The best radio station in existence is going off the air. Indie 103.1 is a local L.A. station staffed by actual musicians from the indie/alternative scene. (As an example, their lunchtime show is hosted by Steve Jones of The Sex Pistols.) The result was a station that was willing to play interesting stuff that wasn’t popular or cool. They were great at highlighting new local acts or off-the-wall imports. Their interviews were fascinating – musicians talking to other musicans.
For the last 48 hours they’ve been running a reoccuring announcement that they can’t continue to operate in the local radio market without going more corporate. So, staying true to their punk roots, they’re pulling the plug. From now on they’re be an internet-only station.
Only I can’t listen to internet radio in my car, dammit! :mad:
That is sad. That was my wife’s favorite station back when we lived in Irvine, and one of my favorites as well. (Favorite was UCI’s college radio station.)
I hope they have a long and happy life on the internet.
Well now I definitely have to chime in on this thread. First off, yeah it totally sucks about Indie. Great shows, great spirit. Jonesy really did have some great interviews too - not that he was good at it, he just had a lot of old friends who were really interesting (Chrissie Hynde comes to mind).
As for KUCI, back in '91-'92 they had the greatest/stupidest show in the history of radio. It ran, IIRC, from about 1-3 in the morning on Wednesdays; so, clearly, a great favorite of the programmer. Devoted entirely to bashing the Women’s Resource Center and any and all Women’s Studies majors, it was stupid, pointless, somewhat mean-spirited, but entirely hilarious, and I shall never forget the name of the show as long as I live.
KDLD and KDLE (Indie 103.1) is owned by Entravision.
Radio Online says: “Considering that Entravision is a Spanish-Language broadcaster, the duo are likely to be replaced by Spanish-language programming.” (01-15-09).
Entravision currently has a successful “Jose” format and a not-as-successful “Super Estrella” format. Both of those are already represented in Los Angeles by KLYY and KSSD, respectfully. However, last week the company unrolled another radio format called “El Gato” that is not yet represented in Los Angeles.
Super Estrella is a “Rock en español” station (107.1 in L.A.) “Jose” is kind of a Spanish version of the “Jack-FM” format, near as I can figure. From the link above, it looks like El Gato will play regional Mexican music - like there aren’t enough regional Mexican stations in L.A.
I wish I could’ve listened to Indie 103.1, but my radio at work doesn’t pick up that station, and that’s the only time of day I listen to the radio.
WHAT THE FUCK?!? I leave town for three fucking days and 103.1 is off the air?!?
Any word on where Steve Jones might wash up?
Oh wait, re-read thread and they are broadcasting on the Internet… Great- so I’ll know they are still out there but I can’t listen in the car… :mad: Even better.
It’s not Threadshitting if I start off saying (honestly) that I agree Indie 103.1 is (was) a very good radio station, one that I quite enjoyed.
Jonesy’s Jukebox has long been one of my favorite radio shows.
Still, my favorite Indie 103.1 story happens to paint them in an unfavorable light*:
A friend had called in to make a request about 4 years ago. Friend: Hi can I make a request? Indie: Sure thing! What do you want to hear? Friend: Actually, I want to request that you not play a song. Indie: Oh, <chuckle> what song? Friend: Can you stop playing Ryan Adam’s cover of “Wonderwall”? Indie: <chuckle> Friend: It’s not very good, he doesn’t add anything interesting in his interpretation, the original wasn’t that good- and it’s a fairly recent song itself, why is he even covering it anyway? Indie: <chuckle> Friend: So, would you stop playing it please? Indie: <chuckle> Well, it’s on the playlist so we have to play it. Friend: Playlist? Have to play it? But aren’t you Indie 103.1? Can’t you play whatever you want? Indie: <chuckle> Well, there’s still some things we have to play. Would you like to request that we do play anything in particular? Friend: Not at the moment, but thank you for your time. Indie: Thanks.
Still, quite a good radio station- my friend actually liked that he got the vibe that the guy on the phone agreed with him about that particular song (which they really were playing way too much at the time).
They did always to a good job of playing unsigned bands. And again, loved Jonesy’s Jukebox.
*also kinda makes my friend look like a jerk, but he’s funny
Yeah, I liked to listen in the car when I had my courier job- which in a single day could take me to Thousand Oaks, Santa Clarita, El Monte, and Newport Beach. I can’t say from memory that I got a signal in all four of those specific places, just listed as reference points illustrating that this was a job that took me to many parts of the L.A. area. I listened to Indie 103.1 a lot in the car.
I started my own (failing due to a thread title mishap) thread on this, but I am damn sad to see them go. I have loved this radio station for all 5 years it was on the air. They played a lot of great new music that other radio stations wouldn’t touch. They introduced me to some fantastic bands, some of which have gotten mainstream airplay (MGMT, Vampire Weekend) some of which never did (Art Brute).
They are on the net now, and for now it’s a lot like those early days. No DJs, mostly good music with some older alternative standards from the 90s mixed in. It’s not the great station it became about 2 years ago, and it isn’t the run of the mill station that it had been devolving into since about September. It’s better than nothing, but it isn’t great. I can’t listen to it in the car, and many of the great shows look to be gone for good.
It looks like a few of the shows will be back eventually
Some good stuff, but a lot of my favorites are gone. Watusi Rodeo which was cancld a while back, Joe Escalante’s morning show, Jonesy’s Jukebox. Ah well. It’s the end of an era.
Indie 103.1 is a local L.A. station staffed by actual musicians from the indie/alternative scene. (As an example, their lunchtime show is hosted by Steve Jones of The Sex Pistols.) The result was a station that was willing to play interesting stuff that wasn’t popular or cool. They were great at highlighting new local acts or off-the-wall imports. Their interviews were fascinating – musicians talking to other musicans.