Honolulu Radio: iHM Launches Asian Pop Format On KUCD

iHeartMedia Honolulu has announced the launch of America’s very first 100,000-watt Asian Pop radio station, KUCD PoP! 101.9, The Best PoP on the Planet, effective immediately.

Asian Pop music has become a worldwide phenomenon with its multicultural, positive, upbeat, fashionable dance music with influences from a variety of music genres. Asian Pop music features socially conscious lyrics that are attuned to the lives of young people today. iHeartMedia started developing this new and exciting music format in 2019 on KUCD-HD2 with its unique mix of songs from superstar artists like BTS, Blackpink, TWICE, NewJeans and Fifty Fifty.

PoP! 101.9 becomes the first 100,000-watt FM radio station in the United States to play 100% Asian Pop. This new station launch coincides with Asian/Pacific Islander Month throughout May. Meanwhile, the Alternative format heard on KUCD-FM as Star 101.9 since 1997 will swap frequencies and move to KUCD-HD2/K256AS, rebranding as Star 99.1, Hawaii’s Alternative Rock. Both stations will be heard worldwide on the iHeartRadio app.

“Asian Pop is exploding in popularity across the globe and becoming mainstream and mass appeal music here in Honolulu,” said Jamie Hyatt, iHeartMedia Honolulu Senior Vice President of Programming. “We are witnessing the passion listeners have for the format firsthand. It’s the next big music movement and we’re proud to be a part of it.”

“The Asian Pop format delivers a dream demographic for advertisers too, those who make the most purchasing decisions for households,” said Scott Hogle, iHeartMedia Honolulu Market President. “We are excited to add PoP! 101.9 to our legendary line up of stations that include 92.3 KSSK, Island 98.5, 93.9 The Beat, News Radio 830 KHVH, Fox Sports 990 and Star 99.1.”