Last week I wrote about my disappointment with Twin Cities commercial radio in my youth. Although I learned about much new music on local radio during my teenage years in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, there was still more new music that never got any airtime. Years later, when I realized what I’d missed, I saw that my feelings were captured well by Elvis Costello in his 1978 song “Radio, Radio”: “The radio is in the hands of such a lot of fools / tryin’ to anaesthetize the way that you feel.” Of course, I had to wait years to hear that song too.

The new generation should have less trouble exploring a wider range of music via the radio. That’s because 89.3 The Current (KCMP), a new station owned by Minnesota Public Radio, has been operating since January 24 of this year.

Locals will likely know that The Current replaces classical music station WCAL, owned by St. Olaf College. The college sold it to MPR, which changed the format to an eclectic mix of music. The sale angered many devoted WCAL listeners and created some controversy.

I was more sanguine about the station’s change. I figured I’d like the new format, and I could still listen to classical music on MPR’s classical station, KSJN. It turns out, though, that reception of KSJN isn’t all that clear here in my town of Northfield, hometown of the former WCAL and The Current.

It’s a good thing, therefore, that I’ve been impressed by The Current. The music is amazingly varied, mixing lots of brand new stuff with vintage music that most commercial stations wouldn’t play. I’ve heard Hank Williams, Chet Baker, and Johnny Cash alongside Beck and the Chemical Brothers. The focus is more on new music, and they play lots of stuff from performers I’ve never heard of, like the Mountain Goats, which is fine by me. They’re also good about playing lots of local music.

The Current reminds me of WXPN, another non-profit, “listener-supported” radio station. WXPN broadcasts out of Philadelphia, and I used to listen to it when I lived in New Jersey. WXPN introduced me to the music of Richard Thompson, Beth Orton, Richard Ashcroft, and many others, and it allowed me to keep up with bands such as The Jayhawks. I expect The Current will bring me more of the same.

Apparently the station is doing pretty well. The Arbitron ratings of listeners age 18 to 34 show The Current ranked 11th in the Twin Cities, higher than its closest competitor in the “adult album alternative” format, Drive 105. Remember, though, that there really isn’t a format for The Current. And don’t forget, there are no commercials.

This entry was posted on Friday, May 20th, 2005 at 5:07 pm and is filed under Media, Minnesota, Music.