Dance radio
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Dance radiois a format that consists of current and recentdanceandelectronic music.
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 music in their playlists. As of June 2014, there were six stations (four full-time and three 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.
It's a valid observation to note that American commercial radio's definition of dance music has almost always been marginal, consisting primarily of mainstream music and artists who are firstly pop and urban acts.
History
[edit]Most of dance radio's origins can be traced to the early days of disco in the late 1970s, whenWKTU New York,WBLS New York,andWRKS 98.7 KISS-FM New Yorkmade the format a staple on the airwaves. But by the end of the decade, the format began to experience a backlash when sentiments over the music began to force several stations to move on to other genres, with most of them moving to what would becomeurban contemporary,led by such stations asWAMO-FMPittsburgh,WLUM-FMMilwaukee andWHRKMemphis. These stations kept the dance sound alive while at the same time mixed it in with the R&B, hip hop, and pop songs of the 1980s. At the same time, another former disco outlet,WXKS-FMMedford/Boston, became very successful in taking the urban-dance sound into a top 40 format.
By the mid-1980s, more stations began to adopt the same formula that has worked for WXKS-FM, such asKMEL in San Francisco,while at the same time more artists were incorporating dance styles into their hits. The concept would go a bit further in 1986, whenKPWR Power 106Los Angeles and its sister stationWQHT HOT 103 New York (later becoming HOT 97 by 1988)debuted a "Top 40 Crossover" dance format, thus paving the way for more stations to jump onto this genre, such asWPOW Power 96 in Miamiby 1988. This format would later become known as Rhythmic Contemporary Hit Radio, or Contemporary Hit Urban (CHUrban) by the 1990s.
In the US, 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 ’90s" 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 FMKSRF/KOCMfrom 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" (2003).
After the demise of MARS-FM, the former general manager of KSCR, who had been responsible for that station'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 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 dance/electronica format at 103.1 KACD/KBCD.
In 1996, with Groove Radio making its debut in Los Angeles,WKTUNew York was revived. This would be followed by stations in other cities looking to duplicate its success.
In 2002,WPYMMiami would take the Dance format to a new level. The station's success would result in other newcomers adopting the "Pure Dance" format, but the lack of support from advertisers and issues from signal coverage to ratings would force several stations out the format. Despite the lack support from Top 40 and Rhythmic radio, the Dance format has continued to thrive at stations likeKNHCSeattle and on satellite radio.
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 pared down its dance offerings by merging its Dance and Electronica channels, while Mega Media's plan to expand itsPulse 87brand to Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington, D.C. failed to occur. Mega Media, which leased 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. The following Monday,Party 105.3on Long Island added 87.7 as a simulcast. In September 2009, KNGY/San Francisco was flipped by new owner Royce International to Top 40/CHR, but the following monthKMVQfilled the void by adding a HD2 subchannel called "Pulse Radio."
As of 2010, the WPTY simulcast on WNYZ, WMPH Wilmington, Delaware and iPartyRadio.com became casualties of due to financial situations. However,KXRG-LPHonolulu,which signed off the air in 2007 after their frequency was taken over byKORL-FM,returned to the air at a new frequency, followed by the July 3, 2010 debut ofWWACAtlantic City with a Dance-intensive Rhythmic Top 40 format. In December 2010KBPAAustin'sHD2 channel "Mega HD2" returned to the airwaves on a low-powered translator, but after a few days returned to WBPA's HD2 subchannel.
In 2011, Clear Channel'siHeartRadiorelaunched the Trance/Electronica HD2 subchannelTrancid,while WWAC, under new ownership, shifted to a regular Top 40/CHR direction. Even WPTY would exit the format, shifting to Rhythmic AC after seeing more potential in that format after doing a series of "throwback" weekends. On the other hand, KVBE Las Vegas replaced its Dance format with Rock but the Dance format went over to another rimshot outlet,KYLI.KRXV/KHWY/KHYZBarstow/Mountain Pass, California,which also serves Las Vegas, dropped their Hot AC format to relaunch KVBE's former Dance format and adopts its former "Vibe" moniker the following September. Also that same month,WPGC-FMWashington, D.C.,a station whose programming history included stints in the Disco and Dance genres, launched a HD2 subchannel billed as "Area 95.5." Meanwhile, inWinnipeg, Manitoba,CHWE-FMdebuted with a Top 40/Dance presentation, billed as "Energy 106."
In 2012,KXJMPortland, Oregonwould bring the Dance format to the local HD airwaves with the launch of "Too Wild," while in Halifax, Nova Scotia,CKHZ-FM,a Top 40 that was launched in 2006 with a Dance-leaning direction before shifting to a regular Top 40/CHR presentation in 2009, returned to its Dance roots and rebranded itself as "Energy 103.5," using the same direction as sister station CHWE. This was followed byWOLT-FMGreenville, South Carolina adding Dance mixes to its brokered programming schedule,KDHT-FMDenver bringing the format back to that market andWARGSummit/Chicago joining KNHC in being the second current high school outlet in the United States to offer a Dance format but on a part-time basis. Another surprise move would also take place in late April 2012, when WPTY returned to playing Dance full-time after a brief stint as a Rhythmic AC. By November 2012 KDHT would drop the format for Adult Hits, but in December 2012, WHBA, who had been programming an Adult Hits format in Boston, went the other way around and made headlines by flipping to an EDM-focused presentation, billed as "Evolution 101.7," with the call signWEDX.
As of 2013, the Dance format would see WOLT change format to Oldies and dropping brokered programming while it picked up another full-time outlet, this time inGainesville, Florida,where on June 1,JVC Media,the owner of WPTY, expanded its "Party" brand to its newly acquired propertyWBXY,followed in November by non-commercial outletKVITPhoenix.
In January 2014,WPCF/W227CEPanama City Beach, Florida,which previously programmed a "Trop-Rock" format, flipped to Dance under the operation of Patrick Pfeffer, owner ofClub La Vela,a dance club in Panama City Beach, followed byKXTELas Vegas launching a HD2 subchannel called "SIN107.5." The same month sawMediabaseand All Access team up to launch a Top 50 Dance Airplay chart with 23 stations reporting.[1]On June 13, 2014, WEDX flipped from Dance to Country but moved its format over to the HD2 subchannel of Top 40/CHR sister WXKS-FM.
By 2015, Miami would once again have a full-time Dance station when Zoo Communications took over the translators of WHYI and later WMIA (at 93.5), which later coincided with the launch ofWZFLin 2016 and later expanded to West Palm Beach with the acquisition ofWBGFin August 2017.
On May 3, 2019, at 5PM, theResearch Triangleregion of North Carolina (Raleigh,Durham,Cary,Chapel Hill) welcomedNC State University'sWolfBytes Radioonto 88.1 WKNC HD3. The station had been online-only up until that point.[2]
Stations in the United States
[edit]With the increasingelectronic dance musicscene in the United States, there are several terrestrial radio stations in the country that broadcast a dance-oriented format as their primary programming. Joel Salkowitz, program director ofPulse 87and Las Vegas stationKYLI,has argued that the format is not as widespread in the country because popular EDM songs oftencross overinto the playlists ofcontemporary hit radioandrhythmic contemporarystations, presuming that major station owners would not want the listenership of their pop and rhythmic-oriented stations to be cannibalized by an EDM-specific outlet.[3][4][5]
Full-time
[edit]- KGHD-LDLas Vegas, Nevada(Club 87.7 FM)
- KHYZ/KHWY/KRXVMountain Pass, California,Essex, California,andYermo, California(Vibe 99.7)
- KNHCSeattle, Washington(C89.5)
- WBGFWest Palm Beach, Florida(simulcast ofWZFL) (Revolution 93.5)
- WKNC88.1 HD3Raleigh-Durham,Cary,North Carolina(WolfBytes Radio)
- WZFL/W228BYIslamorada, Florida/Miami, Florida(Revolution 93.5)
Part-time
[edit]- KGAY/K293CL/K226BTThousand Palms, California/Indio, California(KGAY 106.5)
- WCPYChicago(Evenings, during Dance Factory FM)
- WGAY (FM)Sugarloaf Key(Party 105.7)
- WPTYCalverton-Roanoke, New York(Party 105.3)
