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The Official Blog of WNZR's Afternoon Drive

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Artist News Day

New Album Drops From Current & Old Artists!

Do you remember Tenth Avenue North? It’s been five years since we have seen something new from them aside from some singles released throughout the years, but this week on Artist News Day, we talked about their brand new full release album, called “Learning to Trust”. Alongside that, we talked about Jon Reddick releasing his new one called “No Fear”, which includes the title track that has been exploding on the charts as of recent.

After being disbanded for a little over 5 years, we see Tenth Avenue North getting back together, bringing us a whole 14 songs on their latest release, “Learning to Trust”. As they reunite, we’re seeing new faces, and regarding that, the band stated, “We’re a new band that happens to have an old catalog that you love!” If you want to see more of what the band has to say, click here!

This is the band’s 10th full length album, and they dropped it last Friday, May 30th! It’s everywhere you stream music, and it’s called “Learning to Trust”.

We have loved the song from Jon Reddick called “No Fear”! It turns out that is the title track for Jon Reddick’s full length album that he released on Friday, May 30th as well! The album also includes another song we love, “I Believe It”, which was our theme for Lifeline 2024! Click here to here Jon Reddick talk about nis new

Jon Reddick has shown so much gratitude for the support and love you have shown toward the songs he’s been putting out. He’s going to be going on tour with these new songs, on CAIN’s “Live and In Color” tour, coming in November! He’ll be in Grove City, OH at The Naz Church, and that’ll start at 7pm! If you want to hear his top songs and maybe some of his new songs live, be sure to catch him there!

Today is Tuesday, so that means we played Song Poetry to win that $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica! Here is what our song poetry was today:

How long will I have to fight
Just for me to stay alive?
I know You’re there God, please
Just meet me here tonight.

Today’s Song Poetry was a stumper! If you think you know what song this is and who sang this song, come back next week on Tuesday and give us your answer for a chance to win two $5 gift cards to Watts Restaurant in Utica! Make sure to tune in tomorrow for a game of Who Am I, where we give you 5 biographical facts about a person, and you try to guess who it is!

Thank you for listening! See you tomorrow afternoon!
– Xander and Ethan

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Exciting News for Two Christian Music Legends!

Today we talked about some movie releases from two Christian music legends here on the station! We discussed how Jeremy Camp’s movie, I Still Believe, will be coming to Netflix. This will bring the movie to a whole new global audience, and give you one more option to view it. The movie follows Jeremy’s incredible story of faith, love, and loss. It is based off his 2002 hit, I Still Believe from his album, Stay.

We also shared exciting news from MercyMe! March 20th, 2026 is the day when I Can Only Imagine 2 comes to theaters. The movie is a direct continuation of lead singer Bart Millard’s inspiring story and deeply personal battle as a father that he can’t fight alone. John Michael Finley will return to star as Bart Millard, while Dennis Quaid and Trace Adkins will reprise their roles as Arthur and MercyMe’s manager Scott Brickell. 

We also played song poetry today! We play this fun trivia game every Tuesday at the 5 o’clock hour to give you a chance to win two $5 gift cards to Watts Restaurant in Utica! Here was today’s song poetry:

I learned the lines and talked the talk
But the road less traveled is hard to walk
It takes a soldier
Who knows his orders
To walk the walk I’m supposed to walk

This one, for the second week, was a stumper today! We’ll have some new song poetry for next Tuesday!

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Powerful Stories Told Through Music!

Today we talked about some upcoming album releases from some well-loved artists here on the station! Ben Fuller is bringing us his new album “Walk Through Fire” on June 6th. He has a powerful testimony that is going to be echoed throughout the songs on this album, and we’ve already heard some heavy hitters already, in “If I Got Jesus” and “Turn”!

Big Daddy Weave is also sharing their story through their upcoming album “Let It Begin”, which is releasing this Friday, May 23rd! It’s been a whole six years since we have gotten a new release like this from the band, but we have gotten to hear some of their songs coming on that album throughout these years already– Those being the song “Let It Begin” and “God Is In This Story”.

