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 LS. 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 transmitters are located at GMA Tower of Power, Charles Conrad Street, Barangay Culiat, Tandang Sora, Quezon City. 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 July 2025.
 Logo since 2023 | |
| |
| Broadcast area | Mega Manila and surrounding areas |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 97.1 MHz |
| RDS | BRGY LS |
| Branding | Barangay LS 97.1 |
| Programming | |
| Language | Filipino |
| Format | Contemporary MOR, OPM |
| Network | Barangay LS |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | GMA Network Inc. |
| History | |
First air date | June 6, 1955 |
Former call signs | DZXX (1955-1975) DWXX (1975-1986) |
Former frequencies | 890 kHz (1955-1972) 1000 kHz (1972-1978) 1026 kHz (1978-1986) |
Call sign meaning | Loreto Stewart (wife of Robert "Uncle Bob" Stewart, founder of GMA Network) |
| Technical information | |
Licensing authority | NTC |
| Class | C/D/E |
| Power | 25,000 watts |
| ERP | 75,000 watts |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | www.gmanetwork.com/radio/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 LS.[1] 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 transmitters are located at GMA Tower of Power, Charles Conrad Street, Barangay Culiat, Tandang Sora, Quezon City.
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 July 2025.[2]
History
[edit]1955–1986: DZXX/DWXX
[edit]The station first aired on June 6, 1955, when Robert "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
[edit]In July 1976, GMA launched 97.1 WLS FM, initially adult standards and jazz. In 1981, it switched to an Adult Top 40 format with the slogan “The Best Music,” featuring hourly Beatles music on weekday mornings— a tradition later adopted by 100.3 RJFM. In November 1988, after completing GMA's Tower of Power, it rebranded as The Giant 97.1 WLS FM.
1992–2007: Campus Radio
[edit]On April 30, 1992, the station relaunched as Campus Radio 97.1 WLS FM with a Top 40 format targeting teens and young adults. Its flagship show, "Top 20 at 12" hosted by Milo Cavarlez ("The Triggerman"), counted down the day’s top 20 songs, inspired by BBC Radio 1's Official Chart Show.
DWLS also introduced "Campus Aircheck," a pioneering on-air program that served as a training ground for aspiring DJs to get hired.
In 1994, after Mike Enriquez took over GMA's radio operations, Campus Radio shifted to a contemporary MOR format with the slogan "Forever!" and introduced programs like "Message Center," competing with Kool 106's Pager 106.[citation needed]. By 2000, DWLS returned to Top 40, using custom jingles from JAM Creative Productions, originally made for Chicago’s WLS-AM.[3]
2007–present: Barangay LS
[edit]
On February 14, 2007, Campus Radio rebranded as Barangay LS 97.1, reviving its "Forever!" slogan and shifting to a masa format. Despite strong pop ratings, the change was driven by persistent low ad revenue, prompting Mike Enriquez to push for a more commercially viable approach. Most staff stayed, adopting Filipino on-air names and language. However, the revamp drew criticism from loyal listeners, and by January 2008, the station had yet to recover advertising losses.[4][5]
On January 16, 2008, at 6 PM PHT, the station launched its new tagline, "Ayos!" ("Okay!"), which was also adopted by RGMA's provincial Campus Radio stations.
On the same day, nearly all staff from the former Campus Radio format were abruptly dismissed by Mike Enriquez, despite their years of loyal service to GMA Network. Although the station had improved its ratings from #7 to #4, Enriquez believed the existing team lacked the edge to compete further in the "masa" format. They were unceremoniously replaced by on-air talents from RGMA’s provincial stations and former jocks from rival networks.[6]
On March 23, 2008, the former Campus Radio staff moved to 99.5 FM and launched Campus 99.5. However, the format ended on August 14 due to management and sales issues.
On January 17, 2011, in response to rising competition from other masa stations, Barangay LS 97.1 introduced a new tagline, "Tugstugan Na!" (“Let’s jam!”), and adopted a “crazy fun” branding to refresh its image. Around the same time, Glenn F. Allona replaced Mike Enriquez as program director and station manager, steering the station back toward a music-driven format, revitalizing its core focus on dynamic, high-energy programming centered on music.
On February 17, 2014, Barangay LS 97.1 underwent a major revamp with new programs, a jingle, logo, and the slogan "Isang Bansa, Isang Barangay" (“One Nation, One Barangay”). RGMA’s FM stations nationwide 99.5 RT in Cebu, 103.5 Wow FM in Davao and Super Radyo DYRU 92.9 in Kalibo) also rebranded under the Barangay FM name to better compete with ABS-CBN's My Only Radio network, following DWRR-FM’s relaunch as MOR’s flagship station.[7]
In July 2019, the station revived its original slogan, "Forever!". To mark the occasion, a new station jingle titled "Tayo ay Forever" was released, performed by GMA artists Ken Chan and Rita Daniela under GMA Music.[8]
On March 20, 2020, Barangay LS 97.1 scaled down operations and began simulcasting with Super Radyo DZBB 594 due to the COVID-19 enhanced community quarantine. Full programming and staffing resumed in early 2022 after the simulcast ended, except during their overnight hours with Golden Memories.
On Easter Sunday (April 5) of 2026, most of its regional stations begin adapting Barangay LS branding, except for its Kalibo and General Santos stations which are both co-branded as Super Radyo on its news programming.
Notable personalities
[edit]Former
[edit]- Robert "Uncle Bob" Stewart (DZXX era)
- Jun Banaag (1976-83)
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Official 'About' page for GMA Network". GMA Network. Archived from the original on August 16, 2008. Retrieved August 16, 2008.
GMA-7 cruises the airwaves through dzBB-AM and dwLS-FM in Manila and in 22 other radio stations throughout the country. In 2007, the company has reformatted its flagship station DWLS-FM as "Barangay LS Forever!"
- ^ "GMA Network Radio Stations Sustain Mega Manila Lead in July 2025". GMA Radio. August 14, 2025. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
- ^ "Soundtrack of Batch '95". Manila Standard. June 27, 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
- ^ "From Campus to Barangay". Iskomunidad. February 20, 2011. Archived from the original on August 23, 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
- ^ "Fan Petitions for GMA Radio Format Flip". Radio Online Now. May 2, 2007. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
- ^ Cruz, Angel Javier (May 16, 2017). "Barangay LS DJs share life lessons to fresh grads". philstar.com. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
- ^ Crispina Martinez-Belen (March 24, 2014). "Barangay LS: One Country, One Barangay, One Sound". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on March 24, 2014. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
- ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Ken Chan at Rita Daniela, aawit ng theme song ng Barangay LS". GMA Network (in Filipino). Retrieved July 26, 2019.
External links
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