November 21, 2015
iRadioPhilly/Contributed Art
"The Secrets of Isis" was a 1970s television show that served as part of the inspiration for iRadioPhilly's "Isis" station.
A Philadelphia radio station with a title that matches the acronym for a terrorist organization is considering changing its name.
Internet station iRadioPhilly, which consists of a number of online stations aimed at a Philadelphia audience, says they named their "Isis" channel back in 2010 before the terrorist group, commonly reffered to as ISIS, started making headlines, most recently claiming responsibility for killing more than 120 people in Paris.
According to the station, Isis was the name of an Egyptian goddess and a 1975 television series about an archaeology school teacher that turns into the goddess, who was the patroness of nature and magic and the ideal mother.
The station says the name fit the type of image they were trying to give a channel that would play artists like Kelly Clarkson and Nickelback.
Yet any mention of "Isis" became associated with horrific violence and extremism in 2013 when the terrorist group started making the news, linking the station's name to the Islamic State. Here's what iRadioPhilly said in a press release:
In the minds of most people, the name ISIS is now known for radical terror, not ideal motherhood or a superhero goddess. Tune into Isis on iRadioPhilly and one can’t escape horrific images of terror every time the station name is mentioned.
The station isn't dropping the name as of now. They're currently asking for listener feedback on what they should change the title to since people have suggested they get rid of the "Isis" moniker.
One commenter on the Facebook post about potentially changing the name wrote, "yes, if noting else a new listener could get the wrong idea?"
Dan McQuade of Philadelphia Magazine points out that's a very good possibility. According to him, a station ID that plays between songs reads, "Isis — radio hits that keep you smiling,"
