00:00When you think country music, you might think of boots and cowboy hats, but in Fort Myers, Florida, one radio station is adding something very different to the mix, a little southern twang and a whole lot of President Trump.
00:16What could be better than Trump country 93.7? Nothing. It's the best.
00:21That isn't the voice of Trump, but a voice actor between songs impersonating the president. CBS News first reported that the former rock station WHEL, based in Sanibel and Fort Myers, officially rebranded as Trump country 93.7 on inauguration day.
00:38They actually tested the name back in late 2020, and the station's president and GM told Stray Arrow News they made the move after seeing all the local support of Trump rallies and boat parades.
00:49But it's not just the Trump impersonator. The station, owned by Sun Broadcasting Incorporated, uses a familiar face in a cowboy hat in its logo.
00:59It looks a lot like Trump in a suit and red tie with a typeface straight out of the Trump Vance campaign playbook.
01:06And in small print, it says it's an AI-generated image.
01:11They even held a contest called Deportation A Day, a cruise giveaway promotion on air shared with SAN.
01:18No need to worry, amigos. This is a fun kind of deportation.
01:22They promised to, quote, deport listeners legally-ish across the Gulf of America to the land of margaritas, tacos, and occasional heartburn.
01:31And the best news? You get to come home.
01:34Oh, senor and senoritas, this is fiesta and siesta time.
01:39They even encouraged listeners to leave voicemails explaining why they deserve to be deported.
01:44But the music itself also took a big turn. The station used to play rock.
01:49Believe me, we're going to play so much music. Tremendous music. Lots of hits. Definitely not a total disaster.
01:56Now it's country, putting WHEL head-to-head with two other country stations in the area.
02:03Reaction Online is mixed. Some on Reddit say they miss the old rock vibe, while fans on X love the new patriotic rebrand.
02:10Still, the station told us they've tripled ratings among listeners 25 to 34.
02:16And what might sound like a gimmick is part of a much bigger play.
02:20In an era where Spotify and Apple Music rule, local radio has been fighting to stay in the mix.
02:26And for Trump Country 93.7, leaning into the local culture and Trump's base is their strategy.
02:33After all, this is Lee County, where more than 63 percent voted for Trump in 2024.
02:38The station's president shared with us that WHEL is now the number four overall station in Southwest Florida
02:46and has the highest time spent listening of any country station, averaging nearly six hours a week per listener.
02:54With Stray Arrow News, I'm Kennedy Felton. Download our app or visit san.com for more.
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