In late 2014 , Philadelphians in their 20s to 40s murmured sky-high about Boom 107.9 , a fresh radio station that talked up its “ throwback ” pelvic arch - hop format . For a while , the station cede the goods : We pay off down to The Fugees , Snoop Dogg , Missy Elliott , and other hit that dropped between the late ' 80s and mid-2000s . Listeners fawned over nostalgic mess aimed at a demographic other than Baby Boomers .
The merriment , alas , did n’t last . Last month , the newsworthiness brokethat Boom would not only move down a few frequencies to 103.9 , but that it would also switch to a more conventional hip - hop data formatting . That puts it in unmediated competition withPower 99 , Philly ’s live urban modern-day mainstay . It also means yet another station playing Drake , Future , and Young Thug .
Not that there ’s anything wrong with that . But FM radio in this city has a lot to bid besides disk jockey peddling Top 40 artist . Here are a few of the more interesting medicine stations in the Philadelphia radiocommunication landscape .
Boom 107.9 FM Radio Boom Bash|Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
The (remaining) throwback stations
100.3 WRNBFor now , buff of ' 80s and ' 90s hip - hop will have to settle forWRNB , otherwise know as Old School 100.3 . When it comes to knock , this post will sometimes go for a handful of safe bets ( recall Run - D.M.C. or Naughty By Nature as opposed to , say , Wu - Tang or Snoop ) . But do n’t ostracize it from your presets just yet . Where WRNB really excels is in its repertoire of classic soul , funk , and R&B slay , from The Isley Brothers to TLC and everything in between . It also has a twosome of engaging , locally famous hosts : Tom Joyner , who leads a riotous corps de ballet in the morning , and Philly ’s own Lady B , one of theearliest distaff MCs in coxa - hop , who field phoner questions and complaints with passing dash . In a city make love for its decided brand of soul music , a receiving set place like this one is essential .
102.9 WMGKEvery radio receiver market has a bevy of classical tilt station , each one virtually undistinguishable from the next . You ’ll discover a rotation of maybe 200 songs , all dating to somewhere between 1964 and Guns N ’ pink wine , with the periodic Nirvana or early - period Green Day romp confuse in for good standard . If you ’re a Hellenic stone aficionado , however , you may clean up on the subtle difference between markets . Here in Philly , we have it pretty good with102.9 WMGK . The station give-up the ghost Christ Within on faux - recondite cuts like The room access , and while we ’ve had to sit through “ Free Bird ” and a few eternal Van Halen solo , we ’re just as often cover to more singable selection from The Cars , Cheap Trick , and Thin Lizzy . WMGK has an ’ 80s bent , too , which makes it synthier and poppier than other classic rock post . We ’ll take it over the station act lead Zeppelin every other song .
The college stations
88.5 WXPNWhen it come to college radio receiver in Philadelphia , the percipient headpin is88.5 WXPN , free-base at the University of Pennsylvania . It even has a democratic venue , World Cafe Live , as a domicile base . But it is n’t scholarly person - trial , and when tune in , you ’re just as likely to hear classical rock ‘n’ roll or ' 90s choice as you are raw sovereign euphony . In fact , you ’ll miss much of the off - the - bulwark craziness that usually happens when college kids take the reins . Which is all well and undecomposed – XPN is darling – but in terms of truly " college radio , " Philly has two lesser - know station with formats more deserving of the name …
91.7 WKDUDrexel University ’s 91.7WKDUbills itself as the only freeform , non - commercial FM station in Philadelphia proper , and it sure enough sounds that way . What the place lacks in production values – dead air and messy transitions bristle , but hey , these are college kids after all – it more than makes up for in its divers raiment of programming . Beyond indie rock , the schedule makes way for tough , alloy , hip - record hop , electronica , wind , and observational , with some of its two - hour blocks among the most freaky in the entire tuner market . On Saturdays at noon , the station decease into full Caribbean mode , play reggae , soca , and dancehall for 12 hours straight . The music jumps all over the shoes , but that ’s why stations like WKDU exist .
103.3 WPRBWe do n’t have it away how Princeton University ’s air reach all the agency to Philadelphia , but we wo n’t complain . The kids on103.3 WPRBtend to go even farther into crazytown than those on WKDU , offer up noise rock , minimalist compositions , and other experimental tracks that dare listeners to change the channel . adhere it out , though , is a rewarding experience . Princeton students are n’t afraid to flaunt their eclectic taste , exhibit their audience to euphony it never knew it need . We also need to call out out whichever graduate decided to have the station play authoritative in the mornings . The Delaware Valley does n’t have many opportunities to listen orchestra and bedroom mathematical group on the radio receiver .
100.3 WRNB|Lady B
The niche stations
90.1 WRTIOne of the most infuriating things about Philly wireless is that the only regular classical station is also the only regular malarkey station:90.1 WRTI , which trifle the former during the daylight and the latter at dark . ( This arrangement date back to 1997 , when a disjoined classical - only place close down and the two musical style had to become bunk pal . ) While we applaud the decision to reserve jazz for the eventide – you know , for our wistful moods – sometimes you desire a hard bebop jazz band to keep you sane during the morning commute , or a big ring to keep the blood line pumping during a long driving force . That said , the hosts do a great task of pay esteem to the greats while keeping hearer up on of novel faces in these older musical traditions .
105.7 WEMGLatin American immigrant account for much of Philadelphia ’s late universe ontogeny , not to mention several burgeon community in Camden , Allentown , and other cities nearby . Even if you speak no Spanish and have never go to the south of the border , you should tune in toLa Mega , the realm ’s principal dwelling house for Latin medicine . The post plays on both the FM ( 105.7 WEMG ) and AM ( 1310 ) spectrums , and caters to a large and ever - enlarge audience . With listeners who hunt roots to Mexico , Puerto Rico , the Dominican Republic , and elsewhere , La Mega keeps a varied rotation . Depending on when you tune in , you ’ll hear norteño , bachata , salsa , merengue , reggaetón , and other bully music that rarely play anywhere else on the telephone dial .
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WXPN World Cafe|Flickr/Tom Springer
Dj Benny Love|La Mega 105.7FM
