Free Form FM Lives at WESU FM

[DrHip]

Connecticut FM Radio in many ways at least on the Commercial side has become less about the listeners and more about the ratings over the last 50 years.
I used to be on WPLR for 2 years back in the late 1990's until the owners at the time SFX did not like what we played musically and how free form our show was on Sunday nights.
So the show got the boot.
Then I found myself going back to Non Commercial FM where the freedom of the DJ still exists to a greater extent.
After 2 years off the air I found a great regional FM Station that was both operated by College and Community volunteers.

That Station was WESU FM 88.1 www.wesufm.org/ which today is a NPR/Pacifica Affiliated Radio Station.
They include local Talk shows,Pacifica and NPR Programs and a lot of locally produced music shows.
That range from Folk to Reggae,Rock,Oldies etc.
Its one of the few Free Form Stations left and can be heard from Springfield Mass. to New Haven ,Eastern Ct. and in the CT River Valley.
Its hard to listen to Commercial FM Stations in Connecticut anymore because they all play the same songs over and over.
No Free Form like in the late 60's,70's and even into the 80's .
If you get a chance check this station out and you will find music you cannot find on the Commercial sector of the FM Dial.

 

[eskorch]

If you're down in southwestern CT, try WPKN 89.5 in Bridgeport. It sounds similar to how you describe WESU, Pacifica, Folk, Reggae, Rock, World Music, you name it. And if you want to hear something different try Shout Brother Shout from 5:00pm to 8:00pm Tuesday nights on WXCI 91.7 in Danbury. (They also do Saturday morning 8-11.)

 

[RadioMan203]

@DrHip: I was told that WESU was nothing more than a repeater for WSHU. If they are truly doing free-form radio that's a must listen as far as I'm concerned.

 

[MarcB]

WESU has a wide-variety of music programming outside of programming from NPR and Pacifica.

http://www.wesufm.org/

 

[DJKraze]

@DrHip: I was told that WESU was nothing more than a repeater for WSHU. If they are truly doing free-form radio that's a must listen as far as I'm concerned.

WESU had an ugly period several years ago due to being forced to move to a new location and a faster student turn-around where incoming students has not enough training/background to keep the station in order.

Then in come university president Bennet (a former head of NPR!) and tries to convert the station to NPR. However, the students at the time succeeded saving afternoons and overnight for local programming and NPR/Pacifica programs run during the morning/early afternoon and yes, much of it originates at WSHU, but they are hardly a relay. This actually allows the station to be part or the fundraising process and shares in a percentage of WSHU's take allowing the station some support. Basically, tune in after 4pm for WESU.