88.9 WERS Celebrates Juneteenth

• All day Monday, June 19, Emerson College’s 88.9 WERS/Boston is proud to dedicate all of its programming to the celebration of Juneteenth. From 6am through 10pm, and right through The Secret Spot until 2am, the entire playlist will consist exclusively of Black artists from the ’60s through the present day.

This special day is an expansion of WERS’ commitment to Black artists throughout the year — legends like Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, The Staples Singers, and developing artists like Arlo Parks, Devon Gilfillian and Steve Lacy regularly appear in WERS rotation. Each evening from 10pm to 2am the station features a seductive showcase of Soul, R&B and Slow Jams called The Secret Spot. And there’s more: the 24/7 Urban Alternative station, ERS+ Boston’s Black Experience broadcasts on 88.9-HD2 and at wersplus.org.

“Juneteenth is the celebration of perseverance and faith despite institutional depravity, inequality and the perpetuation of adversity,” said Howard Simpson, GM of WERS. “The struggle persists and can be felt in poignant, powerful compositions that dot every music genre Black musicians have pioneered and dominated. This Juneteenth we’ll open the most impressive songbooks with reverence and let freedom ring.”

WERS Brand Manager Ken West notes, “The Juneteenth holiday requires all of us to think deeply and understand the importance of the Black experience in our country’s history. Since WERS is all about music discovery, we’re honored to let all of our entire day’s music reflect and celebrate the day that marks the beginning of freedom.”