Deh radio
Before we get in too deep in today’s post, I want to make sure I introduce you to a new, yet temporary feature on this good ole blog. I am of course refering to the Christmas-Shoes-o-meter, which tracks how many times I’ve heard this cherished classic in a given Christmas season. It is a powerful device that gives up-to-date tracking of where I stand in this eternal quest.
ANALYSIS: As we can see, it’s been a dismal 24 hours in the quest to hear Christmas Shoes. I’m still locked in at five, unable to capitalize on the early blitz of 5 times in 6 days.
So anyway, let’s get on with it. Today’s topic is the radio. Specifically, FM radio. More specifically, FM radio in the Southeast, primarily in Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky. And just so we’re completely clear, more specifically, Christian FM radio in the Southeast, primarly Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky.
Why that topic? Because when I’m in the Atlanta area (read: 98% of the time), I don’t listen to Christian radio. Why? Because I have two choices: J93 (93.3 FM) and The Fish (104.7 FM.) To be fair, I like the Fish during Christmas time (Christmas music rox, as well as the Fish having a high probability to play Christmas Shoes), but the other eleven months I find the mix of artists and genres to be unlistenable-to.
So what’s the alternative? If I want to listen to God-glorifying music, what are the options? As far as I know, no new other Christian stations are planning to open in the area. So that leaves me with CD’s (to maintain variety gets expensive over time), and the whole rest of the radio stations in the city. For now, the whole rest of the radio stations in the city are my choice.
So what’s a dood to do? Well, in my driving through Tennessee and Kentucky, over time I’ve found two other stations, that are played nationwide in many markets, large and small:
- K-Love: The first I discovered. Plays a mix of songs that are somewhat similar to the Fish, but with more variety and more modern songs.
- Air 1: The second. Plays a “harder”, more rock mix of songs. By far my favorite Christian station.
Both are completely non-profit, user-supported ministries. That is, they have no commercials, and rely on donations, pledges, and gifts to continue their airtime. The only breaks between songs are for news updates, alittle DJ talk (not too bad), contests, and for little devotionals/testimonials, which I affectionately call “Jesus ads.”
Both stations broadcast online at so-so quality rate, easily high enough to enjoy the music. I highly recommend you check out their online steams, available here and here.
So this presents us with a third alternative: getting Air 1 or K-Love to come to the Atlanta area! I think Air 1 would especially thrive in this environment. I’ve emailed them in the past asking, and it seems high time to try again. If you try them out (maybe at work, or at home, you know, whatnot) and find them pleasing to your ear, shoot them an email asking/begging/pleading for them to come to this area. Here’s their contact pages: K-Love’s and Air 1′s.
That’s all I got. Well, except for this funny link. Ok, now thats really all I got.
sirius satellite radio: 3 christian stations. one like the fish, one that’s gospel (like black gospel, not southern gospel), and one that plays rock (your typical christian rock artists project86, skillet, switchfoot, as well as lifehouse, u2, creed, and other “we’re not christian artists, we just play music” bands). a lot of it’s still pretty cheesy, but it beats the fish and that j station. where are the acoustic/indie/folk rock christian stations? =P
I may check that out. I think I could make decent use out of a satellite radio unit, maybe a Christmas present… woot, means I can update my “buy me crap” post.
I’ve been listening to Air 1 all day online, and they don’t play much acoustic or folk stuff, but some (small amount) of the stuff they play is independent, outside of the RIAA’s reach. Of course, most of it is under the RIAA umbrella though.
(discussion of the RIAA and who they are will follow. Basically, they are the organization that nearly all of the popular music recording industry is represented by. It seems they have no clue that the Internet messes up their business model, and all they can do to “fix” it are things that piss people off and make them buy even less of their CD’s.)