Local
Garth Brooks Plans Country Station FM-100, Lightning 100 to Move Frequencies
Country star Garth Brooks is launching FM-100, a new Nashville station blending country music with local news and weather, pending FCC approval. Independent station Lightning 100 would relocate to a nearby frequency, a move Brooks says preserves its legacy while funding its future.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. â Country music superstar Garth Brooks has announced plans to launch a new FM radio station serving Nashville and Middle Tennessee, one that he says will pair country music with practical information for residents and visitors. The proposed station, to be called FM-100, would occupy the current spot on the FM dial held by independent radio station Lightning 100, which would move to a nearby frequency and continue broadcasting, according to a media release from Brooks. The arrangement is contingent on approval from the Federal Communications Commission.
Brooks said the idea took shape after he came across an old social media post in which listeners were asked to help save Lightning 100. He said he wanted to support the stationâs independent music legacy while also securing a home for his own project. âThis way, the owner gets help in funding. The station lives on, while the new FM-100 finds a home in the middle of the FM dial,â Brooks said in the release.
As envisioned, FM-100 would play country music spanning past legends, current stars and emerging artists, with a particular emphasis on showcasing generations of women in the genre. Beyond music, Brooks wants the station to provide information about local events, assist visitors to the area and deliver critical weather updates. The station has reached an agreement with Nashville Severe Weather to interrupt regular programming during dangerous weather, according to the announcement.
Brooks said he hopes the station will eventually reach a global audience, but that its mission begins at home. âThis will be a joy and an honor to play a small role in being of service to Music City,â he said.
The planned launch comes as Nashvilleâs independent radio landscape faces ongoing pressure from consolidation and shifting listening habits. Lightning 100 has long been a fixture for local music fans seeking an alternative to corporate playlists, and its supporters have rallied around the station in the past. Under the proposed deal, the station would remain on the air rather than go dark, a point Brooks emphasized in his remarks.
If approved by the FCC, FM-100 would take over the frequency currently used by Lightning 100, while the independent station would shift to a nearby signal. The timeline for the changeover depends on the federal review process. Representatives for Lightning 100 did not immediately provide additional comment beyond the release.
For Middle Tennessee listeners, the proposal raises questions about how the new station will balance commercial country programming with the public-service role Brooks describes, and how quickly the frequency shuffle will be completed. For now, the plan remains before regulators, with both stationsâ futures on the dial awaiting a federal decision.