Every weekday between 1 and 5pm we play tracks from our #spotlightartist. They’re an artist with a body of work which has stood the test of time. We’ll play the hits – but also some deep cuts. Listen ad-free through New Zealand via @tunein at https://goo.gl/VL6m3N
One of the most successful artists of the 1980s, Lionel Richie followed success in The Commodores with a massive 13 Top 10 hits in his 1981 – 1987 heyday. His first single from his first solo album (Truly) hit number 1 – we’ll kick the Spotlight Artist week off with this track on Monday. The hits kept on coming. We’ll play most of them, but as usual we’ll also play some less well known tracks.
Enjoy this legend through each afternoon this week! You can find out more about him on Wikipedia.
May has been New Zealand Music Month since 2000, an opportunity to promote and celebrate New Zealand music. Check out the 
Nerina Pallot – Man Didn’t Walk On The Moon
Ruel – Dazed & Confused
LOWES – Here We Are
Billy Raffoul – Could You Be Mine?
Elohim – Half Love
The Wailers started out in 1963, with changes of lineup through to 1974 and their third album Natty Dread. Peter Tosh had left by this time, and for the first time they were credited as Bob Marley & The Wailers. Their breakthrough didn’t come until the following year when they performed at the Lyceum in London. Eric Clapton had helped popularise reggae the with his cover of “I Shot The Sheriff”. The band kept going from strength to strength until Bob’s sad death in 1981.
This album continues Keith’s interest in combining different genre sounds with country. Its a winning combination – a fantastic set of songs including beautiful collaborations with Julia Michaels and Lindsay Ell. Some of the touches like Woman might jar slightly (the attempt to dial in to the #metoo mood of the year) but this is just a good album of Country Pop.
This is an awesome new track from Kelsey Lu, a Los Angeles based cellist and singer. Enjoy – we’ll give it spin after 3. Listen on @tunein ad-free 24/7 throughout New Zealand https://goo.gl/VL6m3N
After the success of “Rio” Duran Duran re released their debut album Duran Duran in the US on this day in 1983. It included their new hit single “Is There Something I Should Know”. We’ll give this classic track a spin after 12. Hat tip to 
On this premier week, our first Spotlight Artist is The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. There wouldn’t be more artists of the past century who have been as prolific, and as successful. It is extraordinary to think thata seminal album like I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You from way back in 1967 was actually her eleventh. The daughter of an itinerant preacher father, she got her first major label recording contract in 1960, but it wasn’t until 1967 when she joined Atlantic Records that she achieved major success. It has’t really stopped since. She has sung for Presidents, and the 76 year old is true showbiz gold. We look forward to exploring some of her fantastic body of music this week.