023, Mellow 94.7 celebrated its 50th anniversary.
On August 1, 2024, the station temporarily dropped theMellow branding and was known as simply 94.7 (pronounced as "ninety-four point seven"). The station would later restore the iconicMellow 94.7 brand, this time, under a new management: Prage Management Corporation, owner ofAbante andBilyonaryo News Channel, which leased airtime of its sister stationDWSS 1494 under the Abante Radyo brand the previous July. Under Prage, the station modified the brand name asMellow 94.7 BFM, with its new initials bearing a new slogan "Best Friend Mo" (aTaglish phrase meaning "Your Best Friend"; but is unrelated to a previous similar slogan used by its adjacent station on the Manila FM band,93.9 iFM).
On November 18, 2024, it began simulcastingBilyonaryo News Channel's flagship Filipino language primetime newscast,Agenda, which is already being carried by Abante Radyo and its cable TV counterpart Abante RadyoTV.