Stations weighing a switch to contemporary Christian programming have a new syndicated option. SonicTrek Media has launched Manna, a Christian Hot AC format and the company's seventh, with veteran programmer and consultant Rob Wagman behind it.
The pitch centers on AI. According to SonicTrek Managing Partner and CEO/Formats Division Joel Denver, Manna uses real radio personalities and AI personas of those personalities to produce timely content localized for each affiliate market. Wagman said the music strategy is also built market by market rather than copying one national playlist. Denver described it as an end-to-end format that can sound local without the cost of building a full programming and talent staff, aimed at stations with underperforming signals, stations needing a new direction, and operators looking for an alternative to national Christian networks.
One of the format's voices is an AI version of Sparkle, who was midday host on CHR WSSX and did nights on Classic Hits WIWF in Charleston, S.C., until she exited in Cumulus Media's August layoffs. She previously worked in the Christian format at Radio Training Network's His Radio.
Wagman was Director of Network Programming for WAY-FM and hosted afternoons on Christian AC WFSH Los Angeles. His commercial radio career includes programming WIBT Charlotte, WEZB New Orleans and WFBC-FM Greenville, and serving as APD/MD of WNOW-FM New York, along with roles at WNTQ Syracuse, WFLZ Tampa and AllAccess.com, where he worked with Denver from 1999 to 2005.
SonicTrek did not announce affiliates, launch markets or pricing.