WRIF FM 101.1 Detroit

Slogan/Positioner: Detroit's Home of Rock and Roll; The Riff; Riff Rocks

Format: Active Rock

Power/Height/Class: 27,000 watts / 879 feet / B
- Coverage area (FCC)

Broadcasts in digital/HD

More web sites about WRIF:

More Technical Information:

Call Sign History:

Call Sign Origin: After a musical term, guitar rif

On Air Date: January 1, 1948

Telephone: (248) 547-0101

Notes/History:

1971: ABC begins chain wide 'Rock-n-stereo' format. Eventually WRIF became a pioneer in the Album Oriented Rock format - though in the 1970's the station often included many songs that would be better considered as 'pop' in its playlists.

2/14/1971: Call sign change to WRIF. Legend has it that ABC had meant to put the WRIF calls on FM 94.7 Chicago and that Detroit's 101.1 was to become WDAI (Detroit Auto Industry)- however, if this was a mistake, it was never corrected.

1970: Programming separates completely from AM 1270 and becomes 'Big Boss 101' and 'Love Radio', rock format syndicated from owner ABC. Arthur Penhallow first hired by WXYZ-FM.

1/1/1948: On air with 'Background' music and some duplication of WXYZ-AM, owned by ABC

Transmitter location:

Oakland County: Near 10 Mile Rd and Northwestern Hwy (Southfield)

Old logo gallery: