V-103 wins Marconi Award

By RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com, originally filed Oct. 1, 2010

V-103 Thursday night won urban station of the year at the National Association of Broadcasters' Marconi Radio Awards in D.C.

The Marconi awards are considered a top honor for a radio station.

V-103 has been a top-rated R&B/hip-hop station in Atlanta for many years under the eye of Rick Caffey. It has built up a dominant on-air staff, including veterans Frank Ski and Wanda Smith in the morning, Ryan Cameron and Rashan Ali in the afternoons and Greg Street in the evenings.

The station, which remains No. 1 in Atlanta despite a recent slip in ratings, currently has two slots open: mid days and late nights.

Reggie Rouse, the program director, said the station was excited to win the award but has no plans to "rest on our laurels." He said V-103's successful formula has been melding service and community with great personalities and music.

This is the first time in a decade V-103 has taken home this award. The station won five times between 1990 and 2000.