• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

Music formatted stations with a political slant

V

vw86

I know it's been discussed a bit on various threads here, but over the years the morning show here on 1059 Sunny FM Orlando, an Audacy Classic Hits station, has become a right wing political show that would typically be found on a News/Talk station. The station even hosted a Trump Inauguration Party last week and promoted it heavily in all dayparts. Pics here:

If you look at the monthlies it clearly hasn't hurt them, as the station dominates every month, getting the only double digit share in the market. Are there other examples, either current or present, of traditional music formatted stations (in this case an otherwise typical Classic Hits outlet) that also identify strongly with a political party and have a morning and/or other show that's extremely political in nature? 1059 is the only one I can think of, and it wasn't always like this in the earlier days of the station.
 
vw86 said:
Are there other examples, either current or present, of traditional music formatted stations
Click to expand...

The one that immediately comes to mind is The Breakfast Club with Charlamagne Tha God.

www.iheartmedia.com

iHeartMedia Hosts “We the People: An Audio Townhall with Kamala Harris and Charlamagne Tha God” on iHeartRadio Stations Nationwide and on the iHeartRadio App

iHeartMedia is a leading global media and entertainment company specializing in radio, digital, mobile, social, live events and on-demand entertainment.
www.iheartmedia.com www.iheartmedia.com

I find the Orlando story interesting because the incoming FCC chairman wants to review the Audacy bankruptcy agreement because of a Soros related investment that he believes will affect conservative programming at the company. Obviously, this example demonstrates that it hasn't.
 
Last edited:
Tom Joyner mixed political/issues (especially affected the Black community) talk with music, comedy, morning gossip and more. It wasn't so much vote for-against but Joyner did have politicians on and discuss what was on his mind.

If you go way back to Progressive FM, you might find anti-war and pro-environment talk, maybe even pro-pot.
 
Both good examples I hadn't thought of but are great examples.

One thing I forgot to mention in my first post is perhaps the most surprising thing about 1059 Sunny FM is how they interact on social media. They are the only commercial music station I have ever seen be openly hostile when replying to comments on their Facebook page. It is not uncommon to see them mock or show no respect to someone that makes a comment that either goes toward the other side of their politics or simply mentions that they are too political for their taste. They have taken such a drastic turn since the early 2010s when they were often regarded as one of the best Classic Hits stations in the US with a full airstaff of pros.
 
"The Church of Lazlo" on 98.9 The Rock in Kansas City, but formerly on 96.5 The Buzz, is a pretty liberal show, though they've done less politics in the post Trump years, I think out of exhaustion as much as anything. Even if you're passionate about your politics, it can get repetitive to have to talk about it every day. In the Bush years though, that's how they got so much.. erm, Buzz. Being avowedly anti-Bush on a personality driven music show. A lot of Alt and AAA outlets are progressive in mindset and branding, and in the sense of the communities they bond with, but not much political talk on air.

Dudley, Bob & Matt on KLBJ (FM), Austin's classic/mainstream rock station were vocally anti-Trump and socially liberal, until Bob Sinclair bought it and forced them to shut up after almost 30 years of successfully doing the show they did best, and he seemed to have the same issue with Deb O'Keefe who he fired from 101X's Jason and Deb show.
 
Brother Wease on iHeart's WAIO (Radio 95.1) here in Rochester is very vocally liberal, and has been for decades going back to his days on WCMF, where he played more music.
 
With Joyner and Charlemagne, though, that's to be more expected. With their audience you should expect some black activism, which means a liberal slant.

With Hispanic stations, it's interesting. A lot of your listeners aren't citizens, so they will find politics very boring - that is what killed Piolín. But they will listen to segments about immigration.
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom