Black History Month Radio: The Music That Changed Everything
Published
You can listen to Black History Month radio online in any browser, with no download and no account: open 72FM, search for a station's name, and press play. Much of the world's popular music was created by Black artists — gospel, blues, jazz, soul, funk, hip-hop, house — and every one of those styles has stations playing it now.
Jazz, blues and soul
- Classic Vinyl HD — jazz standards and vocal classics from New York, at 320kbps.
- Jazz Radio Blues and Jazz Radio Soul — the French network's blues and soul channels.
- 181.FM True Blues — blues from Virginia.
- FUNKY RADIO — 60s and 70s funk from New York, at 320kbps.
- London Soul Radio — soul and gospel from London.
Gospel
- Gospel FM Jamaica — gospel from Jamaica.
- Nigerian Gospel Music Radio — gospel from Lagos.
A little history
Black History Month grew from Carter G. Woodson's Negro History Week of 1926; the United States has recognised February as Black History Month since 1976, and the UK has marked it in October since 1987. Radio is part of the story: WDIA in Memphis became the first station programmed entirely for Black listeners in 1948, and WERD in Atlanta the first Black-owned station in 1949. Soul radio, jazz radio, blues radio, gospel radio and Motown radio go further.
A route in
- Classic Vinyl HD, for jazz.
- Jazz Radio Blues, for the blues.
- FUNKY RADIO, for funk.
For the city where WDIA began, Memphis radio online is next.
Stations with a page on 72FM
Live Soul stations from the open directory, most-voted first.
Frequently asked questions
When is Black History Month?
February in the United States and Canada, October in the UK and Ireland.
What radio should I listen to for Black History Month?
Stations for the music Black artists created — jazz, blues, gospel, soul, funk and hip-hop — such as Classic Vinyl HD, Jazz Radio Blues and FUNKY RADIO.
What was the first Black-owned radio station?
WERD in Atlanta, from 1949.