CMDish is reporting that to the dismay of some listeners, The River 102.3 (KPEZ-FM), an Austin TX based Christian AC radio station, recently introduced mainstream titles into their lineup.
Yes.com, which tracks radio station airplay in many markets across the country, revealed that one particular hour of programming on The River was only about 40% Christian.
In an interview with CMDish.com, The River Program Director, Gary Walsh said that the decision to add mainstream music to the station’s playlist was a mutual and local decision and that Clear Channel didn’t shove the idea down their throat.
Over the years, Christian radio stations have begun playing crossover mainstream acts like The Fray and Lifehouse, but to play secular acts like Kelly Clarkson and Gwen Stefani is very rare with large market Christian stations.
According to Walsh, The River has amazingly already captured nearly 80% of the Christian audience in the Austin market. However, their mission is to reach all families in Austin, not just those who consider themselves to be Christians.
