The Summit FM

The Summit FM Musically Adventurous + Community Focused | Commercial-Free Public Radio for Akron, Canton, Youngstown, and Athens
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✨ Meet the Musicians of Our Winter Solstice Gathering *Tomorrow✨All three artists call Northeast Ohio home and are valu...
12/17/2025

✨ Meet the Musicians of Our Winter Solstice Gathering *Tomorrow✨

All three artists call Northeast Ohio home and are valued contributors to The Summit FM’s Music + Wellness program, sharing their talents to support connection, creativity, and community wellbeing.

❄️Lydia Joy() is a soulful singer-songwriter and sound healer known for her warmth, honesty, and emotional depth. Her music weaves together soul and spiritual resonance, creating songs that invite self-love and renewal. (6–7 pm inside Peg’s Gallery.)

❄️Maseh Nchang is a musician and drummer, and the founder of Trust Drum Circles, a mobile nonprofit dedicated to empowering communities through shared rhythm, wellness, and cultural preservation. Raised in Cameroon, his music is grounded in makossa grooves and traditional wisdom, reflecting a deep belief in rhythm as a tool for communication, unity, and collective wellbeing. (Outdoors, 5–6 pm.)

❄️Matthew DeRubertis is a traveling bassist and recording artist (Seer Music) whose work also includes yoga instruction, Ayurvedic cooking, and sacred medicine guidance. Blending music and mindful practices, he creates grounded, heart-centered experiences that invite presence and deeper connection. (Outdoors, 5–6 pm.)

✨ Fun fact: Maseh and Matt were recently introduced by our Wellness Coordinator at a workshop—and are now recording music together!

Summit Essentials – A Very Special Christmas (1987)Originally released in October 1987, A Very Special Christmas would b...
12/17/2025

Summit Essentials – A Very Special Christmas (1987)

Originally released in October 1987, A Very Special Christmas would become one of the best-selling Christmas albums of all time and, in the process, raise millions of dollars for the Special Olympics.

Assembled by producer Jimmy Iovine, the collection featured a who’s who of pop and rock stars of the era, including Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, Eurythmics, U2, Madonna, Sting, and many more, all tackling holiday standards. Critics applauded, radio embraced it, and fans gladly plunked down their dollars in the name of both charity and entertainment.

Tracks like U2’s cover of the Darlene Love classic “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”—originally from A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector—and Mellencamp’s take on “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” received countless spins on radio, while Run-D.M.C. delivered “Christmas in Hollis” to represent the hip-hop contingent.

Stevie Nicks, Whitney Houston, the Pretenders, Bon Jovi, and others rounded out the set with tracks largely unavailable elsewhere. Also joining in the reindeer games were many of the era’s top session players.

The album became a seasonal favorite and continued to sell its fair share each Christmastime for years to come. A decade after its initial release, it had sold more than four million copies and remains in print nearly 40 years later.

Tune in to the Summit FM all day Thursday, December 18, to hear your favorites from this classic as we feature A Very Special Christmas throughout the day.

The Summit FM is proud to present three amazing shows coming to the beautiful new Celestia Theater — including hometown...
12/15/2025

The Summit FM is proud to present three amazing shows coming to the beautiful new Celestia Theater — including hometown favorites — plus the incredible and ! ✨

Tickets for all shows are available now at wadsworthsquare.org! 🎟️

12/12/2025

We had a blast welcoming back into Summit Studio C sponsored by and ! 🎶

Their harmony, energy, and storytelling always light up the room — and this new performance clip is no exception.

Sessions like this are a special perk of Summit FM membership. Your support brings incredible artists into our studio and helps keep live, independent music thriving in Northeast Ohio.

🎥 Watch the clip, become a member, and get the invites!

Thanks for listening, supporting, and celebrating music with us!

🎙️ SPECIAL EPISODE ANNOUNCEMENT 🎶This week on The Americana Roundup, we’re honoring the music, legacy, and unmistakable ...
12/11/2025

🎙️ SPECIAL EPISODE ANNOUNCEMENT 🎶

This week on The Americana Roundup, we’re honoring the music, legacy, and unmistakable voice of Raul Malo of The Mavericks with a heartfelt tribute episode. 💙🎸

📻 Tune In on The Summit FM:
Friday, Dec. 12, 2025 • 7 PM
Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 • 9 AM

Listen live:
• 91.3 FM Akron–Canton
• 90.7 FM Youngstown
• 90.1 FM Athens
• thesummit.fm or the Summit app

🔁 Replays on AmericanaRoundup.com:
• Monday, Dec. 15 • 7 PM
• Wednesday, Dec. 17 • 9 AM
• Friday, Dec. 19 • 5 PM

Hosted by Ryan Humbert of The Shootouts, this special episode celebrates Raul Malo’s artistry, influence, and unforgettable contributions to Americana and beyond.
Don’t miss this tribute. 🌟

Rest in peace, Raul. ❤️

Whether it’s delightful or disturbing, from Halloween onward the world around us is filled with the sounds of Christmas ...
12/10/2025

Whether it’s delightful or disturbing, from Halloween onward the world around us is filled with the sounds of Christmas music. Over many generations, the sounds of the season have rung out. As each new wave of artists tried to add to the Christmas catalog, major and minor acts alike tossed their cap into the wreath.

The catalog of Christmas tunes is insane — from Crosby, Sinatra, and Ella, up through the Beach Boys, the Ventures, Chuck Berry, and so many more. Pick a genre, any genre, and there’s a shelf full of X-mas records waiting for you.

When it comes to contemporary Christmas albums, it’s hard to outdo JD McPherson’s Socks. Released in 2018, McPherson channels all his vintage rock-and-roll influences and molds them into something contemporary and revivalist at the same time — but most importantly, it’s a lot of fun.

Socks is timeless. This record could be a lost artifact from 1959, or it could have been recorded yesterday and released today. It’s all about the songs and the spirit, and this album overflows with both. McPherson’s decision to write and record an entire album of new Christmas songs was a stroke of genius. Instead of trotting out the same old standards, he and his ace band deliver a platter of fresh tunes for your holiday party. 🎄

“Ugly Sweater Blues,” “Hey Skinny Santa!,” “Santa’s Got a Mean Machine,” and “Holly, Carol, Candy & Joy” all stand as contemporary gems that capture the season with a healthy dose of humor. Already considered a modern-day masterpiece, Socks is fast becoming a seasonal staple that will last for generations to come. We already consider this Essential — so deck those halls, trim those trees, and egg that nog as Socks blasts from your radio! 📻

Tune in all day long Thursday, December 11 to hear “Socks” on the Summit FM as our Summit Essential Album of the day! 🧦

Over the past few weeks, we've had some difficult and very real conversations with regional artists and bands. The commo...
12/07/2025

Over the past few weeks, we've had some difficult and very real conversations with regional artists and bands. The common thread? It's really - really hard out there for most of them.

For 40 years, The Summit FM has championed Northeast Ohio's musicians and bands. Now, our challenge for 2026 is to be more than cheerleaders—we need to be a conduit to best practices that deliver real return on investment for their time and talents.

This winter, we're bringing everyone to the table: artists, bands, venue reps, promoters, and streaming services. Our goal is simple: to build a sustainable ecosystem where local music doesn't just survive—it thrives.

Because when our musicians succeed, our venues fill up. Our economy strengthens. Our culture deepens. And Northeast Ohio remains the vibrant, creative community we know it can be.

Local music isn't just entertainment. It's jobs. It's identity. It's the soundtrack of our region.

Stay tuned. This conversation is just getting started.

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