Sioux City Goes Bob!
For the most part, Sioux City’s radio selection SUCKS. There are about a dozen radio stations in town – 3 country stations, 2 right-wing talk/hate stations, a “light hits” station that plays nonstop Christmas music from November 1 – January 5, and several more that are just as equally lame-o. Every day I thank the Good Lord that my car has a CD player; otherwise I'd probably be nuts by now.
A large part of the problem (in my not-so-humble opinion) is that Sioux City is a Clear Channel town – about half of the stations here are owned and operated by Satan Radio Network. They rode into town about 8 or 9 years ago, destroyed anything with flavor, taste, or originality, and then turned radio into the Most. Boring. Experience. Ever.
They took over Sioux City’s “rock” station, which now plays one-hit wonder bands from the 00’s and the same lame-ass 20 60s//70s songs over and over again. I mean, who really needs to hear “Takin’ Care of Business” or “Slow Ride” for the gazillionth time? Meanwhile, the DJs think they’re funny (but they’re not), they play about 30 minutes of ads in a row, and they spend far too much time sucking up to themselves, thinking they’re cool when really they wallow in lameness.
Clear Channel also decimated the local pop station – nowadays they only play the top 30 songs, over and over and over and over and over and over and over… I honestly don’t know why they bother with new material – they could just put on the same 90 minute tape, and let it replay all day. Hey, maybe that explains it! Also, Clear Channel are the heartless goons responsible for bringing Ashlee Simpson to town at the end of the month, so they deserve a public flogging for that alone.
Can you tell I’m not a Clear Channel fan? I’d better hope they’re not looking to hire any smart-aleck writers for a while….
But yesterday a new, bright light came to the Siouxland radio dial – BOB. BobFM, to be specific. For those of you who’ve never experienced “Bob” (or, as the format is known in some other places, “Jack” or “Alice”), it’s a mix of just about anything and everything from the history of music. 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, even stuff from last week – it all makes it onto Bob’s playlist. They don’t take requests, and they don’t pack the airwaves with college dropout DJs. But what they do is play some really cool music.
I first discovered “Bob” last summer while in Spokane for my sister’s funeral. While I was in town for two weeks of funerals, packing, wrangling with lawyers, dealing with families, and yes – crying – Bob was on the air, cheering me up with music you can only describe as FUN. The sort of stuff I had on my own personal CDs, mixed with other classics I hadn’t heard in a long time. Lots of 80s rock, lots of funky 70s stuff, and a little bit of the new, cool stuff thrown in.
No crap about milkshakes bringing boys to the yard, and no obnoxious Britney singing about being Toxic. Just lots and lots of cool, perfect for driving around, music.
So now Bob is on the air in Sioux City, and I for one am THRILLED. The only bad part is they took over the one station in town that was halfway decent (not Clear Channel owned), but I suppose that’s the sacrifice you have to make to escape lame contests and horrifically dull music.
Welcome, Bob. Welcome to town. I hope you stomp Clear Channel in the ratings. Now, would you mind playing Wang Chung for me? The Lovely Mrs. G. may not approve, but I’ll be sure to sing along.
A large part of the problem (in my not-so-humble opinion) is that Sioux City is a Clear Channel town – about half of the stations here are owned and operated by Satan Radio Network. They rode into town about 8 or 9 years ago, destroyed anything with flavor, taste, or originality, and then turned radio into the Most. Boring. Experience. Ever.
They took over Sioux City’s “rock” station, which now plays one-hit wonder bands from the 00’s and the same lame-ass 20 60s//70s songs over and over again. I mean, who really needs to hear “Takin’ Care of Business” or “Slow Ride” for the gazillionth time? Meanwhile, the DJs think they’re funny (but they’re not), they play about 30 minutes of ads in a row, and they spend far too much time sucking up to themselves, thinking they’re cool when really they wallow in lameness.
Clear Channel also decimated the local pop station – nowadays they only play the top 30 songs, over and over and over and over and over and over and over… I honestly don’t know why they bother with new material – they could just put on the same 90 minute tape, and let it replay all day. Hey, maybe that explains it! Also, Clear Channel are the heartless goons responsible for bringing Ashlee Simpson to town at the end of the month, so they deserve a public flogging for that alone.
Can you tell I’m not a Clear Channel fan? I’d better hope they’re not looking to hire any smart-aleck writers for a while….
But yesterday a new, bright light came to the Siouxland radio dial – BOB. BobFM, to be specific. For those of you who’ve never experienced “Bob” (or, as the format is known in some other places, “Jack” or “Alice”), it’s a mix of just about anything and everything from the history of music. 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, even stuff from last week – it all makes it onto Bob’s playlist. They don’t take requests, and they don’t pack the airwaves with college dropout DJs. But what they do is play some really cool music.
I first discovered “Bob” last summer while in Spokane for my sister’s funeral. While I was in town for two weeks of funerals, packing, wrangling with lawyers, dealing with families, and yes – crying – Bob was on the air, cheering me up with music you can only describe as FUN. The sort of stuff I had on my own personal CDs, mixed with other classics I hadn’t heard in a long time. Lots of 80s rock, lots of funky 70s stuff, and a little bit of the new, cool stuff thrown in.
No crap about milkshakes bringing boys to the yard, and no obnoxious Britney singing about being Toxic. Just lots and lots of cool, perfect for driving around, music.
So now Bob is on the air in Sioux City, and I for one am THRILLED. The only bad part is they took over the one station in town that was halfway decent (not Clear Channel owned), but I suppose that’s the sacrifice you have to make to escape lame contests and horrifically dull music.
Welcome, Bob. Welcome to town. I hope you stomp Clear Channel in the ratings. Now, would you mind playing Wang Chung for me? The Lovely Mrs. G. may not approve, but I’ll be sure to sing along.
posted by Tommy G at
8:53 AM
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