- WPNA-FMChicago(Sunday-Friday 9-midnight during Party Mix and Saturday 10-midnight during Clubbing)
- WUGM-LPMuskegon, Michigan(weekends)
Low-power FM
[edit]HD stations
[edit]- Fire Lane (KNX-HD3Los Angeles)
- Revolution 93.5(WMIA-HD2Miami Beach)
- Party 93.1-HD2 (WFEZ-HD2Miami)
- WolfBytes Radio(WKNC-HD3Raleigh)
- Pulse Radio (KMVQ-HD2San FranciscoandKZZO-HD2Sacramento)
- LasVegas.Net Radio (KHYZ-HD2Mountain Pass)
- Drive FX (WGNY-HD2Rosendale)
- The Party ATX (KGSR-HD3Cedar Park)
- Sin 100.5 (KXQQ-HD2Henderson)
- Rave 99.9 HD2 (KMGG-LP-HD2Albuquerque, New Mexico)
- Vibez 103 (KFTZ-HD3Idaho Falls, Idaho)
Audio and cable
[edit]- DMX
- DMX Dance
- DMX Electronica
- Music Choice
- Dance/EDM
- Party Hits
Satellite radio
[edit]- Sirius XM Radio
- BPM(Dance currents)
- Diplo's Revolution(Global/underground Dance, House, Deep tracks, festivals, mix shows)
- Studio 54 Radio(Disco, Freestyle, 70's, 80's, and Nu Disco)
- Chill(Deep house, downtempo, indie/alternative dance, electronica)
- Utopia(90's, Y2K, and 2010's Dance)
- Steve Aoki's Remix Radio (Dance remixes)
- Armin Van Buuren's State of Trance (Eurodance and trance tracks)
U.S.-based Internet radio
[edit]- 97.5 Dance HitsNanuet, New York
- Cardio Dance RadioLouisville, Kentucky
- Digitally ImportedNew York, New York
- Energy 98Portland, Oregon
- Groove RadioLos Angeles, California
- iHeartRadio:
- Club Jam Country
- Club Jam Dance
- Club Jam EDM
- Club Jam Hits
- Club Jam Retro
- Dance Nation 90s
- Evolution
- Pride Radio (HD)
- The Spin*Cycle
- Trancid
- Insomniac RadioLos Angeles, California
- Miami Mike RadioFort Lauderdale, Florida
- Mix 247 EDMColorado Springs, Colorado
- Nexus RadioChicago, Illinois
- Party 732Asbury Park, New Jersey
- Pulse 87New York, New York
- PulseEDM Dance Music RadioSan Antonio, Texas
- Radio DanzMiami, Florida
- A Reason To Dance - Radio G!Los Angeles, California
- KVPN DIGITAL 1San Francisco, California
- RHYTHM 86San Francisco, California
- ShoutDRIVELos Angeles, California
- subSTATION.one - United We Dance®Los Angeles, California
- The Beat EDMMichigan City, Indiana
- WolfBytes RadioRaleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Vegas Dance RadioLas Vegas, Nevada
Stations in Australia
[edit]- Massive Dance Radio
- Kiss FM Australia
- Raw FM
- Q Dance
- Energy FM
- Gorilla Radio
- Fresh 92.7
- NovaNation
- Dance Hits
Stations in New Zealand
[edit]Stations in Canada
[edit]- CHWE-FMWinnipeg(technically CHR, but feature Dance/EDM currents)
- CIDC-FMOrangeville(technically Rhythmic contemporary, but feature Dance/EDM currents)
- CIRR-FMToronto(technically Hot AC/CHR, but features Dance/EDM currents)
- CKBE-FMMontreal(technically Rhythmic adult contemporary, but features Dance/EDM currents)
- CJLL-FMOttawa(simulcasts internet station DJ.FM everyday from 12-6 AM local time)
Stations in Mexico
[edit]- XHSON-FMMexico City(Beat 100.9)
- XHFM-FMVeracruz(One 94.9 FM)
- XHVOZ-FMGuadalajara(Vibe 107.5)
Stations in Europe
[edit]- Frisk Radio,UK
- Danceradio,Netherlands(Amsterdam) DAB+ radio, various radio apps, www.danceradio.nl
- TOPradio,Belgium's Flemish Region
- SLAM!FMNetherlands(some of the frequencies can be heard in portions of Belgium and Germany)
- 89 and 102.9 DanceRadio,Prague, Czech Republic
- Reef FMTenerife,Canary Islands(also available asDAB)
- Blast 106,BelfastNorthern Island (fusion of pop)
- DFM,Moscow, Russia
- Radio Record,Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Radio M2O,Italy
- Radio CFM,Constanța, Romania
- Unika FM,Madrid, Spain
- Fun Radio,France and surrounding countries
- Kiss FM,Ukraine
- Dance FM, Romanian cities ofBucharest,Cluj-Napoca,andTârgu Mureș
- Ibiza Global RadioIbiza,Mallorca,Italy,andCroatia
- Radio FG,FranceandBelgium
- Future Generation 93.8,Istanbul, Turkey
- Sunshine Live,Germany
- Capital Dance,United Kingdom
- BBC Radio 1 Dance,United Kingdom
Internet radio outside the U.S.
