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91X Loses Even More Direction (Nov 6, 2008)Since Noble sold the rights to the concept of the radio station 91X to Jacor back in 1996, the station has gone downhill in quality and never recovered.During that time, it went to plain unlistenable trash with numetal noise, teenage skaterat crap, and sleepy folk songs as it lost the idea what alternative music should sound like, which was of course new wave synth rock and dance. Back in 2001, Independent 92.1 fired up, giving 91X some needed competetion at last, and forcing the station to clone some of the songs onto its playlist since nobody at the station had any idea how to program an alterantive music station anymore under the control of Clear Channel. Then in 2002, six years ago, a failed 80s radio station at 94.9 flipped its format to alternative music and has been giving 91X a big headache ever since. The inept music director, whose now working at some New York rock operation that Tom Leykis said was unlistenable (I agree with Tom on that one), and Clear Channel, are no longer associated with 91X, yet the station still shares the same building with Clear Channel in the hopes that deregulation would allow a company to own like 12 stations in a market, allowing it to buy not-so-Finest City Broadcasting's cluster and own the station brands once again. I don't know how he's done it though all these years, but I must give props to Steve West, a 25 year veteran alternative rock deejay who spent all but two years at 91X (he was at the defunct The Flash in 1997 and 95.7 in 2000) spinning classic alternative rock songs from the 70s and 80s and hosting his Resurrection Sunday show, which I predict is no longer going to be on 91X since he's gone and the station is further going through budget cuts and phasing out specialty shows left and right. West had to fight with the suits over what he wanted to play for his Resurrection show to his listeners when Clear Channel was once in control of 91X and very much won for the benefit of the listeners. Nowadays, West answers to nobody but himself and runs a radio station on the Internet called http://www.radionigel.com/ playing anything he and his listeners wants to as long as it's the kind of 80s that fits the format of classic punk and new wave music. Radio Nigel's slogan is "We don't play that 80s!" With veteran West gone, 91X has turned into a station that doesn't want people over the age of 35 anymore as a listener. Let them play garbage rock for 13 year old boys all they want. A lot of it is noise with no personality. Last year's 91X countdown of the top songs of the year were medicore at best as the music people have no clue what sounds good and what doesn't. With no direction but down, the sole music station that's listenable in San Diego is FM 94.9, it's chief competetor since 2002. Hate to say it, but KGB is more listenable than 91X now. With no hertiage and a tight playlist, 91X is hopeless going into its second quarter century. All of the heart and soul that made 91X what it was back in the 80s is gone today as it chews and spits out garbage rock and noise week in and week out. There's no cool new songs to drive your car on the freeway to anymore. 91X is just plain unlistenable like most of the corporate rock garbage that's on all over the dial in this and other cities. 91-Sucks! FM 94/9 6th Anniversary Bash (Nov 6, 2008)This Saturday night, November 8th, is the FM 94/9 - Miller Lite 6th Anniversary Bash at 4th & B. We hope that you're already planning on attending because it's going to be a night that memories are made of. If not, consider this a gentle reminder for a great show that you won't want to miss. The night will feature three great bands, TV on the Radio, Delta Spirit and The Dirtbombs, who will make sure that we're all having fun and partying responsibily. If that's not enough, we'll throw in a bonus set of music by the FM 94/9 Band for free.Seriously, round up some friends (who are at least 21) and head down to 4th & B on Saturday night. We're going to be celebrating 6 years of FM 94/9. Tickets are just $25 and are available on-line or at the 4th & B Box Office (M-W-F, 10am - 4pm). Use this link to buy tickets on-line: http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0A00413906132511 After Anniversary Bash ends, save your ticket stub because if you take it to Snow Jam at the Del Mar Fairgrounds the following weekend (Nov. 14th - 16th), you will get a special offer for Buy One Snow Jam Ticket, Get One Free. Snow Jam is your place to get deals on all your ski/snowboard needs for the upcoming season. Plus, each Snow Jam ticket includes a free lift ticket to Mountain High. We would like to thank everyone at the Miller Brewing Company, Snow Jam and Antics Fueled by Toyota Matrix for supporting the 6th Anniversary Bash and helping to make it a huge success. We'd like to see all of you at 4th & B on Saturday night and please remember to vote tomorrow! As always, thanks for being an Insider. Sincerely, Owen - FM 94/9 Promotions |