Ōtautahi radio just got a new secret sauce

Launching Monday, May 11, The Sauce 96.1 brings alternative rap, hip-hop and local culture to Ōtautahi airwaves, prioritising authentic human connection. 

“I’m so excited for Ōtautahi to see the hard work our whole team has put into The Sauce over the last few months, and I hope everyone loves it as much as we loved making it,” said Cooper Atherton, Head of Brand and Engagement at The Sauce.  

On air across Ōtautahi until June 26, the station is speaking to 18 to 29-year-olds craving more personality-driven, community-focused radio.  

The Sauce believes there’s a gap in the market for a station that speaks directly to younger audiences, especially educated young men, without softening its tone for older demographics. 

The station’s founders say there is growing disillusionment among younger audiences with streaming platforms, driven by concerns over artist pay and the use of AI.  

Instead, The Sauce 96.1 wants to bring listeners back to the communal side of music discovery, with local artists, shared conversations and on-air moments no algorithm can replicate.  

And they’re not launching quietly. 

A launch party is set for May 9 at Smash Palace, alongside a burger collaboration with a Christchurch chain, a pairing that’s well-seasoned for community radio.  

It’s also leaning on TikTok livestreams, Instagram polls and interactive content to connect with listeners where they already are, deep in their feeds.  

The Sauce 96.1 is hoping to show that radio still matters in how a generation connects through music. 

The Sauce 96.1 weekly schedule: 

Breakfast 6am - 9am - Rise & Rhyme (Cooper, Jasmine, Roza) 

Midday 9am - 12pm - Morning Mix (Frankie) 

Afternoon 12pm - 3pm - Rydan Solo (Rydan) 

Drive 3pm - 6pm - The Drive Thru (Liam and Willow) 

Nights 6pm – 9pm - The Rap Up (Josh)