The band is also doing a fun new series on their YouTube channel, sharing all the stories behind each of the 15 songs on this upcoming release. Seeing this just goes to show that every song a band or artist puts on their record has an intentional purpose and reason for being on the album, which is really cool to see!

Today we played song poetry! We play this fun trivia game every Tuesday at the 5 o’clock hour to give you a chance to win that $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica! Here was today’s song poetry:

I learned the lines and talked the talk
But the road less traveled is hard to walk
It takes a soldier
Who knows his orders
To walk the walk I’m supposed to walk

This one was a stumper today! If you think you know this one, tune in to the Afternoon Drive next Tuesday, and give us your guess! We’re giving away two $5 gift cards to Watts Restaurant in Utica because today was a stumper!

Thank you for listening!
– Xander and Ethan

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Concert Tours and Gospel Returns to ABC!

Artist News:

GRAMMY-nominated NEEDTOBREATHE is set to bring an intimate experience to 18 U.S. cities this fall with The Barely Elegant Acoustic Tour 2025.

General public ticket sales open this Friday 5/16 at 10 AM local time. Tickets and full details are available at www.needtobreathe.com.

They have one Ohio date scheduled, on November 19th in Cincinnati at the Andrew Brady Music Center in The Banks neighborhood on the Ohio River.

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The singing competition show, American Idol, announced during one of its episodes that Brandon Lake and Kirk Franklin would appear together on the show’s finale episode.

This is the second time we’ve seen Gospel artists make an appearance on the show just this season! The last time we saw them was on Easter Sunday, and it featured well-known WNZR artists CeCe Winans and Brandon Lake.

They are to be seen on the show’s season finale, airing on May 18th. Full details and further information are available at https://abc.com/show/baf4f444-36a4-4340-ac11-c570f0da4977.

Today we played song poetry! Congratulations to Elwood from Mount Vernon for guessing this week’s song and artist– Just Be Held, by Casting Crowns! These were the lyrics:
If your eyes are on the storm
You’ll wonder if I love you still
But if your eyes are on the cross
You’ll know I always have and I always will

Thanks for listening!
Ethan, Joe, and Xander

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Jesus On American Idol!

If you would’ve told me that the name of Jesus was being lifted up on the Voice and American Idol, I might not believe you at first. But here we are in 2025, with songs about conversations with the Lord being sung on live television. If you listened to the Backstreet Boys back in the day, you’ll love this next story.

It’s Artist Newsday and Game Time Tuesday here on the Afternoon Drive, and there’s some really cool stuff happening in media right now.

Baylee Littrell, the son of Backstreet Boys singer Bryan Littrell, has been making a name for himself on the latest season of American Idol, performing a song he wrote in a time of pain and loneliness, called “Hey Jesus”. The performance went viral and Baylee is using his platform to encourage others to follow the Lord.

“There’s a kingdom waiting for you,” The young artist said. “There’s a God waiting for you. All you have to do is trust Him.”

Check out the full story HERE, and the performance here!

Don’t forge that Mom’s Night Out is THIS FRIDAY! Click this link to grab your spot! https://www.wnzr.fm/momsnightout

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want
He leads me by still waters ’til my fears are gone
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Oh, I know You are with me, my Father, my friend
Your goodness and mercy will follow me all of my days”

Those are the words to “Still Waters” by Leanna Crawford! Congratulations to Kathleen from Mount Vernon, she wins the $5 Gift Card to Watts Restaurant!

Thanks for listening!- Judah

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FORREST FRANK FRENZY!

He’s one of the fastest growing artists in Christian music right now, and he’s got more on the way!

It’s Artist Newsday and Game Time Tuesday, and have we got some updates for you!

GRAMMY-nominated, award winning artist Forrest Frank is currently performing on his Child of God Part II, and during a stop in LA, announced his new album Child of God II, releases May 9th! WE CAN’T WAIT!

