Whether you’re an Apple Music or Spotify user, music lovers everywhere eagerly anticipate their annual dose of personal listening statistics every early December. At KCPR, we have a tradition of celebrating the broadcasting journey throughout the year: the 2024 Station Wrapped.
Reflecting on the music spun through our airwaves in 2024, KCPR’s DJ schedule was a whirlwind of creativity, featuring a massive lineup of 50 new and returning disk jockeys from the crack of dawn at 6:00 a.m. to intimately wrapping up the night at 11:00 p.m.
This year was marked by an eclectic mix of fresh faces and beloved veterans, ensuring that each daypart offered listeners a unique auditory experience. Here’s a glimpse into our most celebrated artists and songs from the year.
Top Songs of the Year
- “Everything’s Beautiful” BY HIATUS KAIYOTE
- “I DON’T KNOW YOU” BY MANNEQUIN PUSSY
- “HOME SICK BY MIKE ROWAVE
- “EMBARRASSED DOG” BY CHANEL BEADS
- “ONE LAST DANCE” BY BABY ROSE, BADBADNOTGOOD
Top Artists of the Year
- CHANEL BEADS
- MANNEQUIN PUSSY
- hIATUS kAIYOTE
- LEWIS OFMAN
- BABY ROSE & BADBADNOTGOOD
“I really love how unique everyone’s music taste is,” Maria Longolis, KCPR assistant marketing director, said. “Everyone has a little bit of a niche, and so we get a bit of different types of music spinning in that way.”
Longolis is not only part of KCPR’s marketing team but has also embraced her role as a DJ for three years. This year, she was especially impressed by Chanel Beads, diving into the artist’s background to enrich her on-air shows.
“I like to read articles and say something about [the artists] before I play them,” Longolis said.
“[Chanel Beads] was just fresh and different with their album [Your Day Will Come.]”
In a Pitchfork article, Chanel Beads was described as “both Lil Peep and Massive Attack; Prefab Sprout and Yung Lean,” showcasing the striking range their music embodies.
Known on-air as Hipster Cat, Longolis spins a vibrant selection of lively music, transitioning between genres every 15 minutes. Her mixes encompass everything from electrifying beats to classic indie tracks.
She has also observed some notable genre trends throughout the station this year.
“I’ve been noticing a lot of R&B and soul manifesting into this new thing which has always been occurring throughout history,” she said.
“So many things stem from R&B, soul, hip-hop, all music leads back to that. So I think it’s cool that those genres are still existing but always evolving, and I’ve kind of noticed that with Hiatus Kaiyote.”
With evolving sounds, another significant trend this year has been the rise of electro-pop, which has made its mark on our airwaves. By examining the spins from the 2024 fall quarter, we see that many of our top artists have crafted tracks that embrace electronic elements. Take a look at our Fall 2024 Top Spins.
Top Songs of the Fall
- “AFTER THE FIRST KISS BY FAYE WEBSTER
- “WHIPLASH” BY BÔA
- “ANYONE IN LOVE BY JALEN NGONDA
- “IMAGE” BY MAGDALENA BAY
- “BILLBOARD HEART” BY DEEP SEA DRIVER
Top Artists of the Fall
- MAGDALENA BAY
- MJ LENDERMAN
- FAKE FRUIT
- BRIJEAN
- FCUKERS
“I think the biggest thing I’ve seen with our top 5 is that they are pretty versatile, you can kind of play them whenever,” sophomore business administration major Dillan Yee, also known as Obsidian Princess said.
“The versatility of the songs plays into why they were so popular.”
As one of our newest DJs, joining the lineup in Spring 2024, Yee brings an avant-garde approach to her weekly on-air shows by bouncing between genres without rhyme or reason.
Yee characterizes her shows as a “whiplash of emotions,” but if you ever tune in and catch her on a good day, you’ll find a consistent mix of punk-rock, or switching it up with soul and Motown.
Some of Yee’s standout favorites include Deep Sea Driver, Magdalena Bay and MJ Lenderman, all of which have found a way to make a recurring appearance in her shows.
This fall quarter was filled with excitement across our tracks. Magdalena Bay lead the way with their alternative pop album, “Imaginal Disk,” featuring groovy and bright synth-pop sounds. Meanwhile, MJ Lenderman’s “Manning Fireworks” brought a smoother vibe, blending alt-country and indie rock.
As we approach 2025, our DJs are eager to hear what the new year has in store and to bring fresh sounds to our audience. Happy listening!
