67 hours of live radio, 90 guests, and over 600 unique songs. Radio Aftonbladet’s first week has featured everything from live coverage of the school attack in Fagersta to interviews with political party leaders, Sweden’s first astronaut, Icona Pop, and relationship advice from Robert Aschberg. Next up are interviews with political party leaders, starting with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.
“There’s been an incredible energy both in the studio and throughout the entire newsroom this first week. And the best part is all the feedback we’ve received from listeners who’ve already discovered the channel, reached out, and started making it their own. We know it takes time to build new listening habits, and this start gives us a lot of energy to continue developing the channel and get more people to engage with our journalism,” says Lotta Folcker, publisher at Aftonbladet.
At 6:30 a.m. on Monday, August 17, Radio Aftonbladet’s first live program aired across Sweden. The first guest to enter the studio was Sanna Hill, who had left the far right after 18 years. In an interview with Linda Hjertén and Alex Letic, she spoke about her journey out of the movement and was asked questions about her credibility and the views she had previously held.
During the week, the new radio newsroom also had to handle its first major breaking news situation. When news of the school attack in Fagersta broke around 2 p.m. on Friday, Radio Aftonbladet switched to live coverage immediately. Martina Thun and Markus Larsson led the coverage from the studio, backed by the entire Aftonbladet newsroom and providing ongoing updates as new information became available.
In other words, there's been quite a bit of radio by now.
Sweden’s first astronaut, Christer Fuglesang, has been a guest in the studio. Icona Pop has decided which female pop artist is actually the best, comedian Messiah Hallberg has given life a thumbs-up, and Zeina Mourtada has revealed the worst thing she’s ever eaten. Author Nicholas Lunabba, whose book is currently being adapted into a movie, visited the studio, and two party leaders took their seats in front of the microphones.
At the same time, Aftonbladet’s reporters and experts have been moving back and forth between the newsroom and the radio studio to keep listeners up to date on what’s happening. Political commentator My Rohwedder has been a regular voice in the studio this week; Sportbladet’s Simon Bank has explained the latest developments surrounding FIFA and Gianni Infantino; and foreign correspondent Johan-Mathias Sommarström has analyzed the situation regarding Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Entertainment personality Helle Schunnesson joined us on the very first morning to comment on the tragic death of actress Hayden Panettiere. Sportbladet’s Kristoffer Bergström was given a different assignment: to help host Martina Thun decide which hockey team she should call her own from now on.
And the listeners have been right there with them. When Robert Aschberg and Helle Schunnesson offered relationship advice, the chat was buzzing.
“The great thing is that we can start an hour with a serious news story and, 20 minutes later, discuss a listener’s relationship problems. The first week has shown the breadth of content we can bring to a single channel. That’s exactly how we want Radio Aftonbladet to work—always up-to-date, never boring,” says Caroline Kernen, head of radio and podcasts at Aftonbladet.
There has also been significant interest in the new channel from advertisers.
“The market response has been very strong right from the start. It’s especially gratifying to see the wide range of advertisers who have chosen to participate, and that the first campaigns have also delivered excellent results. This shows that Radio Aftonbladet not only offers a new alternative in the radio market, but also creates value for advertisers,” says Joakim Flodin, CEO of Schibsted Marketing Services.
Kristersson Is First Up in the Radio's Series of Interviews with Party Leaders
This week, Radio Aftonbladet continues its series of interviews with Sweden’s party leaders. First up is Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M), who will be a guest on the station today, Monday, at 10 a.m.
The interviews will be part of Radio Aftonbladet’s ongoing political coverage leading up to the 2026 election, with Aftonbladet’s political reporters and commentators on hand in the studio. My Rohwedder will interview the party leaders live on the air, before Robert Aschberg takes over and poses listeners’ questions directly to the leaders.
Three Songs That Are Radio Aftonbladet
News, sports, and entertainment are at the heart of Radio Aftonbladet. During its premiere week, the station also played over 600 unique songs. Stefan Sundberg, Radio Aftonbladet’s music director, has selected three songs that encapsulate the sound of the new station:
1. New Radicals – “You Get What You Give”
– A timeless ’90s hit that sounds just as fresh today as it did when it came out.
2. Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars – “Uptown Funk”
– A real banger that’ll get anyone’s feet moving.
3. Zara Larsson – “Midnight Sun”
– A modern Swedish hit with strong recognition and broad appeal. Just like Aftonbladet.
Radio Aftonbladet broadcasts live on weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on weekends from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The station can be heard nationwide on FM and is also available digitally via Aftonbladet.
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