Radio Host Sam Alex Launches New Syndicated Show

Sam Alex

For the past five years, country-music radio personality Sam Alex anchored Townsquare Media’s flagship evening program, Taste of Country Nights, heard on more than 100 stations across the United States.

Two months ago, Alex left Townsquare to pursue what he calls “radio entrepreneurship” — producing and syndicating a similar show on his own, all while “owning the rights and calling the shots.”

Alex’s newly-revamped program, The Sam Alex Show, launched on stations across the country Monday. Affiliate licensing and sales will be handled by The Sun Broadcast Group.

“I’m so excited about this new chapter,” Alex told Brittany Hodak at Forbes. “The world of radio has changed so much in the past decade, with continued consolidations, new technology and increased competition to discover new music. This change positions me to have full creative control and reach listeners in new ways.”

Country radio is big business: according to CMA, more than half of U.S. adults tune in at least once a week — that’s 9% more than five years ago. Millennials make up 57% of the 76 million weekly listenership of country radio, making 34-year-old Alex a great messenger for the format. Frequent guests he’s hosted in his studio over the years include Keith Urban, Luke Bryan and Dolly Parton, and the interviews will continue on the new show: “We’ve got a brand new studio located on Music Row so artists can pop in frequently,” he says.

While many of the elements of Alex’s award-winning, five-hour Townsquare show will remain, he’s excited to introduce new segments, including a partnership with popular country-music site SoundsLikeNashville.com. Alex will highlight popular stories from the site nightly, and his interview content will be available for streaming on the website. “We’re looking forward to working with Sam to share stories to all fans of country music,” Sounds Like Nashville editor-in-chief Josh Ickes says.