Baila! America’s Best 10 Latin Music Radio Stations
Senior Editor and Researcher
Although Latin music is a collective term that describes various subgenres of music sung in Spanish or originated in Latin America, it’s one of the most recognizable genres and has become the world’s obsession in recent years!
In fact, a recent report by Music Business Worldwide found that the market share of Latin music in the US is around 5.9 percent, generating over $1 billion in 2022.
For that reason, a wide range of American radio stations specialize in Latin music. In today’s guide, we’ll walk you through some of the best ones!
1. WXDJ
Available: Online or 106.7 MHz (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
WXDJ, also known as El Nuevo Zol 106.7 FM, is a commercial radio station licensed to Fort Lauderdale but serving the entire South Florida radio market, including Miami, Boca Raton, and West Palm Beach.
The station was established in August 1962 as WFTL-FM but switched to various call signs over the years until it settled on its current call sign and format.
The station experimented with various Latin music formats, including Dance/Rhythmic Top 40 and Tropical music.
The radio station mainly specializes in Spanish contemporary music, which received wide acceptance from the listener’s base, thanks to the station’s excellent taste in Latin music.
Besides playing some of the most recognizable Latin music tunes, you’ll occasionally enjoy various live streams of events from Latin American artists through the station, such as the Salsa Festival and La Cancion Del Million.
The Spanish Broadcasting System currently owns the station, which saved it from bankruptcy and improved its rating over the years.
You can also enjoy the station’s online webcast through the LaMusica website.
2. WSKQ FM
Available: Online or at 97.9 MHz (New York, New York)
Next, we have another great choice to consider if you’re living in New York City and want to enjoy some hot Latin tunes.
WSKQ, or La Mega 97.9, is a commercial radio station licensed to New York City. Its transmitter has been located in the Empire State Building since 1970.
The station is purely Latin and operates in Spanish with a Spanish-speaking crew.
WSKQ FM began broadcasting in 1951 as a simulcast of the WEVD AM radio under the same call sign.
Back then, the channel specialized in Jewish programming.
However, in 1983, the Spanish Broadcasting System bought the station, changing the call sign to WSKQ and adopting an entirely new Latin format.
The station plays a tropical music format, including Latin subgenres and styles like salsa, reggaeton, bachata, and merengue.
WSKQ is currently one of the most popular stations among young adults. It’s known for having a massive impact on the Local Latin community and a large listener base.
3. KLTN
Available: Online or at 102.9 MHz (Houston, Texas)
KLTN is a commercial, regional Mexican radio station licensed to Houston, Texas. It has its transmitter located in the KNUZ tower.
The station was first on-air in 1946 under the call sign KPRC FM at 102.9 MHz, moving from 99.7 MHz.
The call sign changed various times over the years until it settled on KLTN, when it was purchased by Heftel Communications in 1998.
As of 2018, the station rebranded itself as Que Buena 102.9 and is currently owned by Univision Radio Illinois.
The current call sign stands for Latin music, making up most of the station’s broadcasts throughout the day.
Que Buena 102.9 airs Latin music subgenres, specifically songs from various parts of Mexico and the Southwestern United States.
This includes banda, mariachi, Tejano, country en español, grupero, and much more!
4. KQMR
Available: Online or at 100.3 MHz (Globe, Arizona)
KQMR started broadcasting in October 1980 as KIKO FM.
Back then, the station was English-speaking and switched between various formats and music styles, including rock and hot talk.
However, in 2001, the station was purchased by Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation. It changed the station’s language to Spanish, rebranding it as Amor and adopting an adult contemporary format.
The station found its current brand and format as Latino Mix 100.3 in 2014.
KQMR also has a simulcast frequency of 100.5 MHz that covers the west valley of Phoenix, Arizona.
KQMR is owned by Uforia Audio Network, a subsidiary of Univision Radio Illinois, Inc. (the same owner of KLTN).
The station’s current format is Latin pop, playing a wide range of top hits from the pop genre. You may also enjoy other Latin music genres depending on the programming.
The station also has a popular morning show called Latino Mix Mornings Hits con (with) Beto Najera.
5. WRUM
Available: Online or at 100.3 MHz (Orlando, Florida)
If you want to enjoy a unique selection of Latin music tunes that will send you into a dancing frenzy, you should consider this one!
