[Scroll down for an explanation of radio formats.]
In an age when downloading music off the Internet is widespread, it is easy to forget that radio still exists. Today, radio stations are owned by large media companies that standardize playlists for channels across the nation. It is often annoying how the same songs are played over and over again. Still, sometimes there is little choice between turning on the radio or sitting in silence.
D.C.'s radio market, which is clearly pervaded by stations that play primarily hip-hop and rap music (four out of five stations play it), is the eighth largest radio market in the United States, according to Radio and Records, Inc., an industry media directory that provides information to those in the recording and radio business. D.C. radio stations reached a total audience of 3,928,700 people in 2003, and the D.C. area offers more than 30 radio stations of both the music and talk variety.
The following is a list of only some of the more popular music stations in D.C. Full, up-to-date playlists from each station can be accessed on www.radioandrecords.com.
Scroll down for an explanation of radio formats
WKYS 93.9 FM
Format: Urban Owner: Radio One Sample Playlist: Ludacris' "Splash Waterfalls," Chingy's "One Call Away," Jay-Z's "Dirt Off Your Shoulder," Sean Paul's "I'm Still in Love With You"
WPGC 95.5 FM
Format: CHR/ Rhythmic Owner: Infinity Sample Playlist: Ruben Studdard's "Sorry 2004," Ludacris' "Splash Waterfalls," OutKast's "Hey Ya!", Jay-Z's "Dirt off Your Shoulder"
WHUR 96.3 FM
Format: Urban AC Owner: Howard University Sample Playlist: Beyonc's "Me, Myself and I," OutKast's "The Way You Move," Teena Marie's "Still in Love," Babyface's "The Loneliness"
WMZQ 98.7 FM
Format: Country Owner: Clear Channel Sample Playlist: Alan Jackson's "Remember When," Sara Evans' "Perfect," Kenny Chesney's "There Goes My Life," Toby Keith's "American Solider"
WHFS 99.1 FM
Format: Alternative Owner: Infinity Sample Playlist: Chevelle's "Closure" Evanescence's "Going Under," A Perfect Circle's "Weak and Powerless," Lostprophets' "Last Train Home"
WITH 99.5 FM
Format: CHR/ Pop Owner: Clear Channel Sample Playlist: Britney Spears' "Toxic," Baby Bash's "Suga Suga," Linkin Park's "Numb," Liz Phair's "Why Can't I?"
WWDC 101 FM
Format: Alternative Owner: Clear Channel Sample Playlist: Linkin Park's "Faint," Incubus' "Megalomaniac," 311's "Love Song"
WGMS 103.5 FM
Format: Classical Owner: Bonneville Sample Playlist: Tchaikovsky's "Souvenir of a Beloved Place," Beethoven's "Leonore Overture No. 2," Debussy's "Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun"
WWZZ 104.1 FM
Format: Hot AC Owner: Bonneville Sample Playlist: Jason Mraz's "You and I Both," Sarah McLachlan's "Fallen," Nickleback's "Someday," Sheryl Crow's "The First Cut is the Deepest"
WJZW 105.9 FM
Format: Smooth Jazz Owner: ABC Sample Playlist: Nick Colionne's "High Flyin'," Chuck Loeb's "eBop," Bass X's "Vonni," Peter White's "Talkin' 'Bout Love"
WRQX 107.3 FM
Format: Hot AC Owner: ABC Sample Playlist: Dido's "White Flag," Coldplay's "Clocks," No Doubt's "It's My Life," John Mayer's "Bigger Than My Body"
An Explanation of Radio Formats
AC: Stands for "Adult Contemporary," usually soft rock music, featuring current hits, as well as songs from the '70s and '80s. This type of station usually targets an audience 30 years old or older.
Alternative: Music is usually cutting-edge, less mainstream, with a focus on rock music and may include some punk, dance, industrial or heavy metal music.
CHR: Stands for "Contemporary Hit Rock," current popular hits, used to be called "Top 40," with little emphasis on new and cutting edge music.
CHR/ Pop: Top 40 that leans towards more rock and alternative, rather than rap. CHR/ Rhythmic: Top 40 music that leans toward more hip-hop, rap and dance songs, rather than rock and alternative.
Classical: Classical music like Bach and Mozart.
Country: Features country western music.
Hot AC: Stands for "Hot Adult Contemporary," more upbeat soft rock, focuses on current hits and usually does not include older music. This type of station has a younger demographic than AC.
Modern Rock: Singles from emerging, more cutting-edge rock bands.
Urban: Primarily R&B, with some hip-hop and rap.
Urban AC: Stands for "Urban Adult Contemporary," softer urban music, usually features songs from the '70s and '80s and does not play rap. This type of station targets a generally older audience than Urban.
Smooth Jazz: Contemporary, mainstream jazz music.
