Radio Daze originally uploaded by Ian Hayhurst
Last week’s poll about preferred salad dressing showed that most people preferred something other than what I had listed. From the comments it appeared that a lot of you liked bleu cheese. As I stated there myself, I love bleu cheese dressing–just not on salads. Anyway, an interesting poll and a reminder that I should probably just go back to making my own dressing while leaving one or two that my wife likes in the fridge too.
This week’s poll is about radio stations. I haven’t changed the CDs in my car’s CD changer in probably over a year and I’m kinda tired of what’s in there. So, in my short drives (we drive the car pretty infrequently) I have been trying, in desperation, to find music that’s somewhat tolerable on the radio–unfortunately it’s harder than I thought it would be.
First off, in the mornings there are really only two radio stations which I can tolerate. The first is 102.9 and the other is 104.1. The reason for this isn’t the music itself, it’s the fact there there is music at all. Why oh why do they insist on talking or playing commercials so much? Ugh. When there is music playing I suppose 97.1 is ok but the rest are just terrible. Being that I’m into classic rock you’d think I’d be a 92.5 fan but being that they employ the most worthless morning DJ in the world–you know, an idiot who thinks making fun of people of color is a good idea–I refuse to listen to them at any time of day. Basically, what I’m saying is that radio in Minnesota sucks, especially after we lost 105.1 to Love 105. Seriously do people actually listen to that station more than Drive?
Favorite Radio Station
- Other (32.0%, 35 Votes)
- 89.3 (30.0%, 33 Votes)
- 104.1 (11.0%, 12 Votes)
- 92.5 (8.0%, 9 Votes)
- 97.1 (8.0%, 9 Votes)
- 101.3 (4.0%, 4 Votes)
- 107.9 (4.0%, 4 Votes)
- 94.5 (3.0%, 3 Votes)
- 102.9 (2.0%, 2 Votes)
Total Voters: 111
Loading ...Anyway, I’m not here to find out what I like (because it’s really nothing) but instead of find out which stations you guys prefer. So go ahead and choose the one you like but feel free to comment below with your own personal favorite that may or may not be listed! After you do that feel free to check out our expired polls in the archive or read through the previous posts about polls here.
Dakota Complaints Map
Dakota Inmate Dashboard
January 17th, 2010 at 8:52 am
I got really sick of hearing the same stupid commercials over & over, and the same ‘classic rock’ song on 3 different stations, one after another. Years ago I gave up and started listening to Jazz 88 (KBEM) exclusively. Then 5 years ago, MPR debuted The Current, and I’ve never looked back. For me, the lack of commercials is the biggest thing, but it turns out I really like their playlist as well. While they aren’t perfect, in my opinion they’re far better than any other choice out there.
January 17th, 2010 at 9:17 am
My perspective is (especially) warped I suppose because spent so many years putting food on my table as a part of the radio biz. Not much food, mind you…
So, I listen with a different ear than most. I try to guess what demo the PD, probably in a city far away from here, thinks he/she is trying to target. I wonder why this song was scheduled after that song; why they placed their stopsets where they did, and if the air talent has a shred of, well, talent. I listen hoping that somebody/anybody will make a CC station bleed, ‘cuz CC is the devil.
So, I’m kind of watching what the (barely) new format on 96.3 will bring. Anybody kicking KDWeeB in the balls gives me a warm feeling all over.
And, I wonder how long radio as we know it will last. Deregulation and the resulting super demon called Clear Channel ruined radio at exactly the wrong time; the industry was hemorrhaging right when the public had an online option to turn to and didn’t have to take radio’s shit anymore. It has not been the same since.
Oh shit, I’m rambling. What was the question again…?
