Latino Hip Hop Show on KALA

Feb. 24, 2005
By Alvaro Macias
Staff Writer

KALA radio has always provided just about every musical genre out there.  Hip-hop, college rock, and Spanish programming are just some of the genres that distinguish it from other stations.  Before commercial radio stations drill certain music into people’s heads, those artists were getting their music played on college stations like KALA.  Now there are a large number of artists bringing new musical genres to the masses. 

The latest genres to hit the station are Latin hip-hop and reggaeton.  The Urban Latino Hip-Hop Show has been on the air for over a year now and seems to be something a step ahead of commercial stations.

“When we developed the show I didn’t realize how many people throughout the country were involved in this genre of music,” said show creator Terrence Romero.  “From the West Coast, to the East Coast, to down south, this is how hip-hop got started.”

Reggaeton is a blend of hip-hop, dancehall, and Carribean beats that is now being heard on commercial stations here in the Quad Cities.  With the success of N.O.R.E.’s collaboration with Nina Sky, Daddy Yankee, Gem Star, and Big Mato on the track: “Oye Mi Canto,” many realized this was a huge step towards making the genre mainstream in America.

“Reggaeton is coming from Puerto Rico, which started in Panama, and is now here in the United States,” said Romero.  “Some of it is influenced from Mexico and then it spreads through the Midwest and all over the country.”       

Urban regional is a mixture of hip-hop and Mexican sounds like the accordion and tuba, which are used in many Norteño songs.  Akwid is the most successful duo coming from this genre, selling over 200,000 units of their latest album titled “KOMP 104.9 Radio Compa” in one month.  Their previous album, “Proyecto Akwid,” went on to sell 400,000 units.

On November 15, 2004 Clear Channel Radio sent out a press release explaining their plans to flip stations throughout the country to their new Hurban/CHR format.  The bilingual format includes Spanish hip-hop, reggaeton, and pop/dance music that target the 18-34 demographic.

“Spanish language formats have so far targeted first-generation Spanish speakers,” said Alfredo Alonso, the senior vice president of Hispanic radio for Clear Channel.  “Latino youth now have a format to call their own.”     

Houston’s KLOL 101 was the first to flip to the new format.  The plans are to convert some 20 to 25 stations in the next 12 to 18 months alone.  The Quad Cities will most likely not be part of the switch, but in the meantime people can still get their dose of Latin Hip-Hop on KALA. 

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