What's Atlanta Listening To?

I am a music snob. I am proud to be a music snob. For those of you who do not know what a music snob is, I'll provide the best definition I can muster. The Music Snob is the individual who is not that keen on mainstream entertainment. Said "Snob" will usually rebuff any kind of music that sounds canned, artificial, or over-produced. These individuals usually have a penchant for picking out the most obscure underground artists, and then becoming an avid fan of said artist. Furthermore, what the music snob does NOT regularly do, is listen to the radio.

That being said, one day I decided to spend the majority of my driving week hopping around from station to station to see what the rest of Atlanta is listening to. Though I'm not a frequent radio-listener, I am still very much aware of which station is which. In between CD changes in my car, I happen to catch quite a bit of radio dribble. Over the years of practicing this sporadic radio-listening activity, I have come to the following conclusions about a few of Atlanta's top radio stations. Before tuning in, you might want to read on…

V-103 FM

If ever there was a station that catered to all things Mainstream, it's WVEE, better known as V-103. V-103 is one of Atlanta's longest running urban stations, currently celebrating over 30 years of existence on the air. There has been much change over the years at this station. Many of the city's local celebrities have gotten their start right there at V-103. Currently the reigning star of this station is the morning host, Frank Ski. Frank is notorious for having his finger on the pulse of all things mainstream going on in the city. His Friday night parties at Visions (until the recent shutdown of the club) have drawn mega crowds, and even more celebrities. I have found that his showy persona on the air is very true to the one he puts on in person. Furthermore, his "diverse" tastes in music rarely digress from R&B or Hip-Hop. And this station has proudly displayed very few differences between the two. Much of the music sounds the same, save for the occasional blue moon, where you might actually hear something that you used to enjoy many years ago. Many of the songs are regurgitated synth-pop by up and coming bubble gum R&B groups that no one will remember in the next 6 months. I often find that when I switch the dial to V-103, my fingers switch to another station within 7 seconds.

88.5 FM

All the way on the other end of the dial is a strange yet, quiet little place in Radioland. Hailing from Georgia State University's campus is the extremely diverse radio station, 88.5 FM, otherwise known as WRAS. Here you will have no earthly idea what you're going to hear from one hour to the next. WRAS literally plays everything from the dingiest heavy metal to the lightest of classical tunes-and everything in between. The "between" stuff is what has drawn me to this station over the years. Though the disc jockeys tend to hesitate frequently in their on-air deliveries, that awkwardness lends a sort of charm to the station's programs. As soon as the next song is queued up, you've suddenly forgotten that the DJ is probably running on no sleep and No-Doze. A song by The Cure will probably be followed by an old school Eric B. & Rakim record. So when I turn away from the station for too long, I'm sure to miss a favorite that I haven't heard in a really long time. Another great thing about this station is that they are very open to local acts. The website indicates how to get independent music played on the air. With a little persistence, and some organization to your persistence, you're sure to get your music heard. 88.5 FM is not for the listener who needs all the up to date gossip on mainstream celebs. The aura is dark and sparse, and the ads are sporadic. Listeners of this station know that they're going to hear the unexpected. Tune in at your own risk.

89.3 FM

89.3 FM (also known as WRFG) is the station of Little Five Points. WRFG is a community owned station which stays alive through its generous contributions made from the community in which it's housed. Toted as the One True Underground station in the city, you can be sure to hear local celebrities and artists on the air at any given time. Tuning in can be a little tricky. There are areas of the city where the transmission is a bit fuzzy. But those who tune in will certainly be treated to a plethora of colorful goodies. In existence since 1973, WRFG plays EVERYTHING. This non-commercial station is best known for its strong connections to world music. The station dips into bluegrass, jazz, African, Latin, Asian and blues music with the utmost of ease. Rotating on-air personalities keep the programs fresh.

99.7 FM

99X (WNNX) is everything Alternative. I'm not making this up. This is the slogan for the one true alternative station in Atlanta. Fans of the John Cusack film "High Fidelity" will get a kick out of the "Sad B@stard" music that is frequently played on this station. I must confess that over the last couple of years, much of the rock music spun on 99X has been sounding a lot alike. On the off chance that I keep the dial tuned to WNNX, I just might hear a bit of Nirvana, or maybe even some Lenny Kravitz. However, it seems that most of this station's music is dedicated to the MTV-crowd. This is a crowd that I cannot readily say I identify with anymore. Nonetheless, there are two great times to listen to this station: During the week from noon to 1pm and in the mornings. The afternoon spin is called the Retroplex. This is one of my favorite programs, as the DJ plays nothing but new-wave rock from the 80's. As a desperate fan of INXS, The Cure, The Smiths, and Tears for Fears, I am always pleased when my lunchtime outing coincides with this time of day. The morning show featuring Leslie Fram is also a great program. Leslie is a program director who's been down with 99X since Day One. I personally like her dry on-air delivery, and her crisp voice. She's the ultimate "Girl DJ" with a brain.

92.9 FM (Dave FM)

The major treat on the airwaves for me these days is Dave FM. I happened upon this station sometime in 2005, and was thrilled that there was a station that played music that I actually want to hear. As a matter of fact, I have found that this station plays music that I have forgotten I even liked. With their "Radio-Free Wednesdays" program along with others, you can be certain to hear everything from Audioslave to Bob Marley. Somehow the mixture doesn't seem "manufactured." The playlist is dedicated to 80's and 90's rock and pop, with the sporadic surprise tossed in for good measure. The assortment of songs may seem erratic. But when they're dead-on, they're dead on. Sometimes the hits are even a bit obscure. Dave FM is definitely a station for adults, without much hokey commercialism going on. Listening to 92.9 FM is like going to the house of a friend who has all the records that you were never allowed to buy as a teenager.

[DIS] HONORABLE MENTIONS…?

There are quite a few stations which in my opinion are nothing more than gossip rags set to radio. 95.5 FM (The Beat), Q100 FM, and Hot 107.9 FM are all stations whose programming is for the young and restless of Metro Atlanta. Here you'll find remixes of Mario, Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, and all variations of the Jessica Simpsons and Rihannas of the world. I can personally do without another remix of a remix of a sample (from which no one remembers the origin.) These stations I'm sure serve their purpose. After all, their sponsors are responsible for holding up most of Atlanta's recreational venues.

A few stations are worthy of note, like [Star] 94.1 FM, and 105.3 FM (The Buzz). These stations have also proven to show a bit more interest in die hard musicianship and some of the older alternative fare that I am so keen on listening to. It is not The Music Snob's duty to criticize all things mainstream. Certainly, that is how many of my favorite artists got their start and became my favorites in the first place. However, the Music Snob's ears are extremely sensitive: Musical instruments are favorable over synthesized computer tunes; real singing is preferred over breathy outtakes and sampled loops; and thoughtful, creative lyrics are prized over incessant moanings about cash and one-night [club] stands. If you're anything like me, then you've probably combed the stations in your town, searching for the same things. If you happen to come to Atlanta, keep this little guide handy. It'll certainly be a help to you as you sit in bumper-to-bumper traffic on I-285. But that's another article…