I like KCSM. The music is outstanding. I enjoy KQED from time to time, but after that, it's tune-out time.
FM used to be a place to listen to music, particularly pop music, soul, R and B, but that changed with the advent of the Internet.
Do any of you still listen to FM radio?
All the time. Thegame/A's/Raiders. 103.7,the oldies. KISS oldies funk and 80's. Live 105 oldies alt rock when it was great 1985-95,the new stuff of Mumford and banjo's is an embarrassment of candy ass hipster music. And the occasional thebone,Alice,and at Christmas KBAY. I still need my FM.
ReplyDeleteThe real complaint is..after hearing whats on digital cable on my TV what those stations play is..the very limited play list of all those stations in their zones. But,I pay for cable. Car/portable radio FM is free,so not so bad.
Unless it's the Giants, A's, Niners or Raiders...I don't listen to ANY terrestrial radio anymore. As soon as the above games are over, I turn off the "old" radio--and tune in via satellite radio (or "Tune-In" radio on my 'Droid) to ESPN radio, KJAZ, or any number of Rock or R&B stations.
ReplyDeleteIf not on satellite radio, I listen "Blue-Tooth-ly" to my iPod and the 500+ songs on it.)
The local stations in the Bay Area and the rest of the nation are all pretty standardized---WAAY too much inane chatter/banter--and commercials.
Don't EVEN get me started on the local sports-talk radio scene...
I listen to KCEA whenever I can get the signal. Will occasionally stream it. If you like big band, this is a great place to hang out.
ReplyDeleteKQED FM is my go-to station for news and discussion. I listen every day.
KDFC for classical music.
AM radio has abandoned me so I rarely listen to anything but the traffic on KCBS or an occasional Bill Press show when I have insomnia. I used to have KGO on for hours and now....crickets!
KDFC is not classical music. It's pop music (fast movements of symphonies, purdy movements of concertos) masquerading as classical music so people will think they're listening to something higher-brow than MUZAK lite. There are almost no stations in the United States currently broadcasting actual classical music and most Americans alive today, despite what they think, have never heard it.
DeleteKDFC does a lot of variety, including entire pieces. There's the Met opera weekly (along with all the other classical stations, it seems), and SF Opera monthly; SF Symphony weekly (which I guess is pop music), Baroque by the bay (weekly), Modern Times (weekly), and, yes, they do play some pop-style pieces including film music. I've heard opera music at various times throughout the day, which they didn't do when they were for-profit.
DeleteKCSM is similar; they play all kinds of jazz within a pretty wide definition. KCSM's choices often aren't my cup of tea, but I appreciate the variety, unlike most commercial stations.
To 10:18, try all classical.org out of Portland, OR and see if it meets your requirements.
Delete@ 10:18... your view on KDFC may be true but I believe there is a place for it- if not to at least serve as a primer to "real" classical music. I know little of classical music except for the little bit I learned in college. I think KDFC does a great job of introducing folks to classical (styled) music. I don't think many people think they are being "high-brow". They may just know any better. The same with jazz. I LOVE smooth jazz (light jazz, fake jazz, instrumental music- whatever)- for what it is. I have no pretense that Dave Koz is Coltrane. There are times when Koz works for me when I don't want to have to THINK while listeing to Coltrane, Miles, Ellington, Brubeck, etc. I've seen folks literally evovle via smooth jazz to "real" jazz. Starting off with KKSF (Kenny G), then graduating to something like Chris Botti (a little higher on the jazz hierachy but not quite a tradionalist). They then hear Chris Botti play something like "Flameco Sketches" then hear Miles' version and now they're bitten with the jazz bug and become more curious as to they grow within the genre. Same with classical. KDFC while it may be watered down for some folks and their certainly shold be another classical offering,the DJ's do a pretty good job of explaining the pieces and they try to educatate- even if it's on an elementary level.
DeleteI always hear--have been hearing since college--the argument that the "Lite classics" radio stations serve as a gateway to the real thing. Okay, all those who are listening to Bruckner and Mahler and Beethoven and Schubert and Stravinsky and Berg and Shostakovich and Stockhausen today because of the "GE Lightbulb Song" back in college raise your hand................Hmm, don't see anybody.
