Terrestrial Radio is Horrible

Ok, right now I'm only voicing an opinion but I have to tell you: terrestrial radio is terrible. Especially where I live, here in Charleston, SC! In the course of three months they have taken away the only alternative rock station in the entire city and replaced it with something that resembles someones personal Ipod set to "shuffle". This station, the former 96 Wave FM, had been on the air all through my formative high school and college years. This station is where I first heard Nirvana and Violent Femmes. Yesterday the new 96.1 played Guns 'N Roses' "Sweet Child Of mine" and followed up with Gap Band's "You Dropped A Bomb On Me." It's rap one minute and then classic rock the next. There is no sense of direction whatsoever.

The former "easy listening" station has suddenly went country! No warning, no announcements, just "Achy Breaky Heart" totally unexpected when I flipped on my radio. A country station that was on the dial is now gone, replaced by static. There are a few mainstays still around but the shift has already started. If the only real rock station in town disappears, this city is in for major problems. It's a pretty good station but unfortunately they have this weird thing where they feel like they have to play a Red Hot Chili Peppers song about every hour. I didn't know they were from South Carolina. Hootie and the Blowfish, yes, Chili Peppers, no.

I was never in love with the idea of paying for radio, but a recent long road trip recently convinced me otherwise. My buddy had Sirius Satellite Radio is his truck. I asked him how he liked it because the radio scene in Charleston completely sucked. He said its the best thing going. After 20 hours on the road I was a believer. Not only were there some great rock stations, all of which had limited commercial interruption but I caught up on my college and NFL football games! I listened to a NASCAR race. I put on some 70's. I heard the Howard Stern and Bubba the Love Sponge Show. It was the best 20 hours I've ever spent in a vehicle.

There is an old motto, "You Get What You Pay For". Well if you're getting radio for free it's probably crap. Give satellite radio a listen. The great thing is you can take your receiver indoors and listen there also. Sirius is about to pick up a new subscriber. Check it out for yourself.