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What’s your favorite Illinois radio station? Explain.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 11:09 am
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Previous Post: Lisa Madigan: Concern troll
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WBBM. Traffic and weather on the “eights”.
Comment by Team America Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 11:13 am
As a radio station manager, and talk show host I am biased. I like my own radio station the most, WXAN 103.9 FM.
However with my own bias aside, In Southern Illinois there is no better source for news than 1340 AM WJPF. Tom Miller is professional and asks the right questions of all the local state reps and senators.
For music, 91.1 FM in Carbondale is the best. They have a huge variety of music, blues, jazz, opera, stuff you cant get anywhere else.
The station is completly staffed by volunteers and they do a great job. Check em out at www.wdbx.org
Comment by Speaking At Will Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 11:17 am
WXRT, best variety, DJs get to pick the tunes.
WNIJ all day. News, news, news, no commercials. NPR takes the time to explore and explain, no other network does that.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 11:17 am
(I really wanted to rewrite the con-con question today…oh,well, at least the Cubs lost.)
Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 11:18 am
The Score. Harmless, mindless sports talk. Can be amusing at times.
Are there any classic country stations in Illinois? There’s a ton of classic rock. I picked up on classic country driving around the east coast and in Michigan. Great station concept for old hillbillies like me, if anyone wants to reach us (doubtful).
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 11:21 am
XMU
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 11:22 am
I like RFD Illinois, farm based news
Comment by Pat collins Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 11:24 am
I don’t have one any more. I really don’t listen to radio. Not even for music.
When Mancow was on I would listen to Q101. These days it would either be WGN for the Cubs or WLS for Rush Limbaugh. LOL! That is if I could actually stand listening to the radio.
I hope your next QOTD will be about TV stations.
Comment by Levois Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 11:24 am
WLS Don Wade and Roma WDWS Champaign for local news and talk.
Comment by The Federalist Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 11:26 am
WLDS in Jacksonville. I learned a great deal from Gary Scott and Jerry Symons. They are both true professionals.
Comment by S. Illinois Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 11:37 am
My favorite is WLS-AM because it has Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, and “Beyond the Beltway.” It also has a strong signal. I heard it while I was in northwest Arkansas, a 13-hour drive from Chicago.
Comment by Phil Collins Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 11:37 am
1320 WKAN
Comment by DzNts Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 11:38 am
IMHO, there is a proliferation of “classic rock” stations these days because there is a proliferation of older folks, like me, who listen to that type of music and thus are attractive to advertisers. Same goes with news/talk stations and country stations which generally include a healthy dose of “classic” country in their formats.
There are much fewer “modern” rock stations since most of that potential audience downloads most of their music and listens to their iPods. If this trend continues, the future of radio don’t look too good. Same probably holds true for TV as we now know it. Younger folks are simply too tied to the Internet .
Comment by Deep South Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 11:40 am
Unfortunately, US 99 up here just plays the young hat acts and crossover divas. No Cash, Haggard, Jones or Nelson.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 11:46 am
Younger folks are simply too tied to the Internet
Honestly, the only time I listen to the radio is to learn what songs I want to D/L with Pepsi points. Most of my music listening is via burned CD or from my cell phone (you can use memory cards for songs, too. No need for an iPod *^^* )
Comment by Pat collins Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 11:49 am
WSCR. Mike North is gone, Murph will leave next, i hope. I like B&B, Mully & Hanley. Steve Stone is a demi-god.
WLS-Don and Roma -Roe, and Deb Rowe.
Comment by Wumpus Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 11:55 am
As much as i love Farmer and Stoney’s broadcasts i gotta go with WDCB 90.9 FM-College of Dupage-Jazz all day with some funky vibes throw in-how can you not love a Saturday night of Blues,Reggae and more Blues? oh..and on Fridays they have a State House update @ 6:30
Comment by not on the clout list Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 11:55 am
I listen to KTRS 550 AM for Frank O. Pinion (afternoon drive mindless humor) and to root against the Cardinals, but for Illinois station I’d give my vote to WMAY–Jim Leach is crazy good! (Or at least one of them.)