WRUM is a commercial radio station licensed to Orlando. The station has an HD transmitter Bithlo with a powerful antenna that allows it to serve most of central Florida.
The station started broadcasting in 1950 as WKIS FM. Back then, the station was an NPC affiliate and primarily a simulcast of WYGM.
The station was sold in 1971 and immediately switched formats, broadcasting top-selling progressive rock albums.
The station was bought by iHeartRadio in 1997. Still, it didn’t flip its format to Latin pop until 2005, when it was rebranded to Rumba 100.3.
WRUM broadcasts its programming in Spanish but has an HD2 channel that adopts a bilingual CHR format called Mega 97.1.
Besides Latin pop, you can enjoy various Latin music genres, such as tropical music and reggaeton.
6. WBZY
Available: Online or at 105.7 MHz (Canton, Georgia)
WBZY is a commercial Spanish-speaking radio station specializing in contemporary hit Latin music.
The station, branded as Z 105.7, is licensed to Canton and serves the Atlanta metropolitan area.
The station started broadcasting as a country music radio station in August 1964 as WCHK FM but is currently owned by iHeartRadio.
The station flipped formats multiple times, switching to news/talk, adult contemporary, oldies, and rock, before experimenting with Spanish-language formats in 2005.
From 2009 to 2020, the station dropped the Spanish format, broadcasting mainly rhythmic and alternative rock music, but it switched back to Top 40 Latin pop music in 2020.
Despite being a relatively new player to the Latin music scene, the station plays a wide variety of high-energy music, making it an excellent choice whether you’re vibing or dancing!
7. WZRM
Available: Online or at 97.7 MHz (Brockton, Massachusetts)
WZRM is a commercial radio station with studios in Medford, serving the Greater Boston region.
Although the station has been around since 1948, it has always been an English-speaking radio station that broadcasts a variety of music genres, as it only fully switched to its current format a few years ago.
Despite that, the station has quickly made a name for itself with its excellent taste in Latin music, changing its language to Spanish and rebranding to Rumba 97.7.
Like many Spanish-speaking stations in the region, WZRM has been owned by Entercom Media (now iHeartRadio) since August 2006.
In addition to its radio frequency, you can listen to the station’s music in high audio quality online through the iHeartRadio app or the station’s website.
8. WBZW
Available: Online or 96.7 MHz (Union City, Georgia)
WBZW is a commercial radio station licensed to Union City, Georgia, serving the South Suburban Atlanta region.
The station’s current branding is El Patron 96.7, which is a name that it shares with other radio stations across America, such as the KRRS, licensed to Santa Rosa, California.
Like many Spanish-speaking radio stations in the region, WBZW’s history as a Spanish-speaking Latin music station is short.
The station flipped to Latin music in 2005 as Viva 96.7, but it switched back to English-speaking adult contemporary a year after.
However, in 2020, the station switched to regional Mexican music, perfectly blending classics and new hits.
9. WZTU
Available: Online or 94.9 MHz (Miami Beach, Florida)
If you enjoy Latin music but want to hear some English-speaking hits, this radio station will save you the hassle of switching back and forth.
WZTU is a commercial radio station licensed to Miami that serves a range of regions in Florida, including Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood.
The station’s current branding is Tú (You) 94.9, and it adopts a Latin Top 40 format with some American hits sprinkled in between to provide variety and uniqueness to its playlist.
The station is owned and operated by iHeartRadio, which acquired the station in the early 1990s.
WZTU is one of the oldest stations in the region to experiment with Latin music, as it adopted Spanish-language romance music for a brief period during the late 1960s.
You can enjoy the station’s music online through the iHeartRadio app or the webcast.
10. WCMQ FM
Available: Online or X MHz (Hialeah, Florida)
WCMQ FM, also known as Zeta 92.3, is a commercial radio station serving Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
The Spanish Broadcasting System owns the station and has maintained its current format since 2013.
WCMQ FM mainly adopts a salsa music format but also plays other genres from both the US and Latin America. Typically the station plays around two English songs per hour.
The Best Latin Music Radio Station in America
We hope this article helps you find the ideal station to fulfill your Latin music needs, whether you’re looking for a station to enjoy the music or a more energetic one to dance or work out!
