[Affric]

100%

No algorithm has been able to be able to be as weird but consistent as a community radio DJ.

The radio can still surprise and delight like little else. All the tech companies have been able to replicate is the disappointment.

Not to say never but people’s great advantage here is that they’re people.

[hypercube33]

I respectfully disagree. If you're into classic rock those stations are pivoting around here to 90s and 2000s rock since that's "classic" now. Then you're left with ButtRock stations that play mostly the same thing every day at the same times in the same order. The best radio we had in our area was a college station that has an hour or two of stuff I'm interested in or as close to a legal pirate radio you can get (100w tower) that shut down - THAT was amazing. Had a ton of DJs who played things they liked.

Outside of rock you're left with automated pop and country stations who have computerized playlists.

note - I'm in the Midwest US.

[skyyler]

Community radio DJ. Community being the important part.

Most of the radio stations here in Columbus, Ohio are what you described, the clearchannel / IHeartMedia stations.

However, there is an independent radio station and it's so great. They play Democracy Now! during the daytime and they have a rotating list of shows for the evening. I've heard some really great music during the evening shows.

https://www.wcrsfm.org/

If you're in Columbus, tune in to 98.3 or 92.7 FM!

[Affric]

Thanks for putting it so well.

Commercial radio is the devil.

Classic rock exists to sell lawn mowers to middle aged men