January 17th, 2010 at 9:25 am
Look what I found in my office…
January 17th, 2010 at 9:28 am
LOL
January 17th, 2010 at 9:37 am
Being in my car ALL DAY LONG I switch between 91.1 and 89.3. The current has been upping the frequency at which they repeat songs, which makes me REALLY angry, and I do like listening to the news. I have never changed the station to anything but one of those two…
January 17th, 2010 at 9:56 am
Not really a station but I haven’t listened to Mn radio in over a year. When I did my 9000 mile road trip I could listen to the Vikings anywhere I was. I could turn on a station and drive all day with no loss of signal. And as a news junkie I can listen to national news broadcasts FOX CNN etc
January 17th, 2010 at 10:28 am
Oh how I miss Drive 105. I mostly listen to The Fan and a little ‘CCO during the work week and flip between 104, 93X and KQ on the weekends. KDWB makes me puke, KS95 has the same 10 artists on auto repeat, Cities 97 used to be good but now sounds like KS95. The Current is interesting.
January 17th, 2010 at 10:37 am
I flip through the channels a lot (ask my kids) looking for music. The Current is a good attempt at delivering interesting music from different genres – but it runs hot and cold IMHO. I have discovered some gems on there I might not have known about otherwise, so that’s the station I voted for in the poll.
But my “radio” listening usually isn’t accomplished through an actual radio. For my daily commute, I download old time radio programs from iTunes (mostly old detective and mystery shows) and play them on my iPod because drive-time radio sucks so bad. On the internetz, I listen to my tribal radio station (KEOK 102.1 FM in Tahlequah, OK) to keep up on the news back home and to practice my mad language skillz. I also like to listen to AIROS on the web for music and talk. When I’m working around the house, I often listen to Sirius/XM on the TV (we get it through our dish).
January 17th, 2010 at 10:37 am
For music, my order of preference is 93X, KS95, Cities 97. 104.1 in the morning if I need music.
For talk, it’s KFAN, KFAX (the “Score”/KFAN’s other station), KSTP, WCCO.
On longer trips within in the state it’s MPR.
On cross-country trips, I only listen to whatever talk radio I can find (never music), along with my CB. For some reason, I can’t listen to music when driving more than a couple hours.
January 17th, 2010 at 10:52 am
Hey, Music Nazi – You missed K102 in the poll. :)
Either it’s K102 on my radio, or my iPod playing. I’ve yet to find a station that plays, Marley, Buffett, Brooks and BT in the same set..
January 17th, 2010 at 10:53 am
Country sucks.
January 17th, 2010 at 12:07 pm
I don’t stay on any one radio station too long because of the chatter, commercials, and limited playlists. Similar feeling about local TV news — I want the news, not 10-second clips, and I definitely don’t want the friendly banter. Horrible reception after the switch to digital finally gave me the incentive to stop watching live TV, and I haven’t missed it one bit.
Usually in the car, I listen to books on CD from the library. At work, if I listen to music, it’s on Pandora. At home, iPod.
January 17th, 2010 at 12:10 pm
Country isn’t music. It’s whining with background music.
I openly mock my 7th graders for listening to KDWB.
I think I’m the only person in MN who thinks the Current is lame.
I listen to 104, because where else can you hear “Enter Sandman” followed by harry Connick Jr? I’ll occasionally turn on ks95, but only because I had one of the DJ’s kids in class, and he sometimes tells stories about the kids.
January 17th, 2010 at 12:20 pm
dmh, I also don’t typically care for 89.3. As someone else said, it really is hit or miss. More miss for me.
January 17th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
I listen to 91.1, MPR talk, most. I like listening to the news and I like the weekend shows.
Second, The Current at 89.3. It plays the music I like and I often hear new stuff that I end up buying.
Third, is 99.5, the classical station. I love classical music. It is good for driving because it is relaxing. It is good for around the house too.
I won’t listen to commercial radio. It makes me want to punch someone.
January 17th, 2010 at 1:12 pm
I listen to the KDWB morning show everyday on the way into work. I like the banter, I get bored when there is too much music in the morning. Crisco is my favorite, I wish he would get a full time position with them and replace Steve-O. Once 10am hits I shut it off because Ryan Seacrest comes on and I just can’t listen to him. On the way home I listen to 102.9. I also listen to 102.9 in the morning during the holidays once Christmas Wish is done on KDWB because I lurv Christmas music. As far as I’m concerned they can start playing it November 1st if they want to. It brightens my whole day.