DeleteI dunno. Becuase I heard the DeBeer's commercial, from the small portion of the piece it was commisioned from, I became interested in the entire il quattro stagiono movement. Because I heard parts of it in 'The Shining', I became interested in the very haunting Penderecki movement Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima. Heck... rapper Xzibit rapped to an adaptation of Faure's Pavane that I've tried to listen to every version of since. This makes me classical knowledgable NOT, but there are such things as gateways.
DeleteRich I agree FM radio in the Bay area is in a sad state. Having said that I always tune in to KRTH when I am in LA. They are "Classic Hits" and I am not a fan of that format anymore. In most cases it seems worn out but with K-Earth 101 it seems to be fresh. Not sure why that is the case but somehow they do it. They pull down good ratings down there too. You would think that format would work up here? I guess KFRC was similar when it was on the air.
ReplyDeleteOf course I listen to FM radio when I DO listen to radio. Of course, it may not be what you might think, as I listen to 106.9 KCBS News Radio. I also listen to FM radio from Thanksgiving to Christmas Day on KOIT, because during that time they play 24 hours a day non-stop holiday music, which always seems to get me in the mood. Other than that, I do not listen to radio of any kind, and really urge you to devote more of this blog to the local bay area TV media, as I am always interested in what you come up with there! Thanks Rich, for all you do!
ReplyDeleteI listen to KQED on the FM side, especially on Saturday mornings, and KLIV on the AM side for South Bay news and traffic. There's not much else worth listening to these days. Even KFOG sounds like a generic cookie-cutter station. I'd listen to KPIG more if it had a better signal!
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that some of the AM power stations (like KCBS for news) added an FM outlet to simulcast their programming. I often find the signal stronger on the FM side.
ReplyDeleteSince KOME and KSJO are gone. I now listen to KRTY, maybe I just grew up!
ReplyDeleteIf you like real Classical music, try BBC 3 High, broadcasting on the internet at the maximum 320kpbs. Great content, great variety.
ReplyDeleteKCSM and KQED mainly WHEN I listen to the radio- with a sprinkling of KOIT, and the oldies station on 103.7. KBLX (daytime sucks- especially the syndicated Steve Harvey- but at night- not bad although it's a playlist with no live DJ). I've long outgrown KMEL/Wyld. KISQ could be SO much better than it is. I rarely listen to it but when I do, I can guarantee one of five artist will play within 15 minutes (BORING)
ReplyDeleteI love "real" jazz (KCSM) but liked smooth jazz for what it was. I had no pretentions that it was "real" jazz but it made for good background noise while at work. I miss KKSF (pre 2006 KKSF before they went with canned smooth jazz shows).
I don't understand Clear Channel's motives. Who are these focus groups they are listening to ? Everyone of CC's outlets sound like a skeleton of what the station could be doing. Example- KISQ bills itself as "old school R & B". They have over 60 years of material they could play from to have a truly "classic" vibe from the 50's to the early 90's but they play same boring songs over and over again from the mid 80's and now even that watered down playlist is wavering around.
KKSF Smooth Jazz did no worse than the oldies station (and certainly way better than the first stations that took over)and people seem to like smooth jazz. There are very few smooth jazz concerts here anymore forcing the likes of Yoshi's to allow let Too $hort (rap) play in it's jazz clubs (sacralige !!). It used to be Yoshi's could survive by billing smooth jazz acts around (real jazz) residencies.
KBLX plays the same stuff as KISQ when they SHOULD go back to the old KBLX format (late 70's-early 90's) of a mix of jazz fusion/smooth jazz and R & B to fill in the void of smooth jazz left when KKSF left. It is a shame that in the bay area one cannot (could not) hear Esperanza Spaulding, Robert Glasper,Gregory Porter and other young jazz lions who are experimenting jazz with R & B and even Hip hop to evolve the jazz sound. KCSM does play these artists (selectively) now but it was after they were in the main stream and KCSM is NOT going to veer to far from the standards as to not p/o of their jazz head donors.
