Power Source Magazine - February 2023

LEE LANCASTER Lee’s aspirations to be in broadcasting started early in life partly due to the success of his older brother (Jeff Davis – WLS Chicago). As a long-haired Rock and Roll DJ, Lee started his radio career in 1977. From the beginning, he felt there was something missing, “When God called me to Christian Radio in 1984, I knew He had a better plan for me that I could ever have for myself” shared Lancaster.

He’s spent the last 40 plus years using his gift and drive for the Lord, expressing the hope and power of Jesus Christ. Lee has served radio stations as Program Director, Operations Director, and General Manager. Currently serving as President/General Manager of Legacy Broadcasting and hosting the morning show on Today’s Christian Country. Legacy Broadcasting Inc. started the “Today’s Christian Country” format about 11 years ago on the terrestrial station KYMS 89.9 FM in (Spokane, WA DMA). All worked well, about 3 years ago, WUCG 93.1 reached out about sharing the format on their station which led to the purchase of Legacy’s second station in Dahlonega, Ga – WCDG 88.7 FM. Early 2022, Town Square Media reached out with an opportunity to add KHKM 98.7 FM, a 100,000-watt radio station in Missoula, MT. Now, Today’s Christian Country is on 4 radio stations, in the process of building two more radio stations and continuously looking for expansion opportunities.

“For those who aren’t familiar,” Lee explains, “with the differences between Christian Country and Southern Gospel” – “it’s Everything!” With over 40 years of history in mind, Lancaster is proud of Southern Gospel with its long list of great artists, it just isn’t Christian Country Music. In fact, Today’s Christian Country format includes many of the same artists as your local country radio station. The faithbased cuts from mainstream country artists like George Strait, Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley, Cody Johnson and more are mixed with the great pool of Christian Country artist like Scott Mac Brown, Delnora, Olivia Lane, Barry Lee White, Zach Ray and many more. When you put that all together with exceptional DJ talent, you have the format that makes Lee very proud. “To be honest,” said Lee “I would put this radio format up against any country radio station in America.” It has been a hard-fought battle for the Christian Country radio stations, Lee was asked back in the mid 90’s to do a Christian Country countdown – finding the talent to match the mainstream counterparts was nearly impossible, not enough to maintain a chart. Today, organizations like Inspirational Country Music Association (ICMA) and American Christian Country Music Association (ACCMA) are supporting/promoting the genre and artists.

The countdown chart issue disappeared with radio stations all over America catching up with the popularity of Christian Country music resulting in recognized charts like the Power Source Magazine Christian Country Top 40, Cashbox Christian Country 100, ACCMA Christian Country Top 40 and more.

“Today, you can see the popularity and growth on the charts,” said Lee, “You have Mainstream and Christian Country artists doing duets and so much more together.” The future is limitless with talents like Lee Lancaster supporting, promoting, and purposed to grow the genre.

Lee can be reached at lee@legacybroadcasting.org 38