By: Lathan Gil
Every summer at 107.7 The Bronc, we create a playlist to keep listeners engaged with content until the beginning of the new academic year. These promotions are thought up by the program directors at the radio station.
Our summer programming started 10 years ago with “107 Days of Summer” which played the greatest hits of summers past and present. As the year’s changed, so did our approach with more music-themed summers like Caribbean Summer, Psychedelic Summer and Summer House Party on The Bronc; and Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame Summer, Surf Rock Summer and Ska Summer on 107.7 The Bronc Retro.
This summer we’re going a little bit country and a little bit rock-n-roll with Summer Rodeo and Garage Grunge summer. All of our summer music promotions happen from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day weekend. This year from May 23 to September 1.
Why Summer Rodeo & Garage Grunge?
Program Director, Cassie Vaz ‘26 handpicked these genres. “I chose country music, because it is my favorite genre! There are also a lot of new, up and coming artists who are so talented that The Bronc could help feature”
One of the new Music Directors, Bella Soto ‘27 sees the abundance of new country music as a big motivator to broadcast a genre like Summer Rodeo, “We knew that there were going to be a lot of country albums coming out this spring and summer, so we wanted to showcase all of the new country music coming out!”
You can define grunge as “a style of rock music that has a lot of guitar and lazy vocal delivery”, but the programming team has a different view for why they chose to showcase grunge this summer in WRRC2. For Cassie it was aas simple as this, “With Grunge, we are leaning towards that 80s and 90s feel. We have the library already, so we will definitely be able to feature it more extensively on the Retro station.”
A Recent Rise In Country Music
It would seem that after the release of Cowboy Carter by Beyoncé, a lot of new and current artists have been tackling country music. However, Cassie believes the rise of country started long before Beyoncé’s trendsetting album, “I don’t believe that album was country, I believe it was Beyoncés version of the genre- which is okay. But I believe country with the current artists that are out has been a mixture of country with pop, and that has been resonating more with audiences and that’s what’s getting more audiences of pop to pay attention to country.”
What Is Popular Right Now?
When asked what songs and country artists will be played as part of 107.7 The Bronc’s Summer Rodeo , Bella Soto had a laundry list of some old and newer music, “Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton, Keith Urban, Luke Combs, Meghan Maroney, Morgan Wallen.”
“We have over 200 songs, and that doesn’t even include big hits from people like Dolly Parton”, Vaz added.
Changing the station The Bronc Retro and the Grunge genre, we have a lot of classic hits from the 90s, which include Aneurysm by Nirvana, Man In The Box from Alice In Chains and Smashing Pumpkins Today.“ Nirvana is easily one of the most, if not the most, popular grunge back of all-time. According to Soto, “Their work is timeless and will never get old.” The impact of Grunge bands and artists on the music world is transcendant.
Why On THESE Stations?
The selection of country and grunge on WRRC-FM and WRRC2 was inevitable. “There have been a lot of modern country artists that have really been popping off.” added Soto. With artists like Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter dipping their toes into the country genre, it is spreading across America like wildfire, so having these artists showcased on the #9 College Radio Station in the nation, was going to happen at some point.
Grunge had a very big impact on the music industry from the 1980s to the 2000s, and for fans of the Retro station, you’re going to feel the same vibe you originally felt when these songs first came out.
The Takeaway
Whether you are a fan of the classic hits or prefer the biggest hits and best variety 107.7 The Bronc and 107.7 The Bronc Retro has everything to satisfy your diverse musical tastes! Get ready for the Summer Rodeo and Garage Grunge Summer all summer long from May 23 to September 1 exclusively on WRRC-FM and WRRC2.