Denver Jessi Whitten returns to CPR's Indie 102.3

[Mark Roberts]

This time, Whitten returns on a full-time basis as program director, replacing Willobee Carlan, who left almost six months ago. She had been doing fill-in work, though I hadn't heard her on the air recently. Via RadioInsight:

Jessi Whitten Returns To Indie 102.3 As Program Director

Colorado Public Radio has announced the appointment of Jessi Whitten as Program Director of AAA "Indie 102.3" KVOQ Greenwood Village/Denver.

radioinsight.com

Note that Indie 102.3 is actually a network of stations throughout Colorado, one of three operated by Colorado Public Radio. Its AAA competitors along the Front Range are commercial KBCO (iHeart, amazingly enough) and KJAC/The Colorado Sound, owned by KUNC in Greeley. KUNC and Rocky Mountain Public Media (PBS member station KRMA and Denver jazz radio station KUVO) are currently exploring a merger.

 

[wildthangjim]

I was back in Denver for a few days in April and listened quite a bit to Indie and Colorado Sound. To my ears, they sound pretty similar, with Indie, despite what their name suggests, pretty broad based. Colorado Sound's signal was inferior on my rental car radio, driving around mostly south of downtown.

 

[Mark Roberts]

I was back in Denver for a few days in April and listened quite a bit to Indie and Colorado Sound. To my ears, they sound pretty similar, with Indie, despite what their name suggests, pretty broad based. Colorado Sound's signal was inferior on my rental car radio, driving around mostly south of downtown.

Colorado Sound is based out of Greeley, transmitting from the northern Colorado Front Range. So, yes, it has signal problems in Denver, particularly the farther south you go. Where I am, four miles from the state capitol, it's OK in the car and on the second floor of my house, but a little more challenging closer to ground level. There's also a CP for an LPFM in southeast Aurora on 105.5, which may complicate matters. They do seem to have a substantial online audience.

Indie has broadened its playlist in recent years. Musically, it's quite similar to the Colorado Sound. I'll repost something here that I wrote in response to Sean Ross' latest column on radio and music discovery:

(quote)
A note of caution: radio can go too far in trying to be your musically-astute friend. Colorado Public Radio’s Indie 102.3 is an example. Most of the personalities on the station (really, a network) come across as if they’re trying to be your coolest friend ever. The enthusiasm about music sounds forced. The results are cringeworthy. The one exception, thank goodness, is Jason Thomas, who uses his WXRT experience to communicate effectively with his audience. Sure, Indie has to compete with legendary incumbent KBCO and KUNC/KJAC’s “The Colorado Sound”. But the personalities on those stations are much more natural and, particularly for the Colorado Sound, much better-informed about music, new and old. Let’s hope Jessi Whitten can fix some things when she takes the PD role at Indie. The potential is there but, mostly, not being realized.
(end quote)

 

[DavinaR]

Colorado Sound is based out of Greeley, transmitting from the northern Colorado Front Range. So, yes, it has signal problems in Denver, particularly the farther south you go. Where I am, four miles from the state capitol, it's OK in the car and on the second floor of my house, but a little more challenging closer to ground level. There's also a CP for an LPFM in southeast Aurora on 105.5, which may complicate matters. They do seem to have a substantial online audience.

Indie has broadened its playlist in recent years. Musically, it's quite similar to the Colorado Sound. I'll repost something here that I wrote in response to Sean Ross' latest column on radio and music discovery:

(quote)
A note of caution: radio can go too far in trying to be your musically-astute friend. Colorado Public Radio’s Indie 102.3 is an example. Most of the personalities on the station (really, a network) come across as if they’re trying to be your coolest friend ever. The enthusiasm about music sounds forced. The results are cringeworthy. The one exception, thank goodness, is Jason Thomas, who uses his WXRT experience to communicate effectively with his audience. Sure, Indie has to compete with legendary incumbent KBCO and KUNC/KJAC’s “The Colorado Sound”. But the personalities on those stations are much more natural and, particularly for the Colorado Sound, much better-informed about music, new and old. Let’s hope Jessi Whitten can fix some things when she takes the PD role at Indie. The potential is there but, mostly, not being realized.
(end quote

I remember Jayson worked at KZON in Phoenix when it was Free FM 20 years ago in 2006 and early 2007 at night. that was before he moved to Chicago to work at WXRT.