New York and Boston each got a piece of music history this July. Jay-Z played three sold-out nights at Yankee Stadium on July 10, 11, and 12 in the Bronx. Noah Kahan was the first artist to ever play four sold-out nights at Fenway Park; July 7, 8, 10, and 11 in Boston. The runs didn’t just land in the same month, they actually overlapped. As Kahan closed out his Fenway residency, Jay-Z opened his at Yankee Stadium a few hundred miles south.
Four stations spent that stretch building coverage around their hometown headliner: Power 105.1 and 94.7 The Block in New York and Mix 104.1 and Kiss 108 in Boston. As Barrett Media’s radio promotions and events nerd – *salutes* – I kept an eye on what all four stations were doing to take advantage of the collective effervescence that captivated their listeners. Below is the highlight reel.
Power 105.1 Turns the Weekend Into a Broadcast
iHeartMedia’s Power 105.1 had one advantage no promotional plan could buy: a real relationship. Angie Martinez’s decades-long friendship with Jay-Z gave the iHeartMedia station genuine backstage access throughout the run.
The station built on that legacy with heavy on-air and digital activity. They ran Jay-Z mixes throughout the weekend and created interactive content for listeners.
iHeartMedia EVP of Programming, Thea Mitchem, said the station set out to own the full weekend, not just the concerts themselves. “We wanted to make sure POWER showed up in a big way for this moment,” Mitchem said. “Throughout the weekend, we activated on-air and online, giving listeners last-minute chances to win tickets to Yankee Stadium while making sure that, before and after the concerts on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, POWER was the soundtrack to Jay-Z weekend.”
She tied the effort to the moment’s significance. “It was an incredible summer weekend in New York, and we wanted the station to reflect the energy and celebration surrounding 30 years of one of the city’s greatest sons. From our music programming to our digital presence, we made sure POWER provided the soundtrack for the celebration.”
94.7 The Block Builds a Show-by-Show Plan
Audacy’s 94.7 The Block took a structured approach, building separate programming for each night of the run. Brand Manager Andre Yancey walked through the plan night by night.
“Night 1: We did an all out Jay Z takeover 6:30-8:30PM – focusing on parts of his catalog and features (for the drive in),” Yancey said. Night two dug into Jay-Z’s label history. “6PM – Premium Blends w/ Dre Boogs and Kayla G – Dedicated Roc a Fella takeover,” he said, followed by a midnight set from DJ Jon Quick “with Jay and Friends” for fans driving home from the stadium.
Night three didn’t go exactly as planned. The team had a wrap-up show ready but pulled it once a rain delay pushed the concert’s start time, resulting in it ending just before 3AM. They didn’t drop the idea entirely, though. Just a few hours later, The Radio Big Mack Show recapped the whole weekend with listeners during their Monday morning show.
Mix 104.1 Turns a Viral Story Into a Statement
In Boston, Audacy’s Mix 104.1 built its Fenway coverage around a moment of its own making. A few weeks before Kahan’s run, an attendee reportedly defecated in the seating area during his Philadelphia show at Citizens Bank Park on June 26. Mix 104.1 wasn’t going to let that story pass quietly.
The Audacy station flew an aerial banner over Fenway Park that read “Mix 104.1 Reminds You Don’t Poop In The Park.” It was blunt, it was funny, and fans noticed.
The station backed the stunt with consistency across all four nights. Mix 104.1 broadcast live from the rooftop of the nearby MGM Music Hall, giving fans a pregame gathering spot and giving the station a steady on-the-ground presence outside the ballpark.
They even had a fan propose marriage at their broadcast.
Kiss 108 Leans on Personality and Fan Interaction
iHeartMedia’s Kiss 108 built its Fenway coverage around people. Kiss 108’s SVP of Programming, Dylan Sprague, said the team was fully committed to the run from the start. “We were definitely all in on Noah. Huge artist for Boston,” Dylan said. The station broadcasted live from Fenway’s “Game On” bar on all four nights. “Live shows in PMD with Mikey, Gianna” he said. One night mattered more than the rest for building buzz. “Our staff went Tuesday during [the] rain show so they could talk about it all week.” Dylan said.
Two fan-facing moments stood out above the rest. “‘Merch Angel’ – paying for random fans in merch line and ticket upgrades were two of our biggest moments,” Dylan said.
The numbers backed up the effort. “On IG alone Kiss 108 reached 14mm views and 740,000 interactions over the last 30 days,” Sprague said.
Mikey V & Gianna gave away the coveted Noah Kahan “Front Porch” pit passes and facetimed the winner to let her know she won. I’ve seen them do this before and think it’s awesome content.
McCabe delivered man-on-the-street content for the station, catching real fan energy outside the ballpark. Kudos to McCabe for leaning into the “bugs” theme that many fans were dressed in at the show.
Both Mix 104.1 and Kiss 108 brought oversized “phat head” cutouts of Kahan for fans to pose with, and both got heavy use across the four shows. Kiss 108 added one more prop that stood out: a sign reading “Mean Because I Grew Up in New England” that fans could hold for photos. It tapped into New England’s self-aware sense of humor.
Four Stations, Four Different Playbooks
Each station found its own way into the moment. Power 105.1 leaned on history and relationships. 94.7 The Block built a plan for every night and adjusted when the weather didn’t cooperate. In Boston, Mix 104.1 turned a headline into a stunt, and Kiss 108 turned a regional stereotype into a photo opp.
Two cities, two overlapping weekends, seven sold-out shows. Four stations made sure their city didn’t miss a beat.
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Bethany Kent is a Music Radio Editor for Barrett Media. She spent nearly 20 years bringing radio to life on stages, across the airwaves, and through unforgettable listener experiences. Her career spans local markets including Providence, Philadelphia, and New York City, most recently serving as National Director of Music Initiatives for Audacy. From producing major live events like HOT 97’s Summer Jam to leading strategic national marketing initiatives, she has built a career at the intersection of music, media, and culture. She can be reached at bethany@barrettmedia.com.