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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, March 26, 2006

New radio station hits Honolulu airwaves

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Honolulu has a new radio station: Energy 101, a low-power FM station at 101.1 FM with a signal that reaches metro Honolulu, east to Ala Moana and west to Pearlridge.

However, it's possible to receive its signal on the Windward side, from Waimanalo to Kahalu'u, depending on your radio. Listeners have been able to catch the station from the Likelike and Pali highways on car radios.

The station plays dance music. Its formal call letters are KXRG-LP.

For now, the FCC limits its broadcasts from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily.

"We have a dance hits format. We play the current most popular dance hits based on airplay and club play, as well as many of the biggest dance hits from the past," said Jay Dietz, president of 'Ohana Broadcasters, a nonprofit organization that operates the station.

The station is one of only nine stations in the nation programming all-dance music. It is also O'ahu's first low-power station, a new class of licensed broadcast stations governed by the FCC since 2000.

The station's playlist includes tracks from established and new acts, including Mary J. Blige's "Be Without You," Madonna's "Sorry," the Eurythmics' "I've Got a Life," Shakira's "Don't Bother," Ashlee Simpson's "Boyfriend," Mynt's "Still Not Sorry," Gorillaz's "Dare," INXS' "Pretty Vegas" and Mariah Carey's "Don't Forget About Us."

Listeners can buy or download all the music on the air via iTunes or a partnership with CD Universe and Amazon.com.

Dietz said the commercial-free niche station is aimed at teens and young adults, ages 14 to 35.

"Our signal comes in loud and clear, all over the most congested parts of the city," Dietz said.

For more information, visit www.myhienergy.com.

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.