On Wednesday, 4 January 2006, a second radio station playing music I love was changed to a different format.
The first was WHFS, 99.1. Home of the infamous HFStival, HFS was really a fantastic station. I liked the onair personalities. I was just getting into their newest morning program as they had skewed from their sports base enough to keep me from rolling my eyes. Then, I believe in the spring of 2005, I turn on HFS and hear – latin music. Eh? Well, that’s not OVERLY strange, some of the alternative/rock bands do have those sounds sometimes. But it was also in Spanish. EH?! I keep listening and the DJ ends up speaking in Spanish, too. Damn it. What the HELL?! I switched over to 97.9 (98 Rock) and they are talking about the demise of HFS. Well. Frack. HFS is now El Zol – a Spanish radio station. Damn, damn, damn.
Now, it’s Z104. Z104 played a wide variety of alternative and rock – old school included. And the morning show – the Matthew Blades Radio Program – was utterly fantastic! I loved it. A refreshing change from Elliot over at DC101. I turn on Z104 on Thursday morning and get classical. Eh? What? That’s freaking weird as crap. I log onto the website when I get to work – and get a note. “By the way, Z104 is dead. WGMS, the classical station at 103.5, is now here. Enjoy!”
Well, frack AGAIN. The number of radio stations playing music I like – to my knowledge, anyway – has been narrowed to two. DC101 and 98 Rock. Wash FM – 97.1 – plays a bit too much mushy love crap for me. Mix 107.3 is not bad, but – again – sometimes too much of the crappy loveness. (Adult contemporary, I believe it is called.) Hot 99.5 plays waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much Rap for me. I really dislike turning on my radio and hearing “Let’s screw, baby! I’m rich and you know you want me.” Well, maybe I don’t. Ugh. Sometimes they play stuff I like, but not often. I think WPGC – 95.5 – is still playing things like that as well. At least, that’s what they played when I was in high school and I have little reason to believe they’ve changed format.
Damn, damn, damn. You stupid, coporate pains in my ass. I hate you in this moment. I hate you so much. Always about the bottom line. Screw the listener. Damn, damn, damn. No WONDER people are moving to satellite radio. Unfortunately, I can’t afford it – and I like the fact that free radio will play up and coming bands and the like. I adore finding new bands for listening.
So – here’s to you, HFS and Z104. You are sorely missed and I hate what they’ve done to you.