I don’t really care what radio stations other people listen to. How does it impact me if you like X,Y or Z radio station? Hmmm not at all. To me it’s the equivalent of mocking someone for the brand of clothing they wear.
January 17th, 2010 at 1:13 pm
Probably the Current most of all, followed by MPR 99.5 (I miss their jazz station) or news on 91.1, then something like Jack or Cities 97 (until commercials come on and I change the station). If I am in range, I will occasionally check out Radio K or KFAI on the AM side too. As with Kassie, I have a limited tolerance for commercial radio, though I am sometimes tempted by satellite.
Man, that WLOL logo was a blast from the past. I remember their rivalry with KDWB from when I was young and just started paying attention to music and bands.
I miss Drive 105, but I also miss Rev 105, from back in the 90′s. I had some friends in high school who interned there until it switched to whatever came after it. Think I still have a t-shirt from them somewhere too.
January 17th, 2010 at 2:37 pm
I’m with Kassie on station choices; and to second her thoughts about commercial radio (and to resurrect a favorite quote from dawnmarie): “Mostly it makes me want to kick someone in the face.”
January 17th, 2010 at 2:50 pm
I am a fan of The Current, never miss The Common Man on KFAN and will openly admit to listening to selective portions of KDWB’s morning show because it does have actual humor in it. But as much flack as Drive 105 got for being safe, it was still my fave since moving here and I miss it. It coexisted with the Current and if one sucked, I could flip to the other and it would be good.
January 17th, 2010 at 6:23 pm
i’m a scanner! i don’t spend a lot of time behind the wheel. rock and roll is my pref! most stations there’s way too much down time! some of the newer country is ok, the young gals can really belt out a song.
91.1 is good, but you have to pay a lot of attention.
830am has the national/local news on the hour.
98.5 if it’s your pref, no adds!
bb
January 17th, 2010 at 6:24 pm
whoops, anyway, no vote!
bb
January 17th, 2010 at 6:24 pm
As a one time combo-man, announcer/engineer, for KWFM in the late 60s which was the only commercial classical radio station in the Twin Cities at that time and being a supporter of SaveWCAL, I basically listen to Classical Cd’s rather than listen/support Minnesota Public Radio. Once an individual sees beyond the politics/ “tip of the ice berg” regarding Bill Kling’s Minnesota Pubic Radio, YOU might change your mind also. First of all, there is a fine line between the term public radio and commercial radio when it comes to Minnesota Public Radio. I personally believe that it has crossed that line. This brings up an interesting question that you must ask yourself. Why would you contribute to 89.3 the Current when in fact your contribution would also be financially supporting MPR’s radio station in Sun Valley Idaho. You must understand that this Sun Valley Idaho station IS a TAX WRITE OFF for the MPR board members when they “Visit/Vacation?” at this destination.
January 17th, 2010 at 7:20 pm
Bill got owned. Love it.
Dear The Wife,
I love you,
Love,
Loyal listener, Mrs Marcos
January 17th, 2010 at 7:49 pm
I still have a Rev105 bumper sticker pinned up on my bulletin board. That was a great station. OTA I will only listen to the Current and that is only in the mornings when I’m getting ready for work. In my car it’s satellite radio. And (other than mornings) when I’m at home it’s Pandora.
I haven’t heard a commercial while listening to the music in many years.
January 17th, 2010 at 7:53 pm
I have XM in my car. Couldn’t live without it. My music choice seem to very from day-to-day. If I want to listen to 80′s, Alternative, Bluegrass or Sinatra, I can change to it anytime.
January 17th, 2010 at 8:39 pm
I can’t believe you like JackFM, Bill – on the “mom-n-pop” scale it’s like the Chilis of all radio stations. Having said that, I’m with you on all accounts. I loved Drive 105, and I can actually feel the brain cells being sucked from my head when I inadvertently land on Tom and Terry in the morning.
