The one-two disappearance on the FM dial last fall of alternative rock 99X and adult rock 92.9/Dave FM left a huge hole in the market for rock fans who aren’t into the harder or classic stuff.
For those willing to pay a subscription fee, Sirius XM provides several options including Spectrum, Alt Nation and First Wave. You can fashion your own adult rock jukebox on Pandora or I Heart Radio via your smartphone. Or you can check out adult alternative rock stations in other markets via TuneIn or comparable apps.
Daniel Barnicoat, a 37-year-old medical equipment application specialist from Atlanta, said the two current Atlanta rock stations — 97.1/The River and Rock 100.5 — only cover a modest spectrum of what’s available in the rock world. He even wouldn’t mind a station that mixed rock and pop with an emphasis on late 1980s through mid-2000s. (He likes a Louisville, Ky., station called “Gen-X Radio.”)
“I can’t stay on an Atlanta station for more than three songs nowadays,” Barnicoat wrote.
At least three locally based options have emerged, but none are available on a regular FM dial position.
Cox Radio’s The Other Side of the River
Musical mix: 40 percent rock from the past couple of years (Avett Brothers, the Lumineers, Mumford & Sons), 30 percent '90s (Pearl Jam, Green Day), 20 percent '80s tracks (the Cure, Siouxsie & the Banshees) and 10 percent from the 2000s (Foo Fighters, Weezer).
Why it was created: "Our attempt is to create a hybrid that encompasses classic alternative with the current feel of not only the alternative format but also the adult alternative sound and vibe," said Dave Clapper, the program director. Steve Craig, a jock who worked at both 99X and Dave FM, is the voice and music director for the station.
Availability: 971theriver.com or any HD-Radio. It will be added to TuneIn and IHeartRadio apps soon. (Cox Radio is part of Cox Media Group, which includes The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.)
EAV Radio
Musical mix: The station plays some older '90s and 2000s cuts but focuses on current songs more than Dave FM ever did, including acts such as Alabama Shakes, Muse and Of Monsters and Men. There are specialty shows, too, including "Acoustic Sunrise" on Sunday mornings, a vestige of Dave FM.
Why it was created: Margot Chobanian, former music director and assistant program director for Dave FM, wants to develop an economically viable online station in her own image that is more adventurous than Dave ever could be. EAV is an abbreviation for East Atlanta Village, Chobanian's neighborhood for the past 10 years.
Availability: EAV Radio has its own app and website (www.eavradio.com), plus the TuneIn app.
Ex99
Musical mix: Dubbed "Atlanta's lost alternative," it sounds like what 99X would sound like if it were still around, with acts such as Coldplay, R.E.M., Paramore and the Wallflowers. "It leans in the non-hard direction, more singer-songwriter, guitar, not heavy guitar," said Steve Barnes, a former morning host for both Dave FM and 99X who now does social media and digital strategy for a commercial real estate company.
Why it was created: Barnes wanted to pay homage to 99X last fall by creating Ex99. He has since kept it around in hopes of licensing the brand to a third party. For now, it's a hobby that has become "a little community," he said.
Availability: www.ex99radio.com
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