The 9 Best Nashville Radio Stations

101.1 FM The Beat is the best hip-hop radio station in Nashville, but country music lovers can tune into the Grand Ole Opry at 650 AM.
Written by Amber Reed
Edited by R.E. Fulton
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Whether you want all sports on 104.5 The Zone or a little bit of everything on 96.3 Jack FM, here are the nine top radio stations to listen to while you’re in
Nashville
  • For hip-hop fans, 101.1 FM The Beat is the best radio station in Nashville.
  • Nashville’s local NPR station is WPLN, at 90.3 on the FM dial.
  • The Big 98 at 97.9 FM plays Nashville’s latest and freshest country hits.

The best news and talk radio stations in Nashville

If you’re looking for the latest on news, sports, or the weather in Middle Tennessee, here’s where to start:

90.3 WPLN: Nashville Public Radio

Call sign: WPLN
Frequency: 90.3 FM
Found on 90.3 on the FM dial,
WPLN
is the spot for local Nashville news and weather, as well as your favorite National Public Radio programming. The format is entirely news, talk, and weather programming. Classical music was phased out in 2011, but can still be found on its sister station 91 Classical.

97.5 BIN: Nashville’s Black Information Network

Frequency: 97.5 FM
Nashville’s
97.5 BIN
was launched in 2020 as part of the larger nationwide Black Information Network. It provides a trusted, accurate, and objective source of news and information with a Black voice and perspective. 

104.5: The Zone

Call sign: WGFX
Frequency: 104.5 FM
If you can’t get enough sports, then
104.5 The Zone
is the station you want. From local and state teams to national coverage, this station is all things athletics. Pass the ball, brah!
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The best music radio stations in Nashville

Nashville’s nickname is Music City, U.S.A.—and when you’re not enjoying the live performances the city is renowned for, there is no shortage of radio stations to listen to from the car. 

Mix 92.9: Adult contemporary

Call sign: WJXA
Frequency: 92.9 FM
Mix 92.9
offers a blend of adult contemporary music like Pink and Bruno Mars, as well as some oldies from the 80s like The Bangles. Equally appropriate at work or when you’re chilling in the dentist’s chair, this is Nashville’s most-listened-to station. 

101.1 The Beat: American urban contemporary 

Call sign: WUBT
Frequency: 101.1 FM
The Beat
is “Nashville’s home for hip hop and R&B” and the place to find artists like Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Cardi B. For the latest songs of the genre, hip hop and R&B news, as well as things like
The Dolewite Podcast
and
The Steve Harvey Morning Show
, this is the station to listen to.

107.5 The River: Top 40 hits

Call sign: WRVW
Frequency: 107.5 FM 
107.5 The River
is the place to find Top 40 hits to your heart’s content. Here you’ll find
Woody and Jim
in the morning, and all the latest chart-toppers the rest of the day. Its studios are located in the famous Music Row section of downtown Nashville.

96.3 Jack FM: Eclectic adult contemporary

Call sign: WCJK
Frequency: 96.3 FM 
If you like your traveling music to be a bit all over the board, then try
96.3 Jack FM
. Operating under the slogan “Playing What We Want!”, the station offers mostly hits from the ’80s and ’90s, and the selection ranges from Gnarls Barkley to Nirvana to Led Zeppelin. The combination seems to work, though—this is Nashville’s second most popular radio station. 

105.9 The Rock: Classic rock 

Call sign: WNRQ
Frequency: 105.9 FM 
The Rock 105.9
is where “Nashville comes for classic rock,” and if you’re in the mood for some good old-fashioned rock and roll, it’s the place for you. Playing such artists as ZZ Top, Jimi Hendrix, and The White Stripes, this station takes the bronze as far as radio station popularity goes. 

97.9 The Big 98: Nashville’s new country

Call sign: WSIX
Frequency: 97.9 FM 
Making a list of radio stations in Nashville and not including a country station would likely result in someone calling the authorities, and we can’t have that.
The Big 98
plays Nashville’s “new country” with songs from the likes of Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, and Thomas Rhett. 
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FAQs

Founded in 1969,
Roots Radio
(WMOT) lives at 89.5 FM and is dedicated to an all-Americana music format that salutes Nashville’s musical heritage: bluegrass, soul, folk, classic hits, and old-school rock and roll/R&B.
Folks wanting to hear classic country tunes from decades past should tune into
WSM Radio
, found at 650 on the AM dial. This station is home to the Grand Ole Opry, the world’s longest-running radio program.
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