I’m a surfer for sure, but here’s where I usually land nowadays, probably in order:
1. 104.1 (Jack FM)
2. 91.1 (MPR)
3. 92.5 (KQRS)
4. 107.9 (Cool 108)
5. 88.9 (KBEM)
January 17th, 2010 at 9:02 pm
I listen to the gerital leader WCCO in the morning on my way to work (despite the fact that I HATE Mike Lynch, if he says Less Humid is going to be paying us a visit one more time or beware or a weather mans but I might drive downtown and kick his ass.) I listen to KFAN 5 days a week from 9am-6pm. Best show in the Twin Cities 12-3 The Common Man Dan Cole. I know I’m in the minority with that opinion but I think he is laugh out loud funny almost daily.
January 17th, 2010 at 9:16 pm
You know, 20 years ago, I used to laugh at some of the KQRS morning show bits but when they started focusing on “white power” I lost interested and now can’t bare to stomach their show. Oh, and the “pro-Bush” mantra didn’t help their show at ALL. Ish.
January 17th, 2010 at 11:21 pm
I listen to audio books, mostly. Between books I listen to my Zune.
January 17th, 2010 at 11:46 pm
I think you just picked this topic because you knew it would bring out the music snobs and tons of people would comment. :)
There’s nothing that’s more annoying to me than a music snob. Personally, I’ll listen to literally anything but rarely will land on hard rock, classical, lite adult contemporary, or jazz. I couldn’t care less if the next person wants to listen to it though. The country haters are especially annoying as they love to to act as though it’s not a legitimate form of music. I personally don’t often go to K102 when I’m surfing but will occasionally land on it. Granted, I grew up on country, so that probably makes it less annoying to me than it would otherwise be.
My station list includes 91.5, 94.5, 97.1, 102.1, and 104.1. Lately I’ve been so sick of replays that I’ve even tried 101.3 and 96.3 (though neither are pre-set), but it didn’t take long for them to start replaying everything either. My wife is a big fan of 94.5 because of their drive time shows as much as anything. I really can’t say I spend more time on one station or another though when I have the dials.
And like others here, I’ve tried but couldn’t get into the Current.
January 18th, 2010 at 7:37 am
Presets are KQ, 93X, KS95, Cities97, Jack and Kool 108. I tend to stick to the last two, especially in the morning. On the way home it’s Jack (104) or a CD. When I’m ready for a new car, I want one with satellite radio!
January 18th, 2010 at 8:17 am
On FM I will flip between The Current (which I agree is hit or miss) and Cities 97. However most of the time I listen to KFAN, mainly because my blood pressure goes up if I listen to any political talk radio (right or left). Sports, I’m more indifferent towards. The Powertrip morning show has some humorous bits.
But I have been loading up Pandora and Last.fm on my Android phone and streaming that to my radio. It’s pretty slick because there aren’t any ads, and I pick the genre of music I listen to. Best part is its free.
January 18th, 2010 at 8:21 am
Morning Drive
——————————-
KFAN – Chris Hawkey and Cory Cove are fun to listen to. Mike Morris is ok mostly.
89.3 The Current – Jill and Steve do a good job, being a music nut myself it’s fun to hear their take on things…
93X – I listen mostly for Randy Shaver’s segments
KQRS – They have toned down most of the ASS humor as of late but it’s nothing like when Tony Lee was there…
91.1 – I like Cathy Wurzer on the air, she is so Minnesota…
Afternoon Drive
——————————-
KFAN – Love Dan’s Guests (Kevin Siefert, Pat Kessler,…) and his witty banter
89.3 The Current – Mary Lucia reminds me of all of the 70′s record spinners who will play most anything that she wants and besides she has the Replacements connection…
91.1 – cathing up on the days news
WCCO – I have started to listen more lately (must be a “forties” thing) since Michelle Tafoya started.