BTW—you don’t have to spend $400 on an ipod to listen to music. I bought a MP3 player for $40 that holds 300 or so songs—downloaded my CDs onto it and I have a larger playlist (commercial free, dog!) than most radio stations still around.
So yeah, Deep South, those ‘younger kids’ might have something there–I think this internet thing is going to stick around for a while…
Comment by Vote Quimby! Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 11:56 am
WKRP
Comment by Dr. Johnny Fever Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 12:03 pm
WGN. Right talk of mix and news. Calls in on news stories of the day are a good gauge as to the mood of the people on that issue. And of course, sports like the Cubs.
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 12:16 pm
was 88.3 “the rocket,”, now 88.3 “the edge,” student station at CAVC; can’t remember just now what the call letters are but great retro country on Tues nights and Bill Hickerson, “The Doctor”, on Sunday mornings. If you can ever catch “Fast” Eddie Ruebling doing either oldies or country what a treat it is. Straight-up unvarnished Ozark goodness. The real deal man, he flat out loves America & Elvis & I do, too.
Comment by anon24 Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 12:20 pm
XRT Lin Brehmer loves baseball………GO WHITE SOX.
Comment by chic ster Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 12:21 pm
wbez. although i listen to everything online now. i listen to chicago public radio in the car AND when i see a story i’m interested in at the links in the right hand column. you ought to charge ‘em for that space…
Comment by bored now Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 12:24 pm
AM1710 Antioch http://radio.macinmind.com/ streaming on internet Old Time Radio shows from 30s, 40s, 50,s.
Comment by A Citizen Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 12:31 pm
97.1 FM - The Drive, listening to it right now on itunes radio even while I’m in Champaign.
Comment by Kevin Fanning Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 12:33 pm
WLS-Don & Roma and Rush
Comment by wizard Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 12:43 pm
Don’t get to hear much radio in the workday unless I’m on a road trip, then my choices up north are WXRT, WBEZ, or “The Nine FM” which is the same channel fed to three different stations, all with a 9 in their frequency.
WLS you can hear anywhere because of the signal strength, so in the afternoon drive, Roe is often fun, especially when he’s got the 3 PM update segment with his channel 7 buddy.
South, around the capitol It’s 88.3 FM The Edge with their eclectic, non-commercial mixes, and WUIS (NPR), especially for “State Week In Review” on fridays, but really almost any time, the weekend programming is also very good.
Way south, depending on the mood, it is KSHE sometimes, or the Carbondale university NPR station. The southern half of the state is a wasteland filled mostly with radio preachers and pop-country music, with a few automated AOR robots playing freebird one. more. time.
Mid days though, half the time at least, I’m jamming to mp3s because there’s too many commercials on most radio stations, particularly the Clear Channel stations and frankly WLS. I think if I totaled up the commercials versus the programming minutes for Roe, I would get very depressed.
Comment by Marconi and cheese Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 12:44 pm
WGN (Kathy and Judy, Bob Sirott etc.) then WLS (Roe Conn and Don Wade and Roma)
Comment by lifer Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 12:45 pm
WXRT
Comment by xrt listener Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 1:08 pm
88.3 is WQNA. I like that one too.
Comment by Excessively rabid Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 1:15 pm
Wordslinger, if you are in the Springfield area, see if you can tune in Taylorville’s 94.3 FM WMKR. That’s a station that plays a fair amount of classic country throughout the day.
Anon24, 88.3 FM “The Edge” is WQNA. That station truly will play anything!
It’s hard for me to pick a single station, because what I listen to depends on my mood at the time. I tend to channel surf on my car radio, mostly among these four Springfield-area FM stations:
93.9 “Abe” (any rock/pop in the last 40 years!)
97.7 “Alice” (adult alternative)
100.5 WYMG (classic rock)
“Cool” 101.9 (oldies, plus Beatle Brunch on Sundays)
As Eric Clapton once sang, “I’ve Got a Rock ‘n Roll Heart.”
