Play 99.6 FM

Play 99.6 (99.6 FM) is an English-language music radio station in Jordan. Founded in 2004, Play 99.6 is part of the Modern Media Company, which also owns Sunny FM. Using the Top 40 model, the station plays the best English hit songs from around the world and has interviewed international celebrities, including Sean Paul. According to Ipsos, Play 99.6 has the widest reach of English radio in Jordan. Its listeners are between 15 - 30 years old.

History

Created by entrepreneurs Ramzi Halabi and Zafer Younis in October 2004, the station quickly became the leading English radio music station in Jordan [ [http://play.jo/aboutplay] , Play.jo] . Starting with a team of just five people, the station has attracted the best local talent to work there. Lee McGrath, the morning show's on-air presenter, joined the team from the UK soon after they started.

In 2007, the station won international recognition by the National Association of Broadcasters. It won the NAB International Broadcasting Excellence Award. [ [http://www.nab.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Search&template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=8507] ]

The station is headquartered in Amman, Jordan.

Shows

*"The Big Breakfast Show" with Lee McGrath
*"The Driveback Show" with Dan Harper
*"The Preparty Show" with Tamer Malki
*"The Re Up" with DJ Swerve
*"Non-stop Play" with DJ Flava
*"The Top 20" with Abeer Aghabi

[ [http://play.jo/shows] ]

Events

In 2007, Play 99.6 brought comedians Maz Jobrani, Ahmed Ahmed, and Aaron Kader (Axis of Evil) to perform four sold out events in Amman. The performance was the first stand-up comedy ever to be hosted in Jordan. [ [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-11324235.html] ]

Following the success of the Axis of Evil performances, they brought Arab-American comedians Dean Obeidallah and Maysoon Zayed to Jordan. [ [http://www.albawaba.com/en/countries/Jordan/232560] ]

The station also hosted magicians The Evasons and comedian/magician Derek Hughes in 2008. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMNN9uGNUDY] ]

They've sponsored many of the big shows and event in Jordan, including Project Peace where artists like Sean Paul and Masari have headlined separately.

Community service and corporate social responsibility

The station has been one of the leaders in using CSR in Jordan. In 2006, the station launched Toys of Hope, a community service initiative to encourage listeners to donate new and used toys, which were then turned over to an orphanage. Mabarrat Um Al Hussein received thousands of toys through this drive. [ [http://www.ameinfo.com/133479.html "Play 99.6 launches Toys of Hope initiative"] AmeInfo, Sept 30, 2007]

In 2007, encouraged by the success of the first year's drive, they repeated Toys of Hope. Queen Rania called the morning show presenter during the final days of the drive to commend their work and encourage more people to donate toys. [ [http://jordantimes.com/?news=2812&searchFor=queen%20toys "Queen supports Toys of Hope initiative"] Jordan Times, October 12, 2007 ]

Local talent

While the station focuses mostly on top of the charts music, they also promote local talent. In 2008, the station kicked off a major campaign around Amman to promote local musicians, bands, artists and photographers. Thanks to his appearances on Play 99.6, Jordanian musician Hanna Gargour was featured in a documentary by the BBC in 2008.

References

* [http://www.play.jo Play 99.6 Official Website]