On the air with Ken Date (first broadcast on 2RRR: 10 June 1992)

Each Saturday morning, between 7 and 10, I present 3 hours of what I call "Sydney’s coolest country". The aim of the program is to present a wide cross-section of country music, but country that stays true to the ideals and themes of the genre. I love a good cheatin’ and drinkin’ song, almost as much as I enjoy songs about lovin’ and leavin’. Those topics are always a welcome item on my show.

I play country music from all over the world, although there is a preponderance of American country in the program. The reason for this is that my only criterion for a song being included on the program’s playlist is that it be a good song, wherever it is from. It just so happens that much of what I like originates in the USA, but I do play a selection of Australian country music, as well as products from other countries. I am one of the only DJs in Australia (if not the world) that plays Japanese country music. The Japanese material is always a popular choice and proves that good country music, that honours the integrity of the style, can be made by people that are not born in the USA.

Mostly, I like to have fun with the program. It is important to enjoy the music you play (I can’t imagine working for a radio station where you were required to play music that you didn’t like or even where you had no role in the selection in the music). I choose the songs myself and endeavour to ensure there is a fair mix of styles and moods. Some people think that my program tends towards being a little too dominated by male artists, but I do play plenty of material by the ladies. From time to time, I devote parts of programs (or even entire programs) to a particular theme. Songs about drinking are always a good filler, but I have also had "girls only" programs and I sometimes present a short tribute to an artist after they have died. In 2002 I presented a special program entitled Marital Mayhem and devoted the entire program to cheatin' songs. This was so successful that such a program is now an annual event and is broadcast on the last Saturday in July. The Saturday nearest St Valentines Day is celebrated with three hours of "country lurve" songs and the Saturday nearest September 29 is used to pay tribute to the 'Killer'. Each program features a 15 minute country gospel segment at 9 am.

Every program opens and closes with the same theme songs – Floyd Cramer’s On the Rebound and Last Date, respectively.