Radio aficionados find the app in happiness
Awhile back, I asked you what your favorite app stations and podcasts were; I thought today would be a good time to feature a few more:
• Daryl James spent 25 years doing FM rock radio in the Inland Empire, most recently at KCXX (now KHTI 103.9 FM), where he worked for an impressive 17 years. He nominated his own station, which I’d like to point out is not against the rules, of which there were none.
“When KCXX went to pop, I started streaming music on Dirty Radio; we have two stations available and stream rock, metal, alternative, and classic rock,” James told me.
The two stations are Dirty Radio and Dirty Radio Classics, both of which are quite good. Find them at dirtyradio.fm, or visit the Google or Apple App store and download the apps.
If you want some background on the stations, go to sbsun.com and search “starting Dirty Radio.”
• Kevin Sammons of Crestline had several possibilities to share. “I actually keep a relatively long list of stations that I like to stream covering quite a few formats. I will limit myself to just three that are among the best of the best.
“WWOZ New Orleans: While classified as a non-commercial jazz station, there is no doubt this station has a total NOLA vibe that’s often more like listening to a Mardi Gras parade than a jazz club. wwoz.org
“KBear 101 (KCVI Blackfoot, Idaho): Especially since you have written a lot recently about stations that might flip to active rock, I’ve thought for a long time that this station does the best job with the music mix. It is at kbear.fm
“Music City Roadhouse: A non-commercial online station out of Nashville playing southern rock, blues, and honky tonk, at least during the daytime when I usually get to listen, the main guy running this station knows what he’s doing. He’s on live like an OTA station, knows how to connect with his audience, and plays a good mix of music that sticks within what he has staked out as his format. I only wish I had the time and money to make my own online station sound this lively. It is available on at least seven different apps including TuneIn and Live365. musiccityroadhouse.com.”
• “The best radio app is KEXP out of Seattle!” — Matt Homman
Found on various apps as well as at kexp.org, KEXP is celebrating 50 years of service to Seattle, currently playing a variety of music focusing on rock, including electronic, soul, hip-hop, alternative and more. Studios are in the city’s Uptown Arts District. Somehow that seems fitting.
• “My favorite radio station is Cool Blue out of Taupo, New Zealand. It plays blues, Americana, soul, jazz etc, etc. No ads, no DJs, no repeats or high rotation…just Music! It can be found online here coolbluetaupo.com.” — Bruce M
• Marc C offers a few favorites for weekend listening:
“KHUG-LP 97.5 FM, Santa.Clarita: “Noon Sunday, The Down Home
Show: There’s no other show like it in Southern California; it salutes talented artists from Valencia and San Fernando.
“3:00 p.m., Side A / Side B with Lou Paparozzi: A tasty bag of themed music that is always interesting and informative.
“4:00 p.m., Backbeat Charlie Show: A thematic music show offering up musical treats.
“KJAA 1240 AM, Miami/Globe Arizona,
another great oldies station. Their motto is ‘None of the hits, All of the time … We don’t play the old same songs over and over…we play different old songs over and over.’ ”
All of these stations can be accessed on TuneIn Radio.
• Peter A. Keon writes: “A few years ago, somehow, I came across WLVN out of Livingston, Montana on Audacy. What I really like about this station is that most of the music is tied to the years of WWII. The lyrics are very entertaining, and commercials are played from that time such as with Frank Sinatra talking about war bonds and one I recently heard with Bob Hope. I enjoy waking up and seeing what is on each morning.”
All excellent selections; thank you for sending them and keep on sending them in. You may notice I have not given my favorites yet. That is coming soon, after a few more of yours. One thing that IM, or Internet Modulation, stations (you heard the term here first) do is give you formats that you can’t get locally on AM or FM.