The sun, the beach, and the overall vibe make Miami a natural paradise.  It’s also one of the most progressive and diverse cities in the U.S., which is reflected in its culture, food, music, and overall lifestyle.  In the 2010 Census, 58.1% of Dade County's population was born outside of the United States, putting Miami at the top of the list of cities worldwide with the largest foreign-born population.  Due to this diversity, Miami has always been groundbreaking for new music trends, including Reggaeton, Bachata, Merengue, as well as many others.

Now, there’s a new sound exploding all over the city… Cubatón!  And one radio station, Spanish Broadcasting System’s Ritmo 95 is at the forefront of this exciting trend.  Jesus Salas, Executive VP of Programming for SBS, has shared some of his insight into the planning and launch of this innovative concept.

When and how did you notice the rise of the Cubatón sound in Miami?

I could not get away from noticing it.  Every house party, beach party, neighbors were blasting Cubatón music.  As well, Cuban artists were packing shows locally.  Also, the influx of Cubans to Miami is on the rise, just last year there was a 78% growth in Cuban population.  At this rate, the number of Cubans in Miami will likely exceed 1MM within 18 months.

How would you describe the Cubatón sound, and although premature, how mass appeal do you think it can be?

The Cubatón sound with the added Cuban timba live instruments has a street feel and it’s very grass roots.  It’s definitely a sound in and of itself.  In my 26 years in radio, I have never witnessed such an explosive reaction from listeners.  The artists are so excited that many have come to the radio station unannounced.  Most important, the feeling on this radio needs to be FUN!

If you’d like to give the new station a listen (we’d suggest doing it with a mojito or Cuba Libre in hand), click on the following:

http://lamusica.com/sbsplayer-ritmo95.php

And, if you want to read more, check out the following article from Billboard:

http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/latin/7469584/sbs-first-cubaton-station-miami-ritmo-95-7