The Week of Listening Randomly (Again)

Readers appreciate the station recommendations they get from the Ross on Radio column. I appreciate the tips that I get from readers, including those about their own stations. Reader Donovan Tildesley found fan favorite KDRI (The Drive) Tucson, Ariz. This week, he let me know that the station he once co-owned had made an unusual format segue. I’m glad when readers reach out; I need guidance through an infinite dial of 100,000-plus stations, too.

That recently changed station, CKEE (Whistler FM) Whistler, B.C., was Triple-A for more than a decade. Six weeks ago, it made an uncommon segue to Top 40, aggressive both on new music and throwbacks. The added factor of Canadian Content means that it’s a unique experience for a North American CHR and a good choice for somebody looking for new music in a radio atmosphere, not just a playlist.

WTSQ Charleston, W. Va., is a non-comm Triple-A modeled on KEXP Seattle or KCMP (The Current) Minneapolis. They came to my attention when PD Shanen Wright reached out to let me know about listeners’ very different Song of the Summer choices. (See the list here.) The station slogan “The Status Quo” is “pure irony,” Wright says. The station plays a lot of local music and is in the process of launching a “CharlesTunes” stream of local music. Recommended listening time: after 5 p.m. on Friday when Wright says the station is at its most mainstream.

Mainstream AC WMGS (Magic 93) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton probably should have gotten a mention a few weeks ago in a story about the market’s three-way Classic Hits battle. Sins of omission in this column are never intentional. Hearing PD/p.m. driver Stan Phillips was one of those radio affirming experiences, when you feel like you are still hearing radio at full-strength. I also listened to their sister station (and a sister station of theirs).

WBHT (Hot 97.1) Wilkes-Barre launched more than 30 years ago, during Top 40’s early ‘90s nadir, to provide an alternative to the adult-leaning WKRZ. Most of those stations aren’t still here. I liked hearing PD Valentine and the attention the station gives to new music. I also listened to Cumulus sister WWWQ (Q99.7) Atlanta this week because PD Louie Diaz was the first PD to start playing Meghan Trainor’s “Criminal” after its showcase on Netflix’s The Perfect Couple. After 10 days, it’s in the CHR top 50.

Scott Shannon’s True Oldies Channel is back on the New York broadcast dial thanks to WINS-FM-HD3. While Shannon’s older gold channel has always been one click away, hearing it on an HD radio did allow me one serious oldies geek experience: seeing the WINS calls displayed next to “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” by the Animals which was, technically, playing on WINS for the first time since its Top 40 AM switched to News in 1965.

Gold Radio UK: As Capital Gold, they were a big part of my education on UK oldies when they began streaming in the late ‘90s. They have existed in recent years as “Gold,” an older-leaning alternative to Bauer’s successful Greatest Hits network. Last week, when owner Global revamped their digital radio lineup, they also added new jingles, slightly changed the name and positioning, and added a few more ‘80s. It’s still a good choice if you’re looking for a Classic Hits mix that’s older, different than the U.S., but still hit-driven.

WIIN (Blues 102.1) Jackson, Miss. This week, owner Digio launched Jackson’s first Alternative outlet, Rock 93.1, sending one of radio’s unique rated-market choices to a new frequency. WIIN plays Classic R&B and Southern Soul going back to the ‘60s. Listening to a station like this one always gives me a new song to download and in this case it was from the still very active artist of “Cupid Shuffle” fame; (he’s also currently on the Adult R&B charts.)

I first heard about WFKX (96 Kix) Jackson, Tenn., years ago when it was owned by that market’s best-known DJ “Super-Wolf” and his wife, the R&B singer Denise LaSalle.  I came back recently with middayer Kimberly Kaye and found an unusual R&B mix heavily dependent on the last 10 years including some Hip-Hop not usually found at the format.

CIND (Indie 88) Toronto is an industry favorite for cause. It’s a great showcase for Canada’s vital Alternative scene, but with traces of Triple-A and sometimes “anything goes.” (Their No. 1 song is Chappel Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe!”) There’s also sense-of-place; there was an interview with a listener on her Toronto International Film Festival favorites. And they’re teasing an announcement on Monday.