Forrest isn’t the only artist dropping an album this summer….Big Daddy Weave is releasing their first album in six years! Let It Begin releases May 23, their long-awaited follow-up to 2019’s When The Light Comes.

Plus, if you want to hear a super cool conversation, check out Youtuber Bryce Crawford’s interview with the one and only Brandon Lake.

“Who put the breath in my lungs
Who calls us daughters and sons
All praise goes to just One….

Who raised me up from the grave
Who’s always making a way
Let me hear the whole church say”

Those are the words from Micah Tyler’s “God Did It”. Congratulations to Cheyenne from Mount Vernon, she wins the TWO $5 Watts Restaurant Gift Cards!

Thanks for listening!- Judah

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An American Idol Easter!

Yeah, you read that right. American Idol hosted an Easter special Sunday featuring some legends like CeCe Winans, Carrie Underwood, Brandon Lake and even mainstream artist Jelly Roll!

It’s Artist Newsday and Game Time Tuesday here on The Afternoon Drive, and we’re very excited to see Gospel music making an impact in culture!

Check out Brandon Lake’s performance here!

Plus, the perfect end to your summer is here! Katy Nicole’s album, Honest Conversations, drops August 15th on all platforms!

“He called my name (He called my name)
And He stole my shame (He stole my shame)
Everything changed when I came ___”

That’s the chorus from “Running Home” by Cochren & Company! Congratulations to Bonnie from Mount Vernon for naming that song, she wins the gift cards to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Thanks for listening!-Judah

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Rend Collective In The Vern!

You read that right…Rend Collective is bringing their Folk Fall 2025 Tour to the campus of MVNU November 14, and tickets are available in a week, Wednesday April 23rd!

It’s Artist Newsday and Game Time Tuesday on The Afternoon Drive, and we’re very excited about some upcoming things, including that concert!

Mom’s Night Out is back for 2025, and we couldn’t be more excited! Get ready for a fun night out with games, fellowship, snacks and a fantastic movie, “Unsung Hero”. Grab your seat here! https://www.wnzr.fm/momsnightout

“I’m desperate
Down on my knees
Send help from heaven
‘Cause that’s what I need
Redeem this wreckage
Restore my peace
I’m not asking, I’m begging
Lord, come through for me”

It’s a stumper! Next week’s will be worth TWO $5 Watts Restaurant Gift Cards!

Thanks for listening!- Judah

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Star Wars…and Jesus??

Never thought we would see the day where famous actors from the Star Wars series voice characters in an animated film about the life of Jesus…but here we are.

It’s Artist Newsday and Game Time Tuesday right here on The Afternoon Drive, and we’ve got something pretty cool to look forward to this Friday.

Angel Studios releases their animated film about the life of Jesus, King of Kings, and the cast is star studded. There are literally so many Star Wars in this…including Luke Skywalker!

For a quick rundown of the cast, we’ve got:

Oscar Isaac, who voices Jesus. A.K.A, Poe Dameron from the latest Star Wars trilogy.

Mark Hamill—a.k.a. Luke Skywalker himself—voicing King Herod.

Forest Whitaker, who brought Saw Gerrera to life in Rogue One.

And even more! Star Wars nerds, this might just be the movie for you.

For more information and to secure free kids’ tickets, visit angel.com/kingofkings.

Plus, Toby Mac is recruiting some young talent to drop some absolute bangers!

Teaming up with Forrest Frank and Josiah Queen, he’s released two new tracks that are perfect for the upcoming summer! https://www.ccmmagazine.com/news/tobymac-drops-two-collabs/

“oh God, I’m desperate
Down on my knees
Send help from heaven
‘Cause that’s what I need
Redeem this wreckage
Restore my peace
I’m not asking, I’m begging
Lord, come through for me
I need heaven…”

A stumper! Tune in next week for your chance to grab TWO $5 Watts Restaurant Gift Cards!

Thanks for listening!- Judah

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