89.7 WTMD-FM / Towson, MD / Adult Album Alternative Rock(AAA)
Towson University's WTMD is run like a commercial Adult Alternative station, similar to WRNR-103.1 - but without
the commercials. This is the place to hear a lot of folk-ish music, and what is regularly called "Progressive Rock".
The music isn't quite as pop as WRNR, and they pretty much stay with the alterna-folk sound - but the playlist is
a nice change from everyday radio. They also play a lot of local bands from around the Baltimore area.
The air staff is mostly a paid professional staff and they do a great job of informing the listener about an
artist, without getting in the way of the music. WTMD has a decent signal in the area, but it becomes a
hard catch in downtown Annapolis, mainly due to the U.S. Naval Academy's 10 watt radio station that is also on 89.7.
They have one of the best college radio web sites around too.
91.1 WHFC-FM "The Crossroads" / Bel Air, MD / Various Music
WHFC is one of the Baltimore areas only true College Radio stations (Harford Community College) in my book.
They have Jazz, Alternative Rock, Blues, Folk, Hard Rock, Classical, and many other types of music here.
The signal isn't as strong as other area public radio stations, but it does cover Baltimore and its northern
burbs OK. They have a pretty good website too. They can be heard in Annapolis, but you'll have to adjust
your antenna a bit.
91.5 WBJC-FM / Baltimore / Classical
Baltimore's full-time non-commercial classical music station. They also have specialty programming such as an opera
show. WBJC has live (most of the time) DJs playing classical music programming, as well as some syndicated programs
featuring internationally renowned orchestras, opera companies and chamber ensembles. They also have locally produced
informational programs. WBJC comes in very well in Annapolis.
91.9 WGTS-FM / Takoma Park, MD / Religious
This is really a DC area station, but it has a very good signal in the Baltimore area too. There are a lot of
religious stations in Maryland, but at least this one isn't on a commercial frequency like the others.
92.3 WERQ-FM "92-Q" / Baltimore / Urban
Often Baltimore's most listened to station (always in the top 2). Owned by "Radio One", (one of the nation's largest
minority broadcasters) "92Q" targets the African-American community. They call themselves "The People's Station".
Very low quality imaging and liners at WERQ, and most of the airstaff sound a bit unprofessional, if not just plain
sloppy. This station seems to be trying to cater to both the younger Hip-Hop culture, and the older demo with the
more mellow sounds of R&B leaning music. Amazingly this odd combination of music really works in Baltimore because
92Q often is the number 1 station in town (in a race with country WPOC).
93.1 WPOC-FM / Baltimore / Country
Baltimore's only country station is still going strong (often the #1 station in Baltimore). WPOC pretty much sounds
like any other large market country station, which isn't a bad thing. WPOC, along with WQSR-102.7, is probably
the most polished sounding station in Baltimore. The longtime jocks at WPOC are very good, and knowledgable about
the music that they are playing. Laurie DeYoung, Michael J, Marty Bass, etc...the airstaff here are fixtures
in Baltimore. The production at WPOC sounds good too - very tight. And they still go by their call
letters! No "Froggy" or "Cat Country" cliche' here!
95.1 WRBS-FM / Baltimore / Religious
Another Maryland religious station. WRBS has a good signal and has the most listeners of all the other area (mostly AM)
religious stations.
95.9 WWIN-FM "Majic 95.9" / Glen Burnie, MD / Urban Contemporary
For a 3KW station, they have a really good signal in the Baltimore area. A toned down version of "92-Q"
(also owned by Radio One), WWIN goes for a more adult urban audience. The imaging and airstaff are far superior
to WERQ. This sounds like a big city station. Nice imaging and jocks that sound right with the format.
96.7 WCEI-FM / Easton, MD / Adult Contemporary
This is an Eastern Shore station (Easton is about 30 miles South/East of the Bay Bridge), that puts out a decent signal
across the Bay. The music format is "Adult Contemporary", which is also known as "soft rock". They do a lot of live
broadcasts from around the Eastern Shore, and primarily focus on Talbot County.
97.9 WIYY "98 ROCK" / Baltimore / Active Rock
Baltimore's only basic Rock station, "98 Rock" plays a lot of new hard rock, 80's metal (check out "The Electric Lunch"),
and 70's arena rock. Current home of "Mickey & Amelia" in morning drive which replaced the long running "Kirk, Mark and Spiegel (formerly "Lopez") morning
show that moved to 105.7 WHFS. It's nice to hear
a station that doesn't heavily rely on voice-tracking as 98 Rock is very local and live. Also home for the Baltimore Ravens.
