response 26 of 41:

Feb 20 08:02 UTC 1999

I only have six presets, which is really a pain considering all the 
stations I listen to.  I might as well mention the stations.  My presets 
are, in a sequential but irrelevant order, 88.7, 97.1, 101.1, 102.9, 
99.7, 105.1

89X:  all the time anywhere between battle creek and marion, ohio.  By 
far the most prevalent and consistent (that is, there's always music, 
and some of it doesn't suck) station I can listen to.

97.1 has moved almost exclusively to talk during the week, which pisses 
me off.  I plays good stuff on weekends.

101.1 talks in the morning and occasionally plays tired stuff, but they 
have a lot of good stuff.  

102.9 also now has talk in the morning.  The music they play is quite 
good.

99.7 is a Columbus station that I can start picking up southeast of 
Findlay.  It plays Howard Stern in the mornings, but is otherwise a 
terrific station.  They even tell you some of the songs you'll be 
hearing in the next hour.

105.1 plays more music than most and plays it good too.

96.3 occasionally plays a tolerable song.  106.1 does too, but it plays 
a completely different type of music.  I've taken to 104.7, which is 
only two clicks from a preset and plays a good mix of old and modern 
stuff (sometimes I'm in a mood for Jimi and Led Zepplin).  106.6/97.3 is 
similar to 101.1 but for Toledo.  105.7 in Columbus is a strange station 
which plays a wider variety.  Uhhh I occasionally listen to 101.1 in 
Columbus, too, but only when I have no other choice.  Low coverage.

response 28 of 41:

Feb 22 00:16 UTC 1999

I'm still upset that 105.1 is no longer the excellent classical station 
that it used to be.  Grr.  I don't suppose anyone knows a full-time 
classical station in the Ann Arbor area, does anyone?  

response 30 of 41:

Feb 22 01:13 UTC 1999

...CBET also plays more of a variety of classical music (pieces by obscure
composers, or for ususual instruments, or pieces by big-name composers which
don't get played as often, etc.)

response 32 of 41:

Feb 22 02:30 UTC 1999

Yeah, but it's usually pretty good.  I've taken to listening to Canadian
broadcasting more than just about any other station on the radio (that is,
voluntarily).  Some shows to watch for are Yurgan Goff (I'm sure I spelled
that wrong) on weekday afternoons and "The Vinal Cafe," on Saturday morning.
The former is nuts, moreso than most canadian broadcasters, likely to play
just about anything on a whim, and the latter is a show styled in the format
of "A Prarie Home Companion," only a little more laid back.  The host's
ongoing stories about a little Canadian familly could give "Tales from Lake
Wobegone," a run for it's money.
<end plug>

response 34 of 41:

Feb 22 07:43 UTC 1999

I've gotten familiar with the radio stations of south Washington state 
(in the West, Central, and Eastern areas).  It's not incredibly 
diverse-- the big change is when you hit Seattle.

Throughout most of Central and Eastern Washington, country dominates the 
airwaves, with about approximately 3-4 stations in any given area.  I 
live in a cow town, and I think it's toward the higher end.  The other 
formats in these two areas are Top 40/R&B/Dance, "classic" rock, 90's 
hard rock, soft rock, and 80's and 90's.  Without a doubt, I would agree 
that radio takes a niche market for advertisers and plays music that 
will draw in the audience as customers.

Community radio does exist, however.  I can hear plenty of blues and 
folk rock on "The Johnny Amigo" show on the Yakima radio station when 
I'm in town in Yakima. (For those of you who don't know where Yakima is, 
is where those Washington apples you eat are from-- and the Tree Top 
plant is in nearby Selah.)

There is a lone Christian station called "The Force" (98.7) that plays 
around the Toppenish/Wapato/Granger area.  Don't worry about where isn't 
at-- this is basically beer and farm country.

Seattle divvies up their music into jazz, light jazz, rap, hip-hop/R&B, 
and the usual rock categories.  They also have a Christian station.

So I suppose that it's not that much different out here.

Alanis Morrisette annoys me.  I don't find her talented, and I don't 
appreciate her whiny, complaining, life-is-so-bad songs.  She doesn't 
even write her own songs still.  I'll take another look at her if she 
can last 10 more years and she outgrows teen angst.

Whatever happened to They Might Be Giants?  I love their music, even 
though I haven't yet consulted the website to learn all the political 
references of their lyrics.   

response 36 of 41:

Feb 22 16:18 UTC 1999

I can get Toledo's public radio station at 91.3 on my car radio, which 
plays classical music throughout the day, except morning/evening 
drive times when Morning Edition and All Things Considered are playing.  

response 38 of 41:

Feb 22 22:36 UTC 1999

resp:35 Glad you liked your stay in Yakima, John, even if it was a short 
one.  I consider it a bright spot in Central Washington-- the rest is 
boring unless you live at the Gorge in George or something (the Gorge is 
 a natural gorge used for music concerts).

response 40 of 41:

Feb 23 00:12 UTC 1999

TMBG was in Columbus just a few weeks ago, I missed the concert 
unfortunately. They had a new song out rather recently "Dr. Worm".