The award must go to Peninsula High School's KGHP Gig Harbor. My wife and I were relaxing in the front yard at our place in Allyn yesterday, and accidentally tuned in 89.9. Totally random mix of just about everything (except no jazz). I was sure we were listening to somebody's personal playlist from across the bay... until the Legal ID magically appeared at the top of the hour.
-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
Broadest playlist in the Sound
- Thread starter bossbill
- Start date
Here's the thing: It *IS* someone's personal playlist. That's what high school radio is. In between jobs, I was faculty advisor for a high school station, and I can tell you that we were just happy to have warm bodies in the chair doing anything. We had this one 14 year old who loved Broadway musicals, and that's what she played. We had this other guy with tattoos and piercings (at age 17) who played hard rock and rap. It's like Forrest Gump: Life is like a box of chocolates. In fact I'm a bit disappointed that some school systems and even some small colleges are shutting down their 100 waters because I really believe we need stations like this for the variety it provides on the dial.
Not all high school stations are this way though, I can think of several that aren't, including KNHC here in Seattle. Others include KMHS-AM and KMHS-FM in Koos Bay, Oregon. The fm is CHR and the AM is Classic Country. The CHR format is among the most broad I've heard, only to be d by KKKJ in Klamath Falls. The other station I can think of that's formatted is WEEM, last I heard them they were Adult CHR, having evolved that way from a rock-leaning Hot AC. I am sure there are others, but those are the ones I can think of. As for commercial stations, KXXO has a pretty broad playlist. If you listen to KSER for a while, you won't hear the same songs over and over either.
That's a great example of community radio. There's a similar station in Malibu CA that exists specifically by and for the residents of the community. The programming is done by volunteers, not paid professionals. The funding comes from the listeners, not advertisers (although there are some community sponsors). It's not really comparable to commercial radio, or even the larger non-commercial stations. It's like local theater as compared to Broadway.
Here in my area (Eastern Washington's Tri-Cities about 300K) there is a high school station called Tri-Tech. It really is an interesting listen. The format tends to be modern alternative, (missing in my market), but they throw in some 70's and 80's pop just for fun. They can also go head-banger at any moment as well. What I find interesting is they market the station as "High School Students Learning Radio". I definitely like that clarity. Beyond that, they seem to start the school year with just the basic "here is", (artist), but as the school year goes on I hear the students increasing their presence on air. Brilliant instruction technique.
Last edited:
I haven't listened to KGHP in several years, but I will have to again soon. Their playlist was very freeform last time I heard them earlier this decade. They didn't make it to home, i.e. the old Bothell or Monroe locations, but I could get them in the Hood Canal area where our family stayed in a friend's cabin a few times...
Big playlists just don't happen around this part of WA. KOZI-93.5 Chelan is probably the closest example. I can get a fuzzy signal in one particular part of my Central apartment. That Adult Contemporary station plays songs that you'll rarely or never hear on KSWD/KRWM. Lot of older stuff too, 1970s and even late '60s. 'Another Sad Love Song' by Toni Braxton, 'Song Sung Blue' by Neil Diamond and 'After All' by Cher and Peter Cetera were spun in the last hour. Former longtime KING-TV announcer Joe Michaels is still doing IDs for KOZI Community Radio, and I get a kick out of that!
They also do long-form local news weekdays at 5PM, and an interview/tradio show called 2nd Cup of Coffee weekday mornings. I'd call it a Full Service station.
Outside of WA, I've always been impressed by KKRB in Klamath Falls and their massive Adult Contemporary library, along with a new one to the 'freeform playlist' list, KJAN-AM Atlantic IA. Hey, it's 'where your friends are,' and where oh wow's are heard just about every minute of the day. Recently listened and heard Johnny Mathis' rendition of the classic Skyliners hit 'Since I Don't Have You' along with a 1972 song called 'I Believe in Music' by the soft rock band Gallery.
As for college radio, at least at KCWU Ellensburg it's mostly a CHR/Top 40 jukebox. Occasionally there will be a CWU student doing a shift, but most of the time there are support announcements for local businesses in between the greatest hits from Ariana Grande, Shawn Mendes and Chance the Rapper. On Friday nights they have dance and electronica music for several hours. I wish they would be more freeform, but that's probably KCWU's decision.
I remember KASB Bellevue also had a similar format when I was living there.
Big playlists just don't happen around this part of WA. KOZI-93.5 Chelan is probably the closest example. I can get a fuzzy signal in one particular part of my Central apartment. That Adult Contemporary station plays songs that you'll rarely or never hear on KSWD/KRWM. Lot of older stuff too, 1970s and even late '60s. 'Another Sad Love Song' by Toni Braxton, 'Song Sung Blue' by Neil Diamond and 'After All' by Cher and Peter Cetera were spun in the last hour. Former longtime KING-TV announcer Joe Michaels is still doing IDs for KOZI Community Radio, and I get a kick out of that!
They also do long-form local news weekdays at 5PM, and an interview/tradio show called 2nd Cup of Coffee weekday mornings. I'd call it a Full Service station.
Outside of WA, I've always been impressed by KKRB in Klamath Falls and their massive Adult Contemporary library, along with a new one to the 'freeform playlist' list, KJAN-AM Atlantic IA. Hey, it's 'where your friends are,' and where oh wow's are heard just about every minute of the day. Recently listened and heard Johnny Mathis' rendition of the classic Skyliners hit 'Since I Don't Have You' along with a 1972 song called 'I Believe in Music' by the soft rock band Gallery.
As for college radio, at least at KCWU Ellensburg it's mostly a CHR/Top 40 jukebox. Occasionally there will be a CWU student doing a shift, but most of the time there are support announcements for local businesses in between the greatest hits from Ariana Grande, Shawn Mendes and Chance the Rapper. On Friday nights they have dance and electronica music for several hours. I wish they would be more freeform, but that's probably KCWU's decision.
I remember KASB Bellevue also had a similar format when I was living there.
If we're including fringe radio stations, you have throw KITI-FM and KRXY into the mix as well. The playlist on both of those radio stations is incredibly broad. KITI may be one of the few stations that I can think of in which every single genre of music is covered on a commercial radio station.
- Status