Misc
——————————-
When my kids are in the car
89.3 – I like to expose my teenagers to something different (mostly to annoy my kdwb listening daughter)
104.1 – This is what they ususally want to listen to when they are in my car.
92.5 – I throw some classic rock in there once and a while, besides my thirteen year old guitar playing son just discovered Van Halen and the Who. Can’t go wrong with that…
January 18th, 2010 at 8:44 am
For those talking about satellite radio: my parents have subscribed to both XM and then Sirius. They loved the service but complained about the rising fees. My father recently told me that the price increased 100% over the years he had it. I’m sorry but paying $18/month to listen to the radio is a bit much for me. Then again, I don’t have cable or satellite TV due to the same raising rates so I guess I’m just weird like that :)
January 18th, 2010 at 9:02 am
I listen to a lot of radio.. especially with no TV at the lake :), whcih is kind of a good thing to be honest.
In order of listening-
#1- 91.1- NPR.. Listen there more than anything, at night in bed and am morning, plus driving much of the time. I really like the weekend shows, with the excpetion of the Prairie Home. Garrison Keeler is a horrible singer who loves his own voice and for some reason, seems to like to subtly include anti-semetic rants into his monologues around Christmas time. Douche
#2- KSTP AM1500. AM Drive I like Ruesse. He cracks me up because I think we could be related. I like Souch in the pm.. but not consistant. I also listen in the summer for Twins coverage.
#3- 89- Current.. It’s hit or miss as has been reported here, but I like it more often than not.
#4- WCCO- Your grandparents radio yes.. But sometimes I just want news and there are hours in the day where it’s good for that. Plus, its the only station that we get well on AM at the lake. I’m not fond of the on air personalities there. they’re waay to Minnesota Nice. Dave Lee is the worst, and the reason their ratings continue to decline. With listenership in their 80′s it won’t be long before all their market share is dead. Now that they’ve lost the Twins their share is way down in my world.
#5- KFAN- Mostly for Vikings coverage. Occasionally for sports talk.
What this market is missing, really missing are really good talk radio hosts who are local and can stradle the line between angry useless rant, (Jason Lewis) and boring vanilla ( the entire WCCO gang). It’s also missing, used to have it years ago, is a non stop 24 hour news channel. Somewhere you could go anytime for 20 minutes and be up to date on the news and traffic.
January 18th, 2010 at 9:02 am
If I’m not listening to CDs or Pandora, it’s 89.3 or sometimes 93X.
January 18th, 2010 at 9:32 am
My Alarm clock is tuned to KQ…nothing gets me to turn off the Alarm clock faster than Tom Barnard’s voice…In the Car it is no radio, just the MP3 player (Zune) on shuffle or Podcasts
January 18th, 2010 at 12:17 pm
MP3 CD or iPod, unless I’m going to pick up friends from a Wild game and then I’ll listen to whatever station is playing the Wild game. Then it’s back to the MP3 CD or iPod.
January 18th, 2010 at 2:37 pm
I started listening to radio when I was in 5th grade. Before that records I guess. Then it was Hines & Berglund in the morning on WLOL. Used to listen to their show getting ready for school.
When I worked at a drycleaners it was the best of the KQ morning show on Saturdays. I’ve found I get terribly impatient with commercials. So I used to listen to a lot of tapes in the car. Quite a few years ago I started listening to AM1500 on the radio. I think it was around when Bob Yates started his show in the morning. I used to listen to that on the drive in. If my car can pick up am pretty good that is my preference for morning and afternoon drive.
The past 3 years though I listen to audio books, or MP3′s, or Pandora (just recently) when going to and from work. I listen to AM1500 when working outside during the summer. Switching to other stations when stupid stuff is on. (I just listen to Auto Talk, Sports Talk, a couple others)
On my car presets I always set the same thing. FM1 #1 is KQRS, #2 is 93X, #4 is KSTP 94.5, #5 is K102 (for when the wife rides in the car) and the #6 is 107.9 back when it was music from the 50′s and 60′s. I switch among those when I’m in the garage as well, when AM1500 has some rush Limbaugh type crap on.