[edit]- América Dance 90
- Argentine Tango Radio
- DANCE100
- Dance UK
- Danceradio.ca
- Danceradio.cz
- Danceradio.dl
- DJFM Toronto
- Energy 106 Belfast
- Energy FM
- Frisk Radio
- Hot Dance Radio
- Mazoozie
- Massive Dance Radio
- Music Okey
- One World Radio
- FM-101 The Planet
- ProFM Dance Radio
- Radio Dance 90
- Radio KAIF.FM
- Radio Record.ru
- Real Dance Radio
- RTÉ Pulse
- Seejay.cz
- Top Radio
Defunct
[edit]HD Radio
- WWMX- "MIX2"Baltimore, Maryland
- WMKKBoston, Massachusetts(Funkytown 93.7-HD2)
- HD-Power DASH2 (WPOWMiami)
- Mega 103.5-HD2(KBPAAustin, Texas) - Also on *K288FJ 105.5FMBastrop, Texas
- Evolution 101.7(WBWL-FM HD2Boston, Massachusetts)
- Energy 95.7(KKHH-FM HD2Houston, Texas)
- WRDW-HD2Philadelphia, Pennsylvania(Hot Wired)
- SIN107.5(KXTE-HD2Las Vegas, Nevada)
- B96 Dance(WBBM-FM HD2Chicago, Illinois)
- Energy(WCFS-FM HD2Chicago, Illinois)
- Evolution 99.1(KUBT-HD2Honolulu, Hawaii)
- KSFM(KSFM-HD2Sacramento, California)
- KDLD-FM(KDLD-HD2Santa Monica, California)
- Chill with Alice(KLLC-HD2San Francisco)
- KDKA-FM(KDKA-FM HD2Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
- Eclectic Chill Out(KYKY-HD2St. Louis) (Electronica/Chill Out)
- House of Sophie(KEGY-HD3San Diego) (House/Electronica)
- Too Wild(KXJM-HD2Portland, Oregon)
- Party Zone(KDWB-FM HD2Minneapolis, Minnesota)
- Evolution 93.3(WFLZ-FM HD2 & WFLZ-FM HD3Tampa, Florida)
- Area 95.5(WPGC-FM HD2Washington, D.C.)
- Glow(KBZT-HD3San Diego, California)
- Club Phusion
Satellite
- Boombox
- Chrome
- The Move
- The Beat
- Electric Area
- The System
- Tiësto's Club Life Radio
Internet
- WFSH - Fresh 106 New York
- Music ONE
- Party Radio USA
Terrestrial
- CING-FM(Energy 108)Ontario Canada(switched to a hybrid Top 40/CHR/Dance format in 1998 and was shut down and replaced with a country format in 2002, brought back the energy name in 2018 but no longer plays dance (only during occasional events/raves) and has played CHR/Top 40 since 2012)
- KRXV/KHWY/KHYZBarstow, California;Laughlin, Nevada;Mountain Pass, California(Highway Vibe-still under this name but no longer plays Dance)
- WEDXBoston, Massachusetts (Evolution 101.7)
- WKIE/WKIF/WDEKArlington Heights, Illinois;Kankakee, Illinois;DeKalb, Illinois(Energy 92.7/5)
- KKDLDallas, Texas(106.7 KDL)
- KXDCDenver, Colorado(102-1X)
- KDHT-FMDenver, Colorado (Hot 107.1)
- KVBELas Vegas, Nevada(Vibe 94.5)
- KYLILas Vegas, Nevada (Jelli 96.7)
- KYLILas Vegas, Nevada (Pulse 96.7)
- KDLD/KDLESanta Monica, California;Newport Beach, California(103.1 KDL)
- WPYMMiami(Party 93.1)
- Beat RadioMinneapolis97.7, Beat Radio Network (national)
- KNRJPhoenix, Arizona(Energy 92.7 & 101.1)
- WKOEAtlantic City, New Jersey(Hot 106.3)
- KLNASacramento, California(Power 105.5)
- KPTISan Francisco, California(Party 92.7)
- KNGYSan Francisco, California (Energy 92.7)
- KREVAlameda, California(Pirate Radio 92.7)
- KREVAlameda, California(Revolution 92.7)
