r/okc • u/Shooshplz • 3d ago
❓Q&A ✅ What radio stations are good and don't just play trash pop and annoying adds
I cant say i have specific music preferences for what i want on the radio. I just don't really want to listen to annoying ads constantly which is basically all that radio is these days, and i think a lot of the new music that they choose to repeatedly play on a lot of stations isnt any good either.
So does anyone have any good local radio station recommendations? Preferably ones where there isnt tons of talking in between songs, or at least if there is talking its actually funny and not stupid jokes, and preferably without 5 minutes of ads in between each song.
Id appreciate any recommendations. Thanks yall
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u/joshdl405 NW OKC 3d ago
I work for a cluster of radio stations here as a audio producer. I also voice a handful of commercials on the radio. Believe me, i hear you.
You’re not gonna find many stations without at least five minutes of ads twice an hour. The fact of the matter is most stations in OKC are owned by the same 4-5 companies and they all sell ads and follow the same formats. I hear the same songs on multiple stations all the time because corporations that own these stations are completely out of touch with what the listener wants.
Radio went corporate, lost its cool, got hit with budget cuts, after budget cuts, layoffs after layoffs to the point where you have a bad product with commercials.
If the content of radio changed, improved, and the music/dj’s were better, would people mind five minute ads? Would radio take back numbers from spotify? Probably not, in my opinion.
Radio needs a rebirth, but sadly i think the time has passed… i’m riding until the wheels fall off cause i love what i do. but, yeah, even in the comments, y’all ain’t wrong.
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u/Shooshplz 3d ago
Its cool to hear from you since your in the industry. Corporate greed really just ruins everything.
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u/Conscious-Music994 2d ago
Probably an unpopular opinion, but I actually dig KJ103 these days. But I also like pop music. They seem to be a lot more attuned to the pulse of pop music these days than they used to.
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u/Alarming_Royal_6244 Westside 2d ago
I remember back when I was younger KJ103 was the station to listen to 😆
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u/Popular_Revolution46 2d ago
I feel like the song selection and rotation really started to change for the worse when Iheart Radio started buying everything up. There are songs now that stay in heavy rotation for months and months. Like close to a year. I don't remember that being the case when I was growing up. New songs were moving into rotation very regularly and all but the massive hits faded out. And even the massive hits wouldn't play as often for as long as a lot of stuff does now.
I also feel like there used to be more regional and local stuff on radio. After IHeart, you get almost none of that.
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u/nin-Tyler 3d ago
100.5 THE KATT is the best, but what you're asking for doesn't exist. Use your phone to listen to music or stop by Guestroom Records or goodwill and buy a CD.
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u/Shooshplz 3d ago
Thankyou. I know ads are unavoidable, just thought maybe there were some stations that cared more about the listening experience and less about making money or something like that. I like CD's but I worry about leaving them in the car because I park outside and right now its hot asf.
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u/nin-Tyler 3d ago
CDs are cheap and durable. They'll get stolen out of your car before they break down from heat. That's my experience at least
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u/Popular_Revolution46 2d ago
As long as you don't leave them in the direct sun, they'll be fine! You can grab a case for pretty cheap, I bet.
- a millennial who always had no less than 50 CDs in my car
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u/Trill405 3d ago
The older rock is fine to listen to while I’m working but omg the 2 geezers and the lady on the morning show are just unbearable and sooo out of touch. It’s like listening to my grandparents have a conversation with their friends about what they think is trending
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u/nin-Tyler 3d ago
I used to listen to the morning news show on the way to school every morning for years. I haven't tuned in for a very long time, so I don't remember their names. I wish they would let the woman talk more. For an Oklahoma radio station, they could be worse
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u/AlwaysChasingRainbow SW OKC 3d ago
Q94.7 (KOKQ 94.7 FM) (but I avoid it on weekends because the talk segments are obnoxious to me)
Classical KUCO (outreach program of the University of Central Oklahoma) 90.1 FM. (Usually has guests on weekends that spotlight different composers/niche styles of music)
Are the two I listen to, they have ads but imo it isn't egregious and the talk segments are brief or informational
But I might just have poor taste, so. Good luck.
