98 Jamz brings classic hip-hop and R&B back to Bowling Green airwaves
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WNKY) — Classic hip-hop and R&B have returned to Bowling Green airwaves with the launch of 98 Jamz.
Seven Mountains Media debuted the new format Monday. The station airs on 98.3 FM and 102.7 FM in Bowling Green and 98.1 FM in Glasgow.
Its playlist spans roughly three decades, with music from the 1990s through 2020. Midday host Shawn “Big Hamp” Hampton said the format blends familiar hits with songs listeners may not have heard in years.
“You got different aspects of it,” Hampton said. “Some of it’s a little poppy. You still got Rihanna in there, but then you go back, you get Mary J. Blige, you got TLC, you got Destiny’s Child. You got so many different groups and different artists out there that some have never heard, and some, like myself, haven’t heard in a long time.”
Hampton said the mix is broad enough to reach listeners of different ages. For some, the songs will bring back memories. Others may be hearing the artists for the first time.
A Bowling Green native, Hampton said joining the station’s launch carries added meaning. He believes the area’s Black community has lacked a consistent local radio voice.
His show, “Midday Vibes with Big Hamp,” will mix music with humor, stories and community information. A recurring segment called “Behind the Jam” will explore the stories and memories connected to certain songs.
Hampton also plans to promote local events and encouraged community organizations to send announcements to the station.
The weekday lineup includes “DeDe in the Morning,” Hampton during middays, the Baka Boys in the afternoon and R-Dub’s “Weekday Slow Jamz” at night.
The station’s 102.7 FM signal will also broadcast local high school football and basketball games, with Hampton serving as a color commentator.
The launch replaces Seven Mountains Media’s former rock station, The Point. The company will retain The Point’s “Two Minute Promise,” which limits commercial breaks to two minutes or less.
Hampton said the early response has been overwhelmingly positive, with listeners taking to social media to celebrate the format’s return.
