I just read an article from the Birmingham News while at lunch saying that Birmingham’s only alternative radio station, WRAX- the X on FM 100.5 will be shut down today. It seems that this is the week to get the last-minute, late-night axe here in Alabama. First with the Crimson Tide firing Mike Shula, and now the X.
With the arrival of satellite radio, Ipod connectivity in cars (me), it isn’t a surprise that some radio stations are merging/failing. The listening public wants their music their way and not be force-fed tunes that the record companies are paying stations to play. Advertising too, plays a big part. Who wants to listen to it if they don’t have to?
What makes a radio station great is first the music, then the personalities and then the events they sponsor. The X had some great talent with Beaner & Ken, Amber, Mark A.D. and Reg’s Coffee House. The music was a good mixture of popular and independents. Local events included “Beer Bands & Bingo” , Onaireoke & more.
My hope is another will soon take the X’s place. As their ads say, “Birmingham’s only alternative station”, leaves a huge gap for alt listeners. Who is going to fill this market? No one on the immediate horizon. Scary.
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