The WMNF Song of the Day for June 12, 2026 is “Bus to Tampa Bay” by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers.
WMNF has a long relationship with Mr. Thomas Earl Petty, most common known as Tom Petty. In fact, for years we have been marking his birthday by hosting the annual Tom Petty Tribute show. We are very likely to be hosting this popular event again in 2026!
Tom Petty is from Gainesville, just a couple hours bus ride north of Tampa Bay on I-75. TO our ear, there’s a hint of Mudcrutch in the loose, rootsy atmosphere of “Bus to Tampa Bay” that reaches back to Tom Petty’s Gainesville days. The song feels deeply connected to Petty’s lifelong fascination with outsiders, drifters, and people chasing redemption somewhere down the road. Combined with the historical imagery of Osceola and the Everglades, the song becomes a meditation on resistance and survival.
For more: https://www.tompetty.com/
