My iPod's dead, my CDs are all scratched and I haven't quite caught onto the satellite radio craze. Alas, I have nothing but Charlottesville rush-hour traffic to excite me.
Inspired by a lack of musical outlets, I investigate the stations my radio picks up. From public radio to Top 40, country to hip hop and a decent dose of classics, the variety is astounding -- and that's just the tip of the iceberg.
WNRN 91.9, a community radio station, runs a range of programs without commercials. The morning's "Acoustic Sunrise" 5:30 to 10 a.m. program features acoustic, folk and bluegrass radio. From 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., WNRN features modern rock, classic alternative and college rock. Local news informs listeners about the goings-on in Charlottesville, as well as the University. The Boombox program features urban and hip-hop music between 10 p.m. and midnight. And each late-night highlights a different specialty show dedicated to a rotation of electronic, electro/industrial, punk and ska selections.
Two Top-40 stations dominate Charlottesville's airwaves: Q101 (100.7) and Hot 101.9. Q101 features Kelly Clarkson, 50 Cent and everything in between, including Ryan Cabrera, Papa Roach and Green Day. Local shows with community news and a request line run throughout the day, and weeknights at 11 are reserved for "Carson Daly's Top 10 Most Requested Songs."
Hot 101.9, another contemporary hits radio station, plays a range of music from Justin Timberlake and Gavin DeGraw to Trick Daddy and Snoop Dogg. Sundays at 8 p.m. feature "The Top 40 Countdown," and "Carson Daly's Top 10 ..." runs at 6 p.m. on weeknights. "The Hot 9 @ 9" plays the nine most-requested songs of each weekday.
True to its Virginia locale, Charlottesville has a number of strong country stations, including Big Country 105.3 and Country 99.7.
Big Country 105.3 plays a variety of country all day. Nights include "The Top 5 at 9" request hour, and the daily lunch request hour keeps listeners happy. Sunday afternoons from noon to 3 p.m., "The Foxworthy Countdown" is hosted by the redneck-loving namesake comedian.
Country 99.7 runs special weekend programs, including Saturday morning's 7 to 11 a.m. "American Country Countdown" of the top 40 country songs nationwide. Sunday night's national program, "Country Gold with Big John Howell" plays a collection of timeless country favorites.
WUVA's 92.7 KISS FM urban contemporary station is what you're likely to hear in the Pav or West Range Café. Its hip hop and R & B play throughout the day with brief breaks for local area and University news. The "KISS Quietstorm," weeknights from 7 to midnight, plays slow jams, but Friday and Saturday nights air a mix of classic jams and today's R & B.
SuperHits 102.3 plays an eclectic blend of classic rock including Billy Joel, Hall and Oates, the Doors and the Rolling Stones. Weeknights are built around "70s at 7" with Susie Cruise, and Super Hits Monday has "Dick Clark's Music Calendar" at 4:40 p.m.
Saturday nights hold a nationally-aired show, "Hall of Fame Coast-to-Coast," playing hits from the 60s and 70s at 7 p.m. And Sundays from 6 p.m. to midnight play rock n' roll classics.
99.3 WYSK is Charlottesville's self-proclaimed "Rock Alternative" station. Its current top three requests sum up the playlist: Foo Fighters, Seether and Nine Inch Nails. A medley of morning and afternoon programs is interrupted by the noon hour of classic alternative rock songs. This program, "Katacombs," seeks out "real" alternative rock. Weeknights at 9 feature the top 5 requests on "The Rundown," and Sundays at 8 p.m. airs "Out of Order's Top 20 Countdown."
3WV 97.5 Rocks claims to play "killer classics and the best of today," from Alice Cooper to Eric Clapton and DMB to Motley Crue. Weekday mornings are a part of "The Big Greasy Breakfast" and feature call-ins, contests, news updates and music.
Manned by a consortium of community members, faculty and students, the University's own 91.1 WTJU, offers an eclectic mix of hard indie, jazz, Americana, rock and Latino. Friday night's "Danza Latina" segment from 7 to 9 is a bilingual, cutting-edge selection of reggaeton-style music. Friday noon's hour segment entitled "Tokyo Eki" features Japanese anime music. The station strives to feature an unusual collection of music and plays select genres throughout the week.
Who needs to lug around a fully-charged iPod or flip through CD cases when Charlottesville has so much on the radio? Sample all the stations, including those not listed here. Find your favorite frequencies, and you'll find Charlottesville's pain-in-the-arse traffic jams a little more pleasant.
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