Today Hubbard Radio Seattle launched the newest Triple A station in America, 98.9 KPNW, “Seattle’s Home For Music Lovers.” Hubbard choseKPNW as the call letters as an homage to how locals refer to the Pacific Northwest as “the PNW.” 98.9 KPNW is the first major market Triple A commercial station launch in 15 years and comes as several non-commercial Triple A stations have achieved historically high ratings in the past few years.

Hubbard is one of the largest privately owned radio groups in the country with the unique ability to make bold programming decisions at local levels. Paragon worked closely with Seattle Content Director and Operations Manager Scott Mahalick over the last few months to build the new station from the ground up before today’s launch.

Team Paragon has been “all hands-on deck” in every area of building the new 98.9 KPNW with Mahalick, Seattle Marketing Director Tracie Kalkbrenner, Seattle VP/Market Manager Trip Reeb, and Hubbard Executive VP/Programming Greg Strassell. Paragon’s Jordan Lee and John Stevens have been vital to building the music format with me while Michelle Conrad has helped develop their digital marketing strategy. Zach Gilltrap’s imaging production uses local voices to create a uniquely Seattle sound. Team Paragon and Hubbard kept a good secret for weeks until the curtain was pulled up today at 9 am local time.

KPNW is a hyper-local Triple A format with a mix of new and old, familiar and unfamiliar, a wide variety of music styles, and lots of local music. Seattle is blessed with a tremendous local music scene, from more independent local artists such as Fleet Foxes, Band of Horses, Car Seat Headrest, and Perfume Genius, to the iconic including Pearl Jam, Death Cab for Cutie, Nirvana, Modest Mouse, and Foo Fighters.

Here is the first hour of music:

  • David Bowie “Changes”
  • LCD Soundsytem “new body rumba”
  • Band Of Horses “Laredo”
  • Portugal.The Man “Feel It Still”
  • Elvis Costello “Radio Radio”
  • Black Keys “Wild Child”
  • Rolling Stones “Gimme Shelter”
  • Beach Weather “Sex, Drugs, Etc.”
  • Soundgarden “Black Hole Sun”
  • Creedence Clearwater Revival “Fortunate Son”
  • Inhaler “These Are Days”
  • R.E.M. “Losing My Religion”
  • Paramore “This Is Why”
  • Bob Marley “You Could Be Loved”
  • U.S. Girls “4 American Dollars”

Congratulations to Hubbard Radio Seattle for a successful launch and daring to be bold. Seattle’s music lovers just received a wonderful Valentine’s Day present.

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Related Press:

InsideRadio: Hubbard Brings Adult Alternative Back to Seattle With Launch of KPNW

All Access: KNUC (98.9 The Bull)/Seattle Flips From Country To Triple A

RAMP: Hubbard Flips Seattle’s Bull To Triple A

radioInsight: Hubbard Launches AAA 98.9 KPNW Seattle

Radio Online: Hubbard Radio/Seattle Launches New AAA Outlet KPNW

Radio Ink: Hubbard Flips A Seattle Station

InsideRadio: The Inside Story On The First Commercial Adult Alternative Launch In 15 Years.

The Top 22: First Major Market Commercial Triple A Radio Sign-on Since 2007 Debuts In Seattle