Raised by Radio

When Z100 signed on August 1, 1983, it didn’t just launch — it exploded.

New York radio had a hole in it. WABC had flipped to all talk the year before, and for a lot of us, the soundtrack of our lives suddenly went silent. I wandered for a year-plus, twisting the dial, looking for my station. Then Z100 arrived like a lightning bolt over the Hudson.

They didn’t have a massive playlist back then — and honestly, that was part of the magic. Fewer commercials, tighter rotation, and a mix that somehow felt curated just for us. These weren’t just songs…they were Z100 Hits.

What made it even better? They played records that didn’t always crack the national Top 40, but felt HUGE in New York.

“Nothing Goin’ On but the Rent” by Gwen Guthrie?
That bass line lived on Z100.
So did Mtume’s “Juicy Fruit” — smooth, cool, and impossible to ignore.

Then there were songs that did chart nationally but felt like Z100 practically owned them.

“Rock the Casbah” — Clash blasting through NYC radios like it was made for us.
“Just Be Good to Me” by The SOS Band — moody, urban, sophisticated pop that fit the city perfectly.

And of course, there was no escaping the giants.

Michael Jackson was everywhere — “Beat It” especially felt like a Z100 anthem.
Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams” sounded futuristic and just a little dangerous.
Irene Cara’s “Flashdance… What a Feeling” was pure early-80s adrenaline.
Stevie Nicks’ “Stand Back” spun endlessly (and deservedly).
And “Every Breath You Take” by The Police? That song owned 1983.

Z100 understood something early on: New York didn’t want just bubblegum pop. We wanted edge, rhythm, and what was coming next.

Which brings me to one of the most underrated parts of early Z100…

The Night Shift Changed Everything

At night, Z100 did something bold — especially for a Top 40 station.

They played rap.

Not as a novelty. Not as a one-off. They played it.

“Rapper’s Delight”
“The Breaks”
“The Message”
“Roxanne, Roxanne”

This mattered. A lot.

Z100 helped pull rap out of the margins and into the mainstream, especially for kids like me who were being raised by radio. You didn’t need to hunt for it — it was right there on your FM dial, sharing space with Duran Duran, Michael Jackson, and The Police.

Speaking of Duran Duran — they were everywhere too. Sleek, stylish, global pop that matched Z100’s larger-than-life energy.

Looking back now, those early Z100 days weren’t just about hits — they were about trust. You trusted the station to bring you what mattered now, what mattered next, and what mattered here.

That’s what made Z100 different.
That’s why it stuck.
That’s why so many of us were truly Raised by Radio.