Who we are
Funk the Planet is an independent online radio station dedicated to celebrating the evolution of funk and its many stylistic offshoots. Streaming from Santa Barbara, California, it has become known among music enthusiasts for its deep, eclectic playlists spanning five decades of funk heritage. The station is curated by veteran funk and soul DJ Vince Leo, whose programming aims to connect listeners with both foundational artists and contemporary innovators in the genre.
Its music format covers an expansive range of subgenres, including classic funk, boogie, jazz-funk, neo-soul, the Minneapolis Sound, new jack swing, and nu-funk. This broad spectrum ensures that listeners experience the roots of 1970s groove as well as the more electronic, forward-looking sounds of modern funk production. Funk the Planet’s playlists often transition seamlessly between eras, placing legends such as James Brown or Parliament alongside artists who shaped later decades of R&B and neo-soul, blending electric basslines, brass arrangements, and vibrant rhythms that embody funk’s evolution.
Although the station began as a way for Vince to reconnect with his Southern California radio listeners from back in the day, the proliferation of the internet allows it to operate fully as an internet radio stream accessible through several apps and platforms, in addition to this website. Through these services, Funk the Planet maintains a steady presence for international listeners who appreciate funk’s distinctive rhythm-driven spirit.
Funk the Planet positions itself not only as an entertainment channel but also as a cultural curator of groove-based music. Its carefully selected tracks appeal to both long-time funk devotees and younger audiences discovering the genre’s influence on today’s R&B, funk, and modern soul scenes. By bridging classic and contemporary sounds, the station demonstrates how funk continues to shape global music culture — keeping its message of rhythm, movement, and creative connection alive for a worldwide audience..
ABOUT VINCE LEO
Vince Leo is the founder, music programmer, and curator of Funk the Planet, an online radio station that celebrates the global spirit of funk. A lifelong fan of groove-driven music, Vince thinks like a curator when he programs. He blends classic funk, hidden gems, independent artists, and international rhythms to create a focused listening experience. His aim is clear: to showcase funk as a living culture with roots, context, and global reach.
Vince’s broadcasting journey started in the late 1980s at KCSB-FM, the University of California, Santa Barbara’s community radio station. There, until his departure in the early 2000s, he embraced a freeform format and learned the importance of authenticity, musical diversity, and service-minded programming. This experience helped him realize that independent radio should highlight both legends and new voices while remaining consistent, professional, and respectful to listeners.
Beyond radio, Vince has a long career in podcasting, but in a different field. He hosts Around the World in 80s Movies and To The 90s and Beyond! Film Podcast. In these shows, he examines film history, genre films, and pop culture with careful analysis and a global viewpoint. His background in long-form audio production has improved his skills in pacing, storytelling, and dependable content delivery, which enhances the structure and reliability of Funk the Planet’s 24/7 stream.
Since 1996, Vince has also published film criticism through Qwipster.net, one of the web’s longest-running independent review sites. Years of writing and curating content online have given him a strong grasp of audience engagement, editorial standards, and sustainable independent media.
With Funk the Planet, Vince combines his college radio roots, years of online publishing, and broad audio production experience to create a professional and accessible funk station. Built on a clear curatorial vision, consistent scheduling, and respect for music culture, Funk the Planet honors the independent radio tradition while offering a vibrant international funk sound for its Santa Barbara listeners, with an eye toward a global audience.
Contact us
Interested in a certain band or song you’d like us to add, or do you have a business you’d like us to advertise? Email us at requests@funkthepla.net or fill out the form to the right with your information, and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!