Hmm. Well, commerical radio, in this town anyway, isn’t so great in my opinion. Unless you like hearing the Red Hot Chili Peppers played every hour on the hour, and it doesn’t make you cringe to hear Arcade Fire back to back with Sugar Ray. And then there’s the commericals, which are loud and aggressive and occur way too often. Oh, and the screaming deejays and their terrible jokes and stories.

Online is good–I listen to a lot of online stations: WOXY, WFMU, KSYM, SOMA radio and others, but they lack the regional content of the Current. When I’m in Minnesota, I like to know what’s going on in Minnesota news, culutre, and politics, and I like to hear Minnesota bands thrown in the mix.

Satellite is nice if you’re on a cross-country drive, but it’s just too strerile for me when I’m at home. Again, I find it lacking in regional content–it makes me feel like there’s a huge disconnect between the station and my life. It feels, literally, like radio from outer space.

Again, all just my opnion, but regional radio that is not beholden to a commerical market and all its trappings–and locally that includes MPR, KFAI, Radio K–is very valuable to me and worth the $5 or $10 I otherwise wouldn’t miss disappearing from my checking account every month. When I think of what I shell out monthly for DSL, cable, and other services I use, I don’t think paying for stations I listen to daily is a lot of skin off my back.

Could be true – I am 27 myself, and find that I like most of what Barb plays in the morning. Not all of it, but a lot. But I also really like what Wheat and Lucia play as well. But you might be on to something with regards to the time slot…

Oh, for sure. I’m just talking about the 9-12 timeslot. I find myself, 22, liking Mark Wheat’s playlist better than what they play during the workday. And I think it has something to do with the timeslot, more than the DJ.

But I agree with you on the wide range thing. My parents love The Current.

Absolutely not. Johnny Cash and Al Green should be played AT LEAST once a day on every station.

But the Current isn’t really going for the early 30’s crowd. I would guess they are going more for the “Indie” crowd, which really encompasses a wide range of ages.

I don’t know why Thorn left other than the fact his contract was up. I liked his stuff, but he did have some pretty strange/marginally offensive things pop out of his mouth sometimes. I know there was one moment that I figured was a cannable offense, but MPR’s official response was “we don’t comment on personnel issues,” so I can’t say if that was the reason. But, he also had some very funny moments too. My favorite occurred once after playing a techno/trancey tune—he came on after it and said “Oops. Dropped my glow-stick.”

Maybe you had to be there…

I wonder who their trying to draw to the station. At this timeslot, I guess it seems they’re playing for people at work…probably early-30s. That would explain all the mid-90s stuff being played. Which usually makes me cringe, personally.

And can I call for a moratorium on Johnny Cash and Al Green for at least a month or so?