We’re Running Out of Radio
Back in September one of my favorite radio stations, 95.9 FM The FOX, suddenly stopped being the classic rock station it had been for as long as anyone could remember, and became a repeater of the AM news station WICC.
It was a total surprise to me, and based on the fact that just a few weeks prior The FOX had a table at a huge outdoor Sublime with Rome concert, and was giving away promotional swag, I’m guessing the folks at the station didn’t know it was about to happen either.
Over two months after the switch, 95.9 still sat at #1 in my car stereo’s presets, not because I wanted to hear the news, or that I was expecting the station to return to its previous form, it was because I couldn’t find another station to replace it with.
Back in college (’96 to ’00) I had TWELVE FM radio stations in my presets, and I’d flip through all of them. In the present I was struggling to find a sixth. That’s when I realized – we’re running out of radio.
I know things like satellite radio, and streaming have taken over, but traditional, terrestrial radio has played such a huge role in my life that I don’t want to let it go.
When I was a child, 101.1 WCBS-FM – then an oldies station, now a “classic hits” station – was the soundtrack to weekend family dinners. We’d eat while listening to part of a Top 40 from a specific year, followed by a little bit of The Doo-Wop Shop. This would lead to my parents diving into their record collection, as they would tell me about everyone from The Beatles, to The Rascals, to The Rolling Stones. It was the beginning of my music education.
Radio was also how, when it snowed, all of us kids would find out if we’d get the day off from school. It was actually exciting listening to hear for your school’s name, as we all hoped we’d be spending the day in our pjs, watching game shows, or playing video games.
As I grew older I would eventually get my own stereo, and listen to current Top 40 countdowns. Yes, I’m old enough to remember hearing the voice of Casey Kasem.
I’d also listen to things like the High Five at Nine on Z100, which opened my ears to songs I hadn’t heard before. This was actually where I heard 2 Live Crew for the first time.
Once I had a car, my station list grew to include hip-hop, pop, rock, dance, and oldies stations. With 12 presets there was always something worth listening to, and since this was in the days before the internet, I was very thankful when the DJ would say the name of the artist they’d just played, so I wouldn’t have to go into the record store, and say, “I’m looking for the song that goes …” then warble a few lyrics.
When my career as a music journalist was in full swing I was invited by DJ Cue to be a guest on his radio show on WVOF 88.5 FM. The on-air chemistry was so good that by the end of the two hours he asked me to be his co-host. This led to a completely unexpected five years in radio that included hosting my own show, and having a show with my good friend DJ Halo.
Halo and I did some amazing things on air, including recording a mixtape live for our friends LEFTist (RIP), and C.O.N.C.E.P.T.
We also did some ridiculous things on the air, like a midnight interview with Slug from Atmosphere that went so far off the rails it must have sounded like everyone involved was stoned out of their mind.
I miss those days. I’m sure not everyone at the station was a fan of our antics, but they couldn’t complain much, because always did everything by the book, and we were one of the only shows that actually wrote down our playlist for submission to the college radio charts.
All of these things are reasons why radio means a lot to me. It hasn’t just been there every step of the way, it’s played a big role in some of the most important steps of my life.
Sitting in my car the other day I reluctantly put a station that sounds like every other pop station as the replacement for The Fox. When I flip to it, I’m unimpressed, but it’s better than hearing local news.
We’re running out of radio, but I’ll keep tuning in until the end.
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