- WMPHWilmington, Delaware(Super 91.7-still under this name but no longer has Dance programming)
- KENUEnumclaw, Washington(Pulse 1330)
- WNRG-LPPalm Bay, Florida(Energy 107.9)
- WXJZGainesville, Florida(Party 100.9)
- WBXYLaCrosse, Florida(Party 99.5)
- WBZCBurlington, New Jersey(Z88.9)
- WWACOcean City, New Jersey(Wild 102.7)
- WSTKAurora, North Carolina(Surge 104.5)[6]
- WEGG & W263BERose Hill, North Carolina(Surge Radio 100.5 & 710)
- WPTYCalverton-Roanoke, New York(Party 105.3-still under this name but has shifted more towards aRhythmicHot ACdirection with some dance tracks and remixes)
- WRMAMiami, Florida(DJ106.7)
- KLBUSanta Fe, New Mexico(Electronica/Chill)
- KPMWMaui, Hawaii
- KVITApache Junction, Arizona(Pulse Radio)
- KXMGAustin, Texas(Mega 93.3)
- WGWELittle Valley, New York(Energy Radio Buffalo)
- CKHZ-FMHalifax, Nova Scotia(Z103.5)
- XHCHL-FMMonterrey, Nuevo León(Beat 90.1)
- DZURManila(107.9 U Radio)
- WPCF & W226CJPanama City, Florida(93.1 Play FM)
- WZDJJacksonville, Florida(DJ 105.3)
- KAAUSalt Lake City, Utah(105.1 FM)
- WOLTIndianapolis, Indiana(103.3 Spin FM)
- WSHEMiami, Florida (Evolution 103.5)
Part-time
- CHOQ-FMToronto, Ontario(Energy 105.1) (nightly from 10pm-6am)
- KCPRSan Luis Obispo, California(evenings during Club 91)
- WOLTGreer, South Carolina(103-3 SPIN FM) (branding during certain hours)
- KCXL/K275BQ/K284CHLiberty, Missouri/Kansas City, Missouri(Surge Radio - aired Sunday 5-6pm)
- XHPUE-FMPuebla(evenings during Kick FM 104.3)
- WKEY-FMKey West(93.7 NRG)
- KQPSPalm Springs, California(Affiliate forAudacy's "Channel Q"HD platform)
Low-power FM
- W228BYMiami (Revolution 93.5)
- WUOH-LPOrlando, Florida(U100.7)
- W244ASOakhurst, New Jersey
- K244FEMinneapolis, Minnesota (Pride Radio Minneapolis)
- K248CUAustin, Texas (Pride Radio Austin)
- K256ASHonolulu, Hawaii(Evolution 99.1)
- W228BVFort Lauderdale, Florida(Revolution 93.5)
Low-power TV audio (also heard on FM)
- Pulse 87New York (Broadcast onchannel 6 WNYZ-LP;audio on 87.75 MHz)
- Party 87New York (Broadcast onchannel 6 WNYZ-LP;audio on 87.75 MHz)
Music charts
[edit]- Frisk Radio Hot 30! Realtime dance music chart from the UK
- UK Dance Chart broadcast Sundays at 23:00 UK time
- Number-one dance hits
- Billboard'sHot Dance Airplaychart
- All Access Dance Chart,powered byMediabase
- BDS Monitored radio panel
Dance Music Internet Radio Directories
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"All Access Debuts Dance Music Format Section"from All Access (January 24, 2014)
- ^WolfBytes Radio Moves from Internet to 88.1 (May 3rd, 2019),retrieved2024-03-03
- ^"Does EDM Work on Radio? Behind a Boston Station's Pivot from Dance to Country".Billboard.com.Retrieved8 August2014.
- ^"Clear Channel converts 101.7 to country music format".Boston Globe.Retrieved19 June2014.
- ^Chesto, John (June 13, 2014)."Clear Channel brings a new country music station to Boston".Boston Business Journal.RetrievedJune 14,2014.
- ^"Eastern NC's Surge Expanding to New Bern".15 February 2016.