HYPE Radio with Chris Chicago began as a weekly show called “The Friday Night Vibe” on KLYT in Albuqueque, NM. Chris Chicago joined the team in 1999 and began syndicating it in 2003. It was rebranded HYPE Radio with Chris Chicago in 2007. HYPE Radio exists to encourage listeners and give them an alternative to mainstream hip-hop and r&b. We have seen many come to Christ through the music played on HYPE Radio and want to continue using the vessel of music and radio to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. HYPE Radio also wants to provide radio stations with a bangin’ radio show that rivals anything heard on mainstream radio.
We would love to be aired on your radio station – please email chicago@jamthehype.com for information about receiving our show.
Chris Chicago, Founder & Host
Chris Chicago is a well known and respected member of the Christian Music Industry. At the age of 28, he already has 10+ years of experience on all sides of the business. He began as an intern at KLYT, a Christian radio station in Albuquerque, NM, when he was 16 years old. By the time he was 20, he was Music Director of the station as well as a much loved on-air personality. He was known as a leader in the industry, which is why he won a NAACR Award for Music Director in 2002, and was nominated for Music Director of the Year and On-Air Personality of the year in the 2004 GMA ECHO Awards.
When Chris moved to Nashville in late 2005, he founded Shamrock Media Group, which quickly became one of the industry’s top promotion companies. Chris still pursues his love for radio through Hype Radio. He has been programming and hosting the Hype since 1999. The Hype is played in more than 125 markets worldwide.
Chris Laney, Director of Support and Digital Strategies
With almost a decade of experience in marketing, sales, and radio; Laney leads are digital efforts through consulting our web, social media, and mobile strategies. He is the VP of Digital Strategies for HYPE Radio’s parent company Shamrock Media where he consults digital efforts for Christian radio stations and organizations across the country. Laney also is in charge of maintaining partner relationships and creating new ones. Feel free to contact him if you are interested in becoming a HYPE Radio partner.
Mike Laxton, Social News Coordinator
If one thing could describe Mike Laxton, it would be a passion for the Christian Music Industry. Raised in a household that embraced music of all genres, mainstream and Christian, Laxton started his journey into the industry over a decade ago. Starting out with street teaming for National Christian artists while in Chicago. Laxton eventually moved back to his home to Tampa, FL to work in radio for a major Christian radio broadcasting network before producing and co-hosting his own music and talk formatted radio show on one of their Tampa affiliates. Laxton’s experience also includes commercial radio production as well as remote broadcasting engineering for two Tampa sports teams. It is his experience, love for the Christian music industry, entrepreneurial spirit, and his personal testimony that brings him to Shamrock.
Currently, Laxton is a student at Full Sail University studying Music Business and is a writer for two online Christian music magazines. He currently resides in Tampa, Fl with hopes to relocate to Nashville in the near future.