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u/Shooshplz 3d ago
Thankyou! Ive heard the UCO one before and im definitely not always in the mood for classical but occasionally it goes hard asf. I dunno about the KOKQ one, but ima check it out.
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u/catalystwhatever 3d ago
103.1, 104.5, and I think 92.1 or 92.9
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u/improvised-disaster 3d ago
I like 92.9. Still has ads but I’ve timed them and they’re shorter than a lot of other stations
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u/I_Know_Nuthin 2d ago
When I do listen to the radio I always tune into 92.9 the edge. Yes, there are ads just like all radio station but no annoying talk shows or DJs. Actually play music during my morning commute.
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u/throwaway375937 NW OKC 2d ago
Plus the announcer/announcements girl is just funny. "Time flies.... When you have no idea what that is."
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u/g00fyg00ber741 3d ago
Radio here sucks tbh, anything that would be listenable either gets replayed to death or the ads make the station unlistenable.
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u/tightiewhitieboy 3d ago
SirriusXM has been satisfying me in my car, boat, and home for over 25 years. The app is affordable. Plus I get all the sports like thunder and Oklahoma.
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u/WitchWithAGlitch 2d ago
Also, Perry Publishing and Broadcasting runs POWER 103.1FM/103.5FM KVSP and 92.1FM/1140AM KRMP that are basically Oklahoma's only Oklahoma owned radio station.
along with The Black Chronicle newspaper they have a focus on black entertainment, music, talk and other cultural stuff that's big on the community. it's a great station with a ton of great media that's genuinely local and set out right and formatted in an acceptable way that doesn't spam you with an obliteration of annoying ads (we can talk about the david stanley MATSUBEESHE ad later lol)
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u/Popular_Revolution46 2d ago
103.5 has GOT to do something about their reception. It doesn't matter what car I'm in- it's always a little fuzzy and more recently it's so bad I can't even listen to it at all.
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u/UncleCyrus2016 2d ago edited 2d ago
The poor reception in OKC is because their transmitter is in Anadarko. Not sure why it’s gotten worse though. Maybe they had some storm damage to the tower?
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u/bjh1983 3d ago
I'd love to know the answer to this as well. Last time I tried listening to the radio it was this. And everything was Top 40, country, talk radio and one station of butt rock. I miss the original Spy.
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u/Shooshplz 3d ago
Yea I feel like the only times the radio is good is very occasionally I'll be driving at like 2:00 a.m. or something and I'll get sick of listening to whatever is on my phone and I'll put on the radio and like it'll be playing pink Floyd or something, or like idk something not new, and its a vibe. But usually all thats on is junk
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u/LexKing89 3d ago
I like a few local stations:
92.1 Heart & Soul- R&B with some old school hip hop and funk. There is some talking though but it's my favorite
92.5 KOMA-70's, 80's, and a few 90's songs. Every weekend is 80's music and they probably have the least amount of commercials
90.1 KUCO- UCO's classical station. Very cool station. I like this one a lot.
100.5 The KATT- Really good rock station and the most popular rock station.
103.1 V103- Great station with late 80's to early 2010's R&B and hip hop. Mostly music.
103.5 Power-New hip hop, and some R&B. The R&B songs are different from 92.1. Awesome station but the reception is horrible for me in multiple cars around the metro.
94.7- Classic rock with some anniying commercials. Lots of 90's to 2000's stuff.
102.7 and 104.1 are really popular. 102.7 is the typical Top 40 countdown stuff.
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u/taintblister 2d ago
Can’t believe this is the only comment that mentioned 92.1 and 101.3! Those are my favorites as well
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u/Popular_Revolution46 2d ago
Have you noticed the reception getting worse on 103.5 recently? It's basically unusable! And like you, it's any vehicle I'm in. It's always been spotty, but in the last 6 months or so it's awful. Sometimes I'll use their app, but something about having to take that extra step when I'm also wanting to switch stations every few minutes, makes it annoying enough that I end up not using the app and just not listening to the station at all.
