WXPN is marking America’s 250th anniversary with four bold programming initiatives that position the station as the soundtrack to Philadelphia’s Semiquincentennial year. Through the WXPN Philly 250 countdown, the Philly Anthems commissioning project, Sound of History at the Museum of the American Revolution, and an extended World Cafe: Sense of Place — Philadelphia series, WXPN will honor the songs that shaped the city while amplifying the artists writing new ones in its spirit. The WXPN Philly 250 programming runs from May through early July and touches every corner of the city’s musical identity — from David Bowie at Sigma Sound to the Mummers String Band tradition to new commissions from Christian McBride and Devon Gilfillian.

Philly Anthems: New Music for the WXPN Philly 250 Era

Philly Anthems, supported by The Pew Center for Arts and Heritage, commissions new works from five established artists — Christian McBride, Eric Bazilian, Devon Gilfillian, Eliza Hardy Jones, and Lady Alma — alongside seven rising Philadelphia artists. Each piece is created specifically for the project as a contemporary reflection on the concept of independence.

To extend the reach of WXPN Philly 250 programming, the station has launched the 24 Hour Song Challenge — Philly Anthems Edition, with registration open now at songchallenge.xpn.org. A surprise prompt drops June 6, and creators have 24 hours to write and record an original song. The grand prize includes a $5,000 honorarium, performance slots at both the XPoNential Music Festival and Philly Music Fest, a $500 Russo Music gift card, 10 hours of studio time at MilkBoy Recording Studio, songwriting workshops, a premium WXPN membership, and a spot on the upcoming Philly Anthems album.

The WXPN Philly 250 Countdown: July 3 Through 5

From July 3 through 5, the WXPN Philly 250 takes center stage with a special programming series counting down the top 250 songs from, by, and about Philadelphia. Beginning May 4, the station rolls out more than 40 essential moments in local music history through daily on-air features — from David Bowie recording Young Americans at Sigma Sound Studios to the inaugural Roots Picnic in 2008 and Pearl Jam closing out the Spectrum in 2009. Philadelphia’s live music scene has been building momentum all spring, and the WXPN Philly 250 countdown gives the city a definitive playlist to carry into the Fourth of July weekend.

Sound of History and World Cafe Complete the WXPN Philly 250 Programming

On Juneteenth, the Museum of the American Revolution debuts Sound of History — a collaboration between ArtPhilly, Black Music City, WXPN, WRTI, and RECPhilly. Artists Zeek Burse and Laurin Talese spent six months embedded with the Museum, exploring its collections and engaging with historians to create original compositions bridging 1776 and 2026. The premieres take place on June 19 during Philadelphia’s inaugural What Now: 2026 citywide arts festival.

Free tickets are available now. Finally, WXPN turns its acclaimed World Cafe: Sense of Place series toward its hometown for an extended two-week run airing June 22 through July 3. The series dives into Philadelphia’s DIY scene, American Bandstand, the Mummers String Band tradition, and Revolutionary-era music with new interviews alongside archive selections featuring Christian McBride, Dr. Dog, Mannequin Pussy, Questlove, The War on Drugs, Japanese Breakfast, and Todd Rundgren.

About Post Author

Allan Lane

Philadelphia born and bred, Allan Lane is the Publisher and Editor in Chief of digital magazines. He launched his first publication, SportBikes Inc Magazine in 2010, followed by dosage MAGAZINE in 2019. Recently, Allan launched his third online publication, Club For Man. As a journalist, Allan covers fashion, lifestyle, culture, art, and motorcycles.

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