Georgia Station Bills Itself As ‘Obama Gov’t-Controlled Radio’

President Barack Obama
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A radio station in Athens, Ga., is drumming up publicity by calling itself “Obama Government-Controlled Radio” and playing Hawaiian pop, songs like “Superfly” and “Disco Inferno” and clips from President Obama’s campaign speeches.

Between songs listeners hear messages such as, “Why let highly paid consultants pick the music when you can let the government do it for you?”

Bulldog WPUP-FM, a classic rock station, is trying to hook listeners with the gimmick before changing formats Thursday night at 6 p.m.

“Yes, it is a stunt,” the station’s program director, Kevin Steele, told TPM.

And it’s working.

“Our online streaming listeners have doubled in the last 24 hours,” he said.

After playing REM’s “It’s The End Of The World As We Know It” last night, the station started its Obama push and will begin its new format — which is still a secret — tonight.

The station is owned by Cox Radio.

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