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.
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.