Dance radio

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Dance radio are radio stations that include dance/electronica music as a large part of their programming. While the format is popular in Europe and Asia, it has yet to make an impact in North America, although there are several Top 40 and Rhythmic radio stations which include current Dance product in their playlists. As of September 2009, there were 6 stations (4 full-time and 2 part-time) on FM in various US markets. Dance radio is also present on secondary HD radio streams, satellite, cable and internet. In much of Europe there are national and local dance stations and it is a popular pirate radio format.

Contents

[edit] Terrestrial radio

United States

  • KNHC/Seattle (C89.5)
  • WBZC/Pemberton, New Jersey (2AM-6PM weekdays)
  • WPTY/Long Island, New York (Party 105.3)
  • WCPT-FM (Evenings, during Dance Factory FM)/Chicago
  • WMPH/Wilmington, Delaware (Super91.7)
  • KVBE/Moapa Valley, Nevada (Vibe 94.5)
  • WXYK/Gulfport, Mississippi (107.1 The Monkey as Club 107.1, Saturday Nights)

Canada

Mexico

Ireland

The Netherlands

[edit] Low-Power FM

[edit] HD2 stations

[edit] Audio/Cable

  • DMX
    • DMX Dance
    • DMX Electronica
  • URGE
    • Ultrasound/Dance Hits
    • Vinyl
    • Discotech/Old School Dance/Disco

[edit] Satellite radio

[edit] Internet stations

[edit] Defunct

In the USA, the nation's first full-time dance radio format began airing in August 1991 when Los Angeles college radio station KSCR controversially changed its format from alternative rock to the "Pulse of the 90's" techno/rave format. KSCR continued airing this format until September 1993, when it switched back to alternative rock.

The USA's first commercial full-time dance radio format was MARS-FM, airing in Los Angeles and Orange County, California on 103.1 FM KSRF/KOCM from late 1991 to late 1992. The rave-inspired format was created by KROQ DJs Swedish Egil and Freddy Snakeskin. 103.1 FM would later be the home of several subsequent Los Angeles dance radio formats: "Groove Radio" (1996-1998), "Groove 103.1" (1998) and "KDL 103.1" (2003).

After the demise of MARS-FM, KSCR's former general manager who had been responsible for KSCR's change to a dance format created a nighttime leased-time format from 1993 to 1994 at Santa Ana's KWIZ 96.7 FM called Renegade Radio, a dance music/techno format hosted by DJ Racer and former rave station MARS-FM DJ Mike "Fright" Ivankay. Renegade Radio also broadcast MARS-FM music director Swedish Egil's syndicated Groove Radio program, which later became a full-time local electronica format at 103.1 KACD/KBCD.

In 2008 Clear Channel dropped two HD dance channels, leaving Club Phusion and Pride Radio as the company's only dance offerings. In November 2008 the merged Sirius XM made cuts in music channels which included eight of the ten Dance stations on XM and Sirius, while WorldSpace satellite radio filed for bankruptcy protection, resulting in The System's discontinuation on XM. 2008 had the most dance music stations lost in recent years.

On October 31, 2008, KNRJ Phoenix went off the air, followed by the November 2008 channel merge of XM and Sirius which resulted in the elimination of Chrome, The Strobe, The Move, The System, Boombox, and the merging of The Beat with BPM and Sirius Chill with XM Chill. Sirius XM returned The Strobe to the channel lineup in January 2009 after a backlash from subscribers over the removal of both classic dance channels, which left no channel playing that music.

In 2009 Music Choice paired down its Dance offerings by merging its Dance and Electronica channels, while Mega Media's plan to expand its Pulse 87 brand to Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington, DC failed to occur. Mega Media, which leases WNYZ-LP from station owner Island Broadcasting, filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection in August 2009 citing $3.5 million in liabilities against assets of $180,000. Island ended its leasing deal with Mega for WNYZ on October 30, 2009, and WNYZ signed off the air the same day. However, a new company is planning to buy out Mega Media and pay Island Broadcasting the $500,000 that Mega Media owes.

In September 2009, new owner Royce International flipped KNGY/San Francisco to Top 40/CHR, but by the following October KMVQ filled the void by adding a HD2 subchannel called "Pulse Radio."

HD Radio

Satellite

Terrestrial

  • KNRJ/Phoenix (Energy 92.7 & 101.1)
  • KXRG-LP/Honolulu, Hawaii
  • KREV/San Francisco (Energy 92.7)
  • KDLD-FM/Santa Monica, CA (103.1 KDL)
  • KZZA-FM/Dallas/ Ft. Worth, TX (106.7 KDL)
  • KXRG-LP/Honolulu, Hawaii

Low-Power TV Audio

  • WNYZ-LP/New York (Pulse87) (Broadcasts on channel 6; audio on 87.75MHz)

[edit] Music charts

[edit] External links