| I don't know crap...but I can at least guess.
Radio Hijinks July 18, 2006 - 9:54:44
There's been alot of changes in Radio over the past year or so here in Milwaukee.
'The Brew', came, playing oldies to try and take away from the other oldies station. Their mascot is a huge, HUGE shirtless guy who dances around. Great, now any possible tourists here in our city of about 1/4 Million (not counting suburbs) are going to think we're all obese 'fun loving' alcoholics.
Then the 'all things rock' station changed to really obscure oldies AKA 'redneck rock'. They call it "The Hog". No offense intended to anyone in particular; I can't stand it, and I don't even know half of the music. They're trying to take some of the share of this duel between the Brew and the other one, KLH.
As of just a few days ago, my favorite radio station changed as well. Instead of playing pop rock and a bit of alternative, they're focusing more on 80s, 90s, and current mod rock and alternative. I've been hearing some pretty damn cool things lately, especially their "Flannel Flashback Lunch", which is chock-full of the late-80s/early-90s tunes I remember growing up with. Old Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Soundgarden, along with weird one hit wonders like Squirrel Nut Zippers, etc, make my day. They're also playing Indy Rock of today and days gone past on the weekends, which is pretty cool.
What's not really all that cool about the new station is they're trying WAY to hard to sound "not corporate" and "100% independant". I think it's more creative wording than anything, but the music is jammin', and that's all that really matters, right? They could be claiming their airstaff is a bunch of genies and purple elephants for all I care.
- Cap'n Kellin
What happened to Lazer 103 is a travesty. Saga Communications (which owns The Hog/Lazer and KLH - and other stations across the country) managed to kill the nostalgia I used to associate with the channel, and while I'm sure they've attracted a new audience, everyone I know who used to listen to it has since turned it off.
WLUM 102.1 has always been a locally owned station for-friggin-ever (although the owners do also own 93.3), and because of that they have become my default station post Lazer-death. I think with the Hog showing it's corporate stripes, and negative press against Clearchannel (who own The Brew, and are in fact the great white Satan), WLUM is doing exactly what they should. They've dropped all of their syndicated programming, and are sticking to local talent. We need more radio stations like that, and I'm more than fine with their tooting their own horn about it.
More radio should be run like WLUM 102.1.
Well said, and I agree with you. I'm one hundred percent addicted to their Flannel Flashback Lunch. I keep hearing awesome schnapp like Run DMC and really obscure Nirvana and NIN.
Damn straight.
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