Radio station's ratings skyrocket after branding itself as Trump Country

A Florida radio station has found success after rebranding as “Trump Country” 93.7 FM and embracing MAGA with President Donald Trump as the face and voice of the operation. WHEL radio, a country station located in Fort Myers, Florida, uses the slogan “Make Country Great Again,” features signage that mirrors a Trump campaign ad, airs comedic promotions read by a Trump impersonator and even uses an AI-generated cowboy hat-clad Trump in its logo. “We made the rebrand decision shortly after President Donald Trump’s election landslide and witnessed all of the support in our area for Trump in boat parades and rallies.So, we made the decision that we would also celebrate Trump’s win by rebranding on inauguration day,” WHEL president and general manager Jim Schwartzel told Fox News Digital. Schwartzel said “feedback has been tremendous” and the station’s audience has grown significantly since the rebrand. “The people who have found the station celebrate and listen for long periods of time,” Schwartzel said, noting that WHEL has the most TSL — time spent listening — of any country radio station in the area at an average of five hours and 45 minutes per week.WHEL has tripled its ratings among the advertiser-coveted demographic of adults 25-54 since March, according to Nielsen Radio Data provided by Schwartzel that was first reported by CBS News.

CBS also noted that Trump won 64% of the 2024 presidential vote in Lee County, where “Trump Country” 93.7 FM is located. “We love keeping it local and serving Southwest Florida’s unique audience, reflecting their values, music and culture,” Schwartzel told Fox News Digital. One recent satirical on-air promo featured a Trump impersonator offering a trip to Mexico on a “big, beautiful cruise ship” that was billed as a special deportation allowing contest winners to return home to Florida. “You want to be deported? You’ve got to listen.That’s how it works, legal listening ...