To the editors:
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Frankly, however, I can’t stand listening to WXRT before 8 pm anymore. Increasing condescension from daytime dj’s, obnoxious pre-produced ads replacing live scripts and flooding drive-time, and even hit-and-miss programming “After 8” despite an outstanding nighttime staff have alienated many longtime listeners whose musical preferences do not necessarily revert as we find ourselves getting older. Nor do we fall for thinly disguised lowest-common-denominator programming.
I too encourage disgruntled listeners to check out college radio (turn left at WBEZ). There are at least 15 college and community stations in the Chicago area, with various philosophies and formats, and who do not typically rely on market forces for their survival. Even after a decade of general identity crisis, many college stations still offer challenging programming and the amiable immediacy which has been drained away from stations like the Loop and half of WXRT’s schedule. You may need to try them more than once; if you don’t like Shockabilly, you might hear Sinatra next hour. Or maybe just next.
