Flava (radio station)

Flava

Broadcast area	5 markets in New Zealand
Programming
Format	Classic hip hop
Ownership
Owner	NZME Radio
Links
Webcast	iHeartRadio stream
Website	flava.co.nz

Flava (formerly Cool Blue 96.1) is a New Zealand classic hip hop and R&B music radio network. The network is owned by NZME Radio, and is operated and produced from the company's Auckland offices and studios on Graham Street. It competes directly with MediaWorks New Zealand's Auckland long-running modern urban music station Mai FM.^[1][2][3]

The Flava brand reaches an estimated 175,100 listeners every week, with 13,900 average weekly unique visitors to its website and about 228,000 likes on its Facebook page. The network claims to provide "fresh and funky beats" for "urban consumers", with a focus on the metropolitan and cosmopolitan culture of Generation Y. The target audience is educated, upwardly-mobile with strong family ties and a community orientation. It is under 35 with a female skew. The station features advertising for concerts, cars, phones and other consumer brands.^[3]

Flava broadcasts classic hip hop and R&B music. The network features music from artists like Missy Elliot, Rihanna, Vic Mensa, Kanye West, Mariah Carey, Dr. Dre, Juicy J, Nicki Minaj, Beyoncé, Timbaland, Ciara, Wiz Khalifa and Chris Brown.^[4] It also promotes local New Zealand artists, like Six60, Sons of Zion, Tomorrow People.^[5] A competition in 2011 invited listeners to record over tracks, for the chance to have to the track professionally recorded and played on Flava.^[6]