For three weeks, our Summer Anthem poll dominated conversations in group chats, office break rooms, and backyard barbecues. More than twelve thousand verified votes later, the people have spoken: “Golden Hour Drive” by Nova Pulse will serve as our station’s signature summer track for 2026, appearing in promos, event playlists, and the upcoming Beach Session live series.
The poll was deliberately open-ended. Rather than offering a fixed shortlist, we invited listeners to nominate any track released in the past eighteen months. That produced a fascinating long tail of genres—from Afrobeats and country-pop to underground electronic records that never cracked mainstream charts but clearly moved our audience.
Runner-up spots went to Luna Rivera’s “Ocean Signal” and The Midnight Crew’s “City Rain,” both of which surged after emotional on-air dedications during heat-wave weekends. Programming director Sam Taylor said the results will influence more than just rotation. “We learn where our community’s emotional center is,” Taylor noted. “That helps us book guests, plan festivals, and support local artists who mirror those feelings.”
Nova Pulse will join us live next Thursday for a stripped-down performance and a conversation about writing music for long drives and short memories. Expect exclusive content across our app, social platforms, and nightly countdown show as we celebrate the season together.