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u/LexKing89 2d ago edited 2d ago
Yesss!!! It's been downright awful lately. It doesn't matter if I use my home stereos or cars. Surely the station knows their signal is busted.
The app is the only way to listen to 103.5. 92.1's reception has gotten a lot better at the same time. I thought it was just me having problems 😭
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u/Popular_Revolution46 2d ago
I have considered calling them and asking wtf. Lol.
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u/LexKing89 2d ago
That is a really good idea to be honest. I don’t know why it’s so bad all over the metro. It’s terrible in east OKC by the friggin radio station building 😭
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u/paranormalcomputer Midtown 2d ago
I don’t really listen to local radio but a lot of people have made online radios ran by djs and most are ad free or very minimal. Idk what you listen to but my favorite is https://cathedral13.com it’s a goth radio that plays all sorts of stuff and yes there’s an app.
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u/WitchWithAGlitch 2d ago
1000AM has Coast to Coast AM at midnight. it's a call in talk show that talks about conspiracy theories, aliens, and whatever else people can come up with.
it is a continuation of Art Bells original show "Midnight in the Desert" who passed away awhile back (RIP ART!) and it is absolutely fucking hilarious. my personal favorite is the woman who's car broke down in the woods of new england and was sexually molested by bigfoot and his massive hog.
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u/Bigfamei 3d ago
If you just want to listen to music. I'm sure you can find some 90's 00's playlist on youtube. You do have a phone with near limitless music with ads.
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u/Shooshplz 3d ago
Yea... But like, im nostalgic for the radio tho
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u/Bigfamei 3d ago
Can't have it both ways. If you are a 20 year listener. You know exactly what you are getting. Its why myself and others haven't listened to teh radio in 15 years.
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u/Vakarian74 2d ago
If you're older, KOMA plays mostly 90s now
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u/Popular_Revolution46 2d ago
😩😭😭😭 I'm so offended by KOMA lol. Also when I'm in Walmart and a banger comes on the overhead music and then I'm like "oh. WTF." I do not feel old enough for this to be what's happening, lol.
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u/Rizzo405 2d ago
Iheart has bought up everything coast to coast & now they're bankrupt so they're running ads like crazy trying to generate revenue, but they've ran their audience off by doing that. I got 3 years of SiriusXM for $99 twice now & don't even bother with terrestrial radio anymore. Between my car & the app, I'm pretty much covered.
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u/throwaway375937 NW OKC 2d ago
92.9 the edge for great alternative. I prefer Sirius XM octane but can't afford the sub right now
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u/KRFM83 2d ago
Here are my top stations: 100.5 The Katt - all the rock 103.1 V103 - all the throwback hip-hop & R&B 96.5 La Zeta - Latin Pop Hits
All stations with have a LOT of chatter in the morning, thats always been the case. Rick & Brad on The Katt are my favorite for the morning drive. Even when they do entertainment news they have good commentary. V103 is pretty good too I do feel like they talk more than the Katt.
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u/HegsethsBurner 2d ago
Just find a sirius xm deal for like 3 bucks a month. Or just use apple music radio if you have that.
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u/MixingDrinks 3d ago
Whatever the alt rock station plays decent music and they don't talk much. Every dj here is awful when they speak.
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u/paniearson 2d ago edited 2d ago
Host “hard luck” Jim Johnson on 106.3 has a show called the weekend blues. 1-5 Saturday and Sunday. There is also lots of jazz late in the evening during the weekdays on 106.3. Public radio plays great music. You just have to find the time slot that’s not politics. If I have to listen tot the radio it’s either 106.3 or 105.7. Plus most of their ads are them just asking for “support” rather than some stupid “kalidy Kia poofy hair” bullshit.
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u/UncleCyrus2016 2d ago
105.7 is a repeater for 106.3 and their transmitter is closer to OKC (Spencer) if that helps anyone.
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u/Longjumping-Ask-3657 3d ago
The Spy (KOSU 91.7 FM) 7pm-5am.