DWRT-FM - The First 99.5 RT (1976-2006)

The First 99.5 RT (1976-2006)

DZTR changed its call sign to DWRT-FM, moved to the 99.5 MHz frequency and branded itself as 99.5 RT in September 1976. Its studios were located for most of its existence on Ayala Avenue in the central business district of Makati, at one time in Pacific Bank Building. It was then originally owned and operated by Trans-Radio Broadcasting Corp. (currently operating Radyo Inquirer 990, Cebu's Y101, Davao's DXKR, & Butuan's Majik 97.5, RT's original sister station). with owner Emilio Remedios Tuason, who also became one of the deejays (his on-air name was "ET"), until personal problems forced his retirement from the station in 1987.

99.5 RT became famous for playing the hits three months ahead of most other music stations because its programming philosophy did not pander to the masses nor cater to the lowest common denominator. It was more concerned with bringing the latest hits to the audience as soon as they were released by the artists. One of the most remembered examples of this was in the early 1980s when RT broke in the song "More To Lose" by the obscure English duo, Seona Dancing (one-half of which is the now famous lead actor and comic of the British television hit series The Office, Ricky Gervais). The station kept everyone guessing about the identity of the song by announcing the title as "Medium" and done by the artist "Fade", two words which were actually descriptions of the song: medium tempo with an ending that faded out.

Over the years, RT became popular with different slogans such as "The Rhythm Of The City" (1976–1996), "Red Hot Radio" (1983–1988), "Maximum Music" (1988-1996), "Source For The Best Hits" (1996–1998) and "Your Music Authority" (1998–2001), From 2001 - December 18, 2006 before it was rebranded, 99.5 RT's slogan was "The Most Hit Music".

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