January 18th, 2010 at 4:18 pm
I remember WLOL in the eighties – those guys were the king of everything.
I miss both REV and DRIVE 105. I’ll listen to the Current, 91.1, Jack, Kool 108; 93X used to be good long ago…I try to listen to am 1500, but Soucheray drives me nuts – his lack of basic information and basic language skills really irritates me. Rookie seems smarter, but needs to drop the silly persona.
I guess 91.1 is my default. the Current really is hit or miss; it gets on my nerves after a while.
Can’t take country. It’s just canned pop on steroids. Older country can be O.K. sometimes, but I hated it growing up.
January 18th, 2010 at 9:56 pm
My music station preferences go in waves of 9-12 month cycles, right now it is on the Current. The past couple of years were nonstop AbsoluteRadio (London) and BBC6 streams. It is very interesting how BBC6 plays music twelve months earlier than the stations in the US, it must take that long for the program directors to finally get a clue. The Current has changed noticeably by more repeats (bad) but also a lot less emo songs (good).
Drive time is Reusse in the morning and switching between Soucheray and Barrerio depending on topics.
January 18th, 2010 at 10:13 pm
I won a radio contest on WLOL back in about 1985 – the Album soundtrack from the hit show “Miami Vice.”
I rule.
(P.S. I won that shit on a ROTARY phone…that takes mad skillz. You youngsters go look up rotary phone on wikipedia if you’re not sure)
January 19th, 2010 at 8:16 pm
Mrs. Marcos, you are the coolest ever.
January 19th, 2010 at 8:25 pm
Sandy,
You don’t mind if I make myself a few dozen tshirts with that statement printed on them?
Thanks!
January 19th, 2010 at 11:16 pm
Kari Miller on KNOW 91.1 – love her interviews.
KFAI 9-11 am Roots music
Radio Heartland HD Radio 91.1-2, Dale Connelly lives!
January 20th, 2010 at 9:03 am
Mrs. Marcos – In case you were wondering – the KQ morning show’s “pro-Bush” mantra has turned into an “anti-Obama” mantra. Surprise, eh?
I agree with Joe, Cathy Wurzer is pretty damn good at what she does and I’m not really the MPR type.
The KFAN morning show has gotten slightly better. It used to be unlistenable and now it is probably just okay. Hawkey isn’t too bad, but Mike Morris just doesn’t hook me into his show.
Back in the day, I would listen to the 93X morning show but I just feel too old now.
And, finally, Pandora is simply one of the coolest things ever.
January 20th, 2010 at 3:43 pm
jf wrote:
I have to say, no, that doesn’t surprise me in the least. One more reason to not tune in! I really don’t care to listen to political mantras from paid ‘entertainers.’
Pandora, agreed, one of the best things ever!
January 20th, 2010 at 8:05 pm
When I moved the cities back in the early 80′s, I can remember Tom and Dan in the morning on KQ, and before that I think it was something like Dwork and Heidi. Tom of Tom and Dan was Tom Bernard I think. Anyone else remember KQ before the current morning show? The morning shbw was o.k. back in the day, especially when the Twins were in the series back in 87 and 91. But I digress.
There are times I find myself having driven 45 miles or so with the radio off recently, and I might have lost less brain cells because of it.
I used to make fun of the old guys I worked with for listening to talk radio. If find myself doing that more these days than listening to music. If I hear “Up on Cripple Creek” one more time on KQ, I might just drive into those yellow barrels.
January 20th, 2010 at 11:21 pm
I find myself driving more and more with the radio off (as Timbucktoo mentioned). Especially if I have a migraine or just don’t want to deal with commercials or mucking around with CDs in the car…sometimes it is nice to be alone in the silence.
January 22nd, 2010 at 10:06 am
I had to stop listening to KQs morning show, just because I got annoyed with the same material over and over again, plus the dirty sewer humor just got old.
January 24th, 2010 at 7:01 am
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March 21st, 2010 at 10:18 am
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