I’ve long loved radio and decided to put all my favorites in one place. I’m not sure when I first loved listening to the radio, but as a child, I remember listening with headphones late into the night, long after I was supposed to be asleep. I also made plenty of mix tapes. That doesn’t even mention one of my favorite childhood pastimes, creating radio stations, original jingles included, using a Fischer Price tape recorder. Today, I can’t stand to be in a car without the radio on. Enjoy.
Michigan State University Student Radio
My senior year at MSU I decided to get involved with the major student radio station on campus. It is something I did purely for my personal enjoyment. I love music, and playing music, that much. Everyone involved with Impact 89FM starts out on their online training station The Fix. After learning the basics, you are left alone to spin music for a few hours by yourself. You can’t imagine how much fun I had in the studio! My only regret is that I didn’t get involved as a freshman.
Mid-Michigan Favorites
WHNN-FM
94.5 The Moose
98 KCQ
102.5 WIOG
WSGW – NEWSRADIO 790
FM TALK 100.5 AND SPORTS!
The radio stations I always associate with my childhood are WHNN-FM and 102.5 WIOG. Throughout my later elementary school years, I rode to school with my Mom, who taught 6th grade at the time. She listened to WHNN-FM every morning to catch Johnny Burke’s morning show. Thanks to that station, I know the music of the 50s, 60s, and 70s pretty well – and appreciate it. I still listen to Johnny Burke every morning on my way to work. WHNN-FM covers a huge chunk of Michigan.
While WHNN-FM catered to my parents’ generation, 102.5 WIOG is still home to current pop. It was the radio station as a teenager. Like WHNN-FM, 102.5 WIOG has a huge reach. Unless you liked country as a teenager, you listened to 102.5 WIOG. Back in the 90s, mainstream alternative and SKA ruled the air waves.
94.5 The Moose and 98 KCQ are the two big country stations in Mid-Michigan. Growing up, I hated country music. Now, there is a lot of it I love. In my opinion, pop isn’t nearly as relevant as it once was. Country is now the genre featuring the best artists and innovation. I grew up a fan of Michael Jackson, Madonna, Motown, and the Beatles. Today I love Toby Keith, Blake Sheldon, Miranda Lambert, and even the Dixie Chicks. Go figure.
News, Talk, The Tigers
WSGW – NEWSRADIO 790
FM TALK 100.5 AND SPORTS!
Driving anywhere with my Grandma during the summer months meant the Detroit Tigers on WSGW – NEWSRADIO 790 and Ernie Harwell. Any radio broadcast of the Tigers will remind me always and forever of my Grandma.
Back in the day FM TALK 100.5 AND SPORTS! actually turned into a pirate radio station for a while. I love the concept of anything to do with pirates. Before that, it happened to be an alternative to 102.5 WIOG.
Austin, Texas
KOOP :: Community Radio for Austin, TX – KOOP Hornsby-Austin
Where do I even begin with KOOP? It is the reason why I love Austin so much to this day. Somehow I consented to go on a blind date with a man who happened to be very involved with KOOP. At the time, he hosted the show ATX Live. He is still involved with KOOP after serving as president of the co-op for several years. Today he serves as the Tech Team Area Coordinator for KOOP.
At the time, his involvement with KOOP led to us spending plenty of time together checking out local bands, artists, and even festivals. Andy even introduced me to one of my best friends in Austin, his former manager Cheryl. Of course, they originally meet through KOOP. I can’t begin to imagine Austin without the music.
It was directly as a result of Andy’s involvement in KOOP that I decided to go back to MSU and get involved with the Impact 89FM, even if only for one semester.
You can read more about my experiences in Austin below:
Ten Long Years … | Ramblings of a Misguided Blonde
NPR
WCMU / CMU Public Radio
NPR : National Public Radio : News & Analysis, World, US, Music & Arts : NPR
Fresh Air from WHYY : NPR
Arts & Life : NPR
Below is an article discussing a recent interview on NPR. It is the perfect example of why I tune in.
Meryl Streep: The Fresh Air Interview : NPR
Internet
Pandora Radio – Listen to Free Internet Radio, Find New Music
The Beatles
Undoubtedly the internet is saving the radio from obscurity. I love the fact that in many cases fans can now go to the website of their favorite band and/or artist and listen in. In particular, I love The Beatles website for this. Not only do they play everything in the Beatles’ catalog, they play John, Paul, George, and Ringo’s solo work as well. What is there not to like?
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Have you thought of redirecting your personal efforts and becoming involved in broadcasting today? Follow your dreams! It took me too long.
Bob, I’m not really sure. My dream is to become a writer. I can see broadcasting being a fun part of that at some point. I feel like it is taking me way too long to figure things out too.
Lindsey