How A New Hampshire Station Helped Launch Taylor Swift’s Career

Swifties all over the world need to know this news for their podcasts, articles, embroidered clothes, tribute tattoos and most of all, to be the one Swiftie that knows EVERYTHING about Taylor.  Her music was played first by this New Hampshire radio station and here’s how it happened.

Back in 2003, Taylor and her Dad Scott were in the New England area to try to promote her music career. Scott called WOKQ, a 50,000 watt country radio station that covers all of New England and parts of Canada.  Scott wanted to know if he could bring his 13 year old daughter in to the station to play for the Program Director.  At that time, it was Mark Ericson.

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97.5, WOKQ Was the First Radio Station to “EVER. EVER, EVER” play Taylor Swift

When I spoke to Mark, here’s what he had to say:

What Did You Notice Most About Taylor’s Songs Early In Her Career?

The songs were all about relationships.  That’s always been a theme.  They sounded like someone much older than 13, would understand.  The writing was incredible.

When Taylor and her Dad came in to the Station, was she the one doing the talking or was it her Dad?

She was kind of shy and kind of on the quiet side, if you can believe it.  She literally communicates through her music.  But when things started to click, she was definitely the one driving the bus. Scott would tell you now, that Taylor is running the show.

With her drive to be the best, it didn’t take long for Taylor to become an established artist.  In 2006, she came back to the Portsmouth Gaslight and made a special appearance for 97.5, WOKQ.

Taylor made another visit to the WOKQ studios in Dover, New Hampshire, but when she rang the doorbell, no one came to answer and she couldn’t get in.  Taylor had to knock on the window of the building to get someone’s attention to let her in!

Recently, NH Chronicle did a segment on this very subject and interviewed New Hampshire Swifties of all ages and types.  They can now have a little pride that they come from the state who played her music first.

Mark Ericson will always have a special place in Taylor’s family and in her heart, I’m sure.  He told me about a time that he brought his nieces to see her in concert and while she was singing one of her songs, she came off the stage and handed his nieces friendship bracelets that SHE WAS CURRENTLY WEARING.  Holy moly.

Now you know.  97.5, WOKQ was the very first radio station in America to play Taylor’s music.  I’m hoping that she’ll come back for old time’s sake.  Anytime, Taylor, anytime… and I promise, I’ll answer the doorbell.