Bay Area radio used to be really special- 3 or 4 DIFFERENT rock stations, a few oldies stations, at least 3 or 4 DIFFERENT urban stations, unemcumbered classical. Now it's a desert. I listen mainly online to different college stations- even in the car. It would be nice to just tune in to something nice and local. As technology gets better, terrestial radio will just die. It's a shame I listen to (smooth) jazz and R & B out of Montgomery, AL during my commute in Oakland.
For news (KCBS), I'll listen to local FM. Since the local 'Americana' and classical stations don't broadcast the music I am interested in, I find myself using TuneIn or iHeart radio apps to get what I am looking for (i.e. singer/songwriter tunes and Early & Renaissance music). I think as 'corporate radio' continues to change the airwave offerings, the app/streaming market will take over by appealing to 'niche listeners'.
ReplyDeleteHaving been spoiled by the radio choices in/near Austin Texas near the turn of the millenium, I initially found the radio station choices in the Bay Area to be surprisingly unsatisfying. Santa Cruz has a few stations (KPIG and KUSP) mirror some of the offerings that Austin had at that time. But like the Bay Area, some of the once noteworthy stations in Austin were acquired by corporate entities who did not understand the what/who/how that made the stations 'work' for their listeners.
Kiss-FM is the most-entertaining music station in town. If you'd told me 2 years ago that someone was going to mix soul/disco/funk with "white" '80s New Wave dance-pop -- and that it would work really well -- I'd've wondered what you were smoking. I hope whoever came up with that idea got a big raise. Of course if you listen a LOT the repetition becomes apparent (they must play "I Will Survive" 35 times a week) but overall, congrats to them. Live 105's most recent attempt to revive itself -- more alt-rock "classics", bringing back Steve Masters -- is also working IMHO.
ReplyDeleteBut then there's the sad story of what's become of KFOG, particularly their crown jewel, "10@10". Dave Morey's great creation was truly appointment radio. Theater of the Mind. Never knew what you might hear. Unique. When Dave retired and Annalisa took over, she continued that tradition, adding an interactive element by taking song suggestions via Facebook and ACTUALLY PLAYING THOSE REQUESTS. It was something to behold... until Constantine came in and began watering it down, dictating that certain songs must (or could not) be aired. When Annalisa left last fall, that was the beginning of the end. The show is now a daily showcase for the most overplayed, over-researched "classics" that you can also hear on K-Fox, The Bone, Oldies 103.7... the pride of craft and love of radio that came across during the Morey and Annalisa eras is gone. It's a damn shame.
Don at 9:31,make's an excellent point regarding K-Earth 101 in LA. The do have very good ratings and the bill a ton of money...huge money maker! One of the reason for their success is live dj's...low and behold even on the weekend. That makes them relavent, and current in terms of what's happening. Unlike the dreck classic station's in this town. As an example 103.7 is all voice tracked with the exception of Don Bleu...and they wanted him to track as well. To his credit he told them he'd rather do the show live. Radio is a one to one medium...not the jukebox Wall Street has turned it into.
ReplyDeleteI'm a fan of Sarah & Vinnie on Alice (KLLC). For music to accompany my commute home...I tune into Live 105 (KITS).
ReplyDeleteThe Morning Show on 97.3 has been setting #1 on my radio for the last 15 years.
ReplyDeleteAfter that, I'll listen to KFOG or Live 105.
no.
ReplyDeleteRight now it's Alice from 8:00 to 8:25, Steve Masters on Live 105 for his 8:30am mix, then back to Alice until I get to work.
ReplyDeleteKQED in the evening. Although I will listen to KKUP, KISS (agree with response above), The Bone, 103.7, KUFX, 103.3 (SCU) or any other station that plays interesting music. Music changes with my mood so I'm glad to have a choice.
I do miss KSJO, KRQR, the Quake, KOME, and KMEL. These stations seemed to be cool when you listened to them. Today's stations not as much