>> Just thinking that it would be cool to hear some top-notch
>> small market radio.
>>
>> Any airchecks like that available?
>>
>
> There's KXJK in Forrest City. I have a few airchecks of them
> (and can always make more). If there's any other small town
> stations with live humans out there, I'd love to know about
> them!
Same here.
KXJK also has a fantastic audio chain. They sound as good - if not BETTER - than many of the Memphis AMs, 50-ish miles away.
In the '80s they had a guy doing PM drive who truly sounded big-market. Impressive for a city of ~20,000 in an economically depressed area. Back then, KXJK was doing AC/Oldies, calling themselves "East Arkansas' Great AM." Today, they're a pretty decent 'classic hits' format ... and a textbook lesson on how a radio station can serve its community with real-live people, with high production values, and sound professional doing it.
I was working in Pine Bluff (pop. 60,000-ish, just as depressed) in the 1988-89 time frame. I'd sometimes punch up KXJK, and ask the same wistful question: "Why can't WE sound that good??"
Another small-market station I found while on a trip to N.C. back in May: WCRE-AM 1420 in Cheraw, S.C. Live jock, oldies format. A decent little coffeepot; station and tower were on the main drag - too bad we were in a hurry, otherwise I would've stopped by.
Genuine live small-town radio has gone the way of the cart.
-Russell W.