Comment by cover Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 1:24 pm
Right, cover, and yes, good call on 94.3 especially on Saturday mornings—–great, great retro country on that one. They play that David Alan Coe (Steve Goodman) song every week that never fails to crack me up. ” I was drunk the day my mom got out of prison….”
Comment by anon24 Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 1:29 pm
Family Friendly WIBI
Comment by Dan S. a Voter and Cubs Fan Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 1:38 pm
X
R
T
Lin (and his bin), Terri, Frank, Jason, Mars, Wendy, Regular Guy, Marty, Richard, Marker, Kristin.
On top of all that they play great music (most of the time. Some of the specials are what make me change stations).
They tend to be Cubby lovers, but they don’t bash the Sox so that can be overlooked.
Comment by Been There Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 1:40 pm
WDCB — Get some news, get some Jazz. Only place I can do both anymore (thanks WBEZ)
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 1:48 pm
Hey Marconi,
I find your synopsis of Southern Illinois radio to be right.on.the.money…at least for the most part. There are a few exceptions that would prove your rule.
Comment by Deep South Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 1:57 pm
I give NPR, WBEZ, 91.5FM the edge over WBBM-AM 780 the edge becasue of a much greater variety and depth of news/public affairs coverage.
Comment by Captain Anerica Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 2:00 pm
WBBM on occasion for local news and traffic. Other than that, satellite radio (Sirius) exclusively - car, office and home. No commercials on the music channels and an infinite variety of musical choices.
Comment by Just the Facts Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 2:04 pm
WKRP in Cincinnati Play list is a little dated though.
Comment by Give Me A Break Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 2:05 pm
WLS - Roe Conn and Don Wade and Roma for the commute back and forth.
Comment by Bluefish Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 2:08 pm
97.1 The Drive. It reminds me of care free summer days, hangin with friends, pre-house payment, car payment and mounds of responsibilities. On the drive to and from the office, I let it all go, and for a while I’m 16 again. Not a care in the world.
Comment by Say WHAT? Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 2:25 pm
I’m with OneMan.
Don’t know if it’s my favorite, but I enjoy listening. It is the Chicago-area’s home for State Week in Review, too.
Comment by JonShibleyFan Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 3:16 pm
WXRT
WBEZ
WDCB
WLUW
WNUR
WHPK
Comment by Ben Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 3:57 pm
ESPN Radio 1000
Comment by JZJL23 Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 4:32 pm
WMAY in Springfield IL. Good Talk, informative, and very accessable to callers. Great during the tornado disaster 2 years ago when the other stations in Springfield were knocked out of commission.
Didn’t like that Mike Wilson was handled badly though.
Also like 91.9 UIS/NPR Other source of news, and a decent weekend linup. Cant stand Garrison Keilor though.
Comment by How Ironic Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 4:45 pm
WFMT
WLUW
WNUR
WDCB
WHPK
Comment by JAZZ FAN Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 5:20 pm
Flame away, but WCPT 820 AM Chicago.
Comment by Ken Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 6:18 pm
WGN. No one else comes close.
Comment by Peter Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 6:43 pm
WWHP, The Whip in Farmer City.
From their web site: Playing the best in blues, bluegrass, alternative and traditional country, rock, gospel and American Roots music.
They play all of that. It’s one of the strangest formats around and I don’t think there’s another one like it in Illinois. It’s fantastic cruising down the road music. Kind of like a slice of Americana.
For news in Central IL - WTAX
For Illinois oriented political talk - WLS
For Chicago area news - WBBM, WLS or WGN
Comment by Roadkill Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 8:36 pm
WXRT–great variety of music, DJs with wit (not nitwits). I listen every time I get north of Dwight where the signal’s limitations seem to begin/end.
Comment by Captain Flume Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 9:23 pm
I listen to quite a bit of WILL-AM as well as the U of I student station, WPGU.
Comment by Michael Friday, Oct 3, 08 @ 12:14 am
91.5 for the public radio, 90.9 for All things Jazz, 94.7 for the oldies!
Comment by jessica Friday, Oct 3, 08 @ 10:46 am