# Clear Channel **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 30, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clear-channel/633151 "2012-08-30T15:42:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clear-channel/633151/41 "2012-09-02T07:15:04Z")
I made a similar WTF thread back when Q101 (Chicago) changed overnight from a rock station to a peddler of generic inoffensive bullshit. The station honestly wasn’t \*that \*great in the first place, but what the christ? Meh. I have a cd player in my car. While driving is the only time I ever listened to the radio anyway, so I don’t care anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clear-channel/633151/42 "2012-09-02T23:52:03Z")
Spotify. For the same price as satellite radio, I have pretty much any song I can think of at my fingertips whenever I want. ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clear-channel/633151/43 "2012-09-03T10:24:02Z")
> [@Bouncer](#): > > This is the one apparently brushing her teeth with Jack Daniels? > > I’ve been overseas the last few years, I’ve missed a bit. Sadly, she’s been overseas too. > [@Bouncer](#): > > Regards, > -Bouncer- Loved your work in Neighbours! ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clear-channel/633151/44 "2012-09-15T06:47:46Z")
Wait, I’m confused. The OP’s station changed to Top 40, and the last song they played is “Freebird”? ---
**Author:** ![TheChileanBlob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thechileanblob/32/435_2.png) [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clear-channel/633151/45 "2012-09-15T15:13:01Z")
Yes, the last song they played in the old format was “Freebird.” ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clear-channel/633151/46 "2012-09-15T18:06:09Z")
Because they’re free to be like every other station now. A certain Reel Big Fish song might’ve been more topical, and fit the demographic better (I still consider them new, off of my lawn!) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Me](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Mr.Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Me)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clear-channel/633151/47 "2012-09-16T19:02:21Z")
I replaced my car radio a couple of years ago with one that has a USB jack on it. Now I mostly listen to my 120Gb ipod, and occasionally stream audio on my phone (yay unlimited data). _I_ control what I listen to, not some jack-booted baby-raping corporate thugs. Clear Channel can go fuck themselves with a rusty screwdriver. ---
**Author:** ![Klostertal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@Klostertal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klostertal)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clear-channel/633151/48 "2012-09-16T22:13:28Z")
Fuck Clear Channel. For anyone who is interested in finding better radio, I am a big fan of [WNCW](http://www.wncw.org/). Completely independent, listener-supported, streaming radio for music lovers, by music lovers. The format runs the gamut - bluegrass/classic country on Saturdays, celtic stuff on Sundays afternoons, reggae sunday night, indie rock, jazz, blues, world music dotted around the clock. They do NPR updates at the top of the hour during the day. The DJs obviously have real passion for what they choose to play. Everything about the station just screams “we actually give a shit about music”, as opposed to almost every other station I can pick up which tend to be just the opposite. Unfortunately I can’t pick it up through the air where I live (Raleigh NC, the station broadcasts out of Charlotte), but they simulcast on the web which works great for me. Check 'em out late night if you can - ARC Overnight with Rob Daves is usually amazing. Over-the-air in my area is grim. I usually go to [WCPE The Classical Station](http://theclassicalstation.org/index.shtml). Occasionally NC State radio or Duke University radio is OK, but not that often. I’m not even that big of a fan of classical (I respect it enormously, but it’s not my go-to genre), but they don’t play fucking ads. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clear-channel/633151/49 "2012-09-16T22:48:12Z")
I’ve had satalite radio. I stopped paying for it after I discovered that the stations there repeat songs more then terestrial radio does. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clear-channel/633151/50 "2012-09-17T01:54:38Z")
[Clear Channel](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clear_Channel_Communications) is owned by Bain Capital. I would blame Romney. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clear-channel/633151/51 "2012-09-17T01:55:41Z")
> [@Death\_of\_Rats](#): > > I’ve had satalite radio. I stopped paying for it after I discovered that the stations there repeat songs more then terestrial radio does. Absolutely. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clear-channel/633151/52 "2012-09-17T02:11:42Z")
> [@TheChileanBlob](#): > > I live in the Atlanta area, where 96 Rock was an institution and the soundtrack to my rebellious youth. A few years ago it became Project 9-6-1 which pissed a lot of people off. Seriously, if you are from Atlanta and are a “certain age” you’ll understand. Still, 9-6-1 played rock, albeit with a younger slant. I’m a hip mommy-o and I actually like nu-metal. But now!!! Last night, a sudden change in format to Top Fucking 40! With Ryan Fucking Seacrest, apparently. > > Words cannot express my rage. I never acknowledged the name change to Project 9-6-1, preferring to still call it 96 Rock even though the young people didn’t know what I was talking about. > > Last song: Freebird. > > Motherfuckers. 96 Rock is now top-40? WTF?!? I haven’t lived in the ATL for over a decade and that pisses me off. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2012, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clear-channel/633151/53 "2012-09-22T06:21:18Z")
Just wanted to mention that we have a classic rock station in Tucson, 96.1 KLPX, that will be reaching its 34th anniversary in a few days. Same format since Sept. 25, 1978. Aren’t you envious? ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2012, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clear-channel/633151/54 "2012-09-22T08:15:56Z")
Was it called “classic rock” in 1978? ---
**Author:** ![TheChileanBlob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thechileanblob/32/435_2.png) [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2012, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clear-channel/633151/55 "2012-09-22T17:34:42Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Just wanted to mention that we have a classic rock station in Tucson, 96.1 KLPX, that will be reaching its 34th anniversary in a few days. Same format since Sept. 25, 1978. Aren’t you envious? My grandpa lives in Tucson! I _knew_ I should have gone to live with him after high school like my parents wanted. But no, _I_ had to stay here with the deadbeat boyfriend. Dammit! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2012, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clear-channel/633151/56 "2012-09-22T18:59:20Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Was it called “classic rock” in 1978? Interesting question. I believe in 1978 they probably were more like AOR. I remember a lot of then-current stuff they played in the 80s would now be considered classic rock. They still play the same tunes, only mixing in new tunes from artists that fit the classic rock format such as Aerosmith or Joe Walsh. The first song they played in their current format was Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll” and Zep was still an active band in '78. ---
**Author:** ![LC\_Strawhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@LC\_Strawhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LC_Strawhouse)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2012, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clear-channel/633151/57 "2012-09-22T20:10:30Z")
The best rock stations I’ve heard were in New Hampshire. I was hanging out there and my goodness, that was some good radio with very discerning, well-chosen 70s and 80s hard rock selections. That must be a good side effect of being stuck in the 1980s (you still see a lot of mullets and jean jackets on the street in NH) In most other places I fully agree that radio is utter crap. I get the impression that talk radio (mostly sports and politics… bleurgh… or poor man’s Howard Stern clones) has chased out a lot of the musical interest that used to be on the radio. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clear-channel/633151.md?page=2)