104.9 KISS-FM

2022 - 6 - 29

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Mystery as Canadian radio station plays Rage Against the Machine ... (The Guardian)

Was it a protest by staff or marketing for a change of programming? Listeners to Kiss Radio 104.9 FM had plenty of time to wonder.

Instead, he asked to be called Apollo after the character in the Rocky films. “I don’t know. Although this comes with mixed emotions, we want to express one overwhelming feeling: gratitude,” wrote ex-hosts Kevin Lim and Sonia Sidhu. I should, probably. KiSS is changing and unfortunately we were informed that we won’t be part of this new chapter. Do you like it?”

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Image courtesy of "Vancouver Is Awesome"

Vancouver radio station turns to all Rage Against the Machine format (Vancouver Is Awesome)

KiSS Radio104.9 FM (or, at least, the station formerly known as) has been playing the 1992 rap-rock song on repeat since the early morning hours of June 29 as ...

In recent radio ratings KiSS finished 12th of 19 with a 4.0 market share. Currently, Rogers owns one other music radio station in Vancouver; 96.9 Jack FM. They also own the CityTV station and 1130 AM. Of the similar stations (pop and adult contemporary) they finished third of four, just ahead of Z 95.3, who've seen their market share slide in recent months. Often when radio stations switch formats they do something called "stunting." Essentially a form of publicity stunt, they'll take to broadcasting uncharacteristic to grab people's attention and create buzz. KiSS 104.9 has been a pop station for the past decade; it rebranded in 2015 after spending years as CFUN and Fun FM, which was a classic hits station for a period. KiSS Radio104.9 FM (or, at least, the station formerly known as) has been playing the 1992 rap-rock song on repeat since the early morning hours of June 29 as part of what appears to be a format change for the radio station.

Vancouver's KiSS FM has been playing Rage Against the Machine ... (Vancouver Sun)

The one-song playlist comes a day after hosts Kevin Lim, Sonia Sidhu and Tara Jean Stevens announced their departures from the radio station.

Afternoon host Tara Jean Stevens also said she will be moving on to a new opportunity soon. Article content Article content

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Image courtesy of "Rolling Stone"

After DJ Layoffs, a Radio Station Has Been Playing Rage Against ... (Rolling Stone)

The track was originally written by the band as a protest song against police brutality. “Now you do what they told ya,” de La Rocha scream-sings in the pre- ...

“Whoever is on the controls this morning has been playing Killing In The Name Of on repeat since 6am (it’s now 9:30). @KevinLimOnAir @Sonia_Sidhu It’s beautiful.” “Now you do what they told ya,” de La Rocha scream-sings in the pre-chorus. The memorable grunts come before the singer’s scathing outro of “Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me,” which of course was left off the radio replays.

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Image courtesy of "Loudwire"

Pop Radio Station Is Currently Playing Rage Against the Machine ... (Loudwire)

Rage Against the Machine's "Killing in the Name" has been playing non-stop on the Canadian radio station KiSS FM 104.9 in Vancouver since two of its DJs ...

March 5, 2023 – Oakland, Calif. @ Oakland Arena March 3, 2023 – Oakland, Calif. @ Oakland Arena Aug. 14 – New York, N.Y. @ MSG Aug. 12 – New York, N.Y. @ MSG Aug. 11 – New York, N.Y. @ MSG Aug. 9 – New York, N.Y. @ MSG Aug. 8 – New York, N.Y. @ MSG July 16 – Quebec City, Quebec @ FEQ Wade in 1973, nearly two decades before the Zack de la Rocha-led rockers formed in Los Angeles in 1991. Rage guitarist Tom Morello acknowledged the protest on Twitter this week. They continued, "Although this comes with mixed emotions, we want to express one overwhelming feeling — gratitude. (Read the broadcasters' full post down toward the bottom of this page.)

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Image courtesy of "Daily Hive"

Mystery revealed: Why Rage Against The Machine played on radio ... (Daily Hive)

Hi! We're SONiC. The New Alternative. : 107.5 Chilliwack l 92.5 Abbotsford l 104.9 Vancouver. Smart Speaker: "Play SONiC RADIO".

The stunt has been reported on at media outlets around the globe — including in Rolling Stone and The Guardian. It means the world. Thank you for your outpouring of support over the past day. And on Wednesday, the station had been playing “Killing in the Name” on repeat. In a release, Rogers Sports & Media announced the launch of SONiC RADiO in Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. Days after layoffs and playing a Rage Against The Machine song on repeat, a new alternative music station has launched in Vancouver.

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Image courtesy of "Esquire.com"

A Canadian Radio Station Said "Fuck That," and Played "Killing in ... (Esquire.com)

In response to the firing of two beloved DJs, a Vancouver radio station protested by playing the 1992 Rage Against the Machine song on loop.

As you can expect of radio play, the outro chant "Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me/Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me" was left out. Rolling Stone reported that while the song played on loop, there were instances of two on-air DJs stopping to mimic the grunting of the Rage Against the Machine front man. I mean, the name itself is a clear indication of their goal to awaken the masses. The song was being played on loop to protest the radio station's decision to layoff two beloved staff members. But, "Killing in the Name" is a particularly good song to pick for protest. Did an intern spill coffee on the equipment?

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