A great signal in and around Baltimore and a nice web page too. This is the only rocker in the Baltimore / DC area that
doesn't concentrate on Modern Rock, just loud hard rock. At night 98ROCK has shows like "Mandatory Metallica", and leans
a bit more towards playing harder rock.
99.1 WLZL-FM / Annapolis, MD / Spanish
After over three decades as the Washington and Baltimore Alternative Rock station, the suits at CBS / Infiniti flipped
WHFS to Spanish WZLL "El Zol 99.1". WHFS was getting bad ratings in Washington over the last few years, but it's
Baltimore numbers were pretty good. The station could have been fixed. Years of mismanagement by Infiniti turned
the once "cutting edge" station into a pop station. If they would have went back to being a real alternative station
they would have gained listeners. Now they are the station for foreign language people that don't want to assimilate
into this country. Si.
100.7 WZBA-FM "The Bay" / Baltimore / Classic Rock
After flopping as an alternative rock station a few years ago, 100.7 (WGRX) fipped formats to country. Taking on country giant WPOC wasn't an easy task.
On December 1, 1999 WGRX became WZBA "The Bay" - "Rock without the hard edge". In 2003 WZBA ditched the 'rounded'
rock for Classic Rock when 104.3 flipped from Classic Rock to "Smooth Jazz 104.3 WSMJ". WZBA plays the standard
classic rockers like Steve Miller, Boston, Led Zeppelin, The Cars, Yes, etc. WZBA has really grown from a rim-shot
classic rock station, to THE classic rock station for the area. The airstaff consists of radio pros like morning man
Chris Emry, a 30 year radio vet. WZBA broadcasts inland of Baltimore with a directional signal. They have a 10 watt
translator (100.1) to cover downtown Baltimore City. The 100.7 transmitter was moved closer to Baltimore City in 2001,
and now puts out a decent signal in the Annapolis area.
101.9 WLIF-FM "Lite 102" / Baltimore / Adult Contemporary
Baltimore's "Lite 102" is your standard doctor office radio station. It's also the station that goes 'all holiday music for over
a month after Thanksgiving each year. Background listening soft rock that is popular only during business hours.
A good clean signal, easily listenable in the Washington DC area, and since there is no lite music station there
anymore, this station now has listeners there. Very professional DJ's and polished production.
102.7 WQSR-FM "JACK" / Baltimore / Mixed Bag
"Jack" is a localized version of a national format and brand that CBS rolled out in 2006. This format is basically
a mix between an oldies, classic rock, and an adult contemporary station that goes by a first name.
"Jack" has two mantras - "We play anything" and "Playing what we want". It's a large selection of popular music and is
something that many radio programmers never thought would work. "Jack" doesn't have and on-air personalities, just
recorded bits that segue from song to song. This is radios answer to the Ipod in a way. An unexpected mix of music with
little interruption. The only problem is that there isn't any music information either. If you don't know a song that is
playing, you won't find out the title of the song or who performed it because it's not going to be announced.
102.7 is one of the best signals in Baltimore and can also be easilly picked up in the York and Washington DC markets.
103.1 WRNR-FM / Annapolis, MD / Progressive Adult Rock
WRNR "Radio Annapolis" is an adult oriented alternative rock station that broadcasts 6KW from Grasonville - Just across the bay from Annapolis. Their studios are in downtown Annapolis.
WRNR has a spotty signal throughout the Baltimore area, but they consider themselves a Baltimore market station, and
they do have a small - but quite dedicated following. WRNR-FM started off as a freeform progressive rock station,
owned by radio pioneer (and former WHFS owner) Jake Einstein. The original air staff talked up everything
from politics, to pop-culture...and spun their own hand-picked music - just like the original WHFS. While it was
interresting, it didn't make any money. Einstein sold the station to Steve Kingston, who made his mark as the
program director for the former WXRK "K-Rock" in New York. Kingston (who is originally from Maryland) bought WRNR under
the "Empire Broadcasting" name and slowly hired on new people, basically changing most of the airstaff.
A playlist was established to keep the music steady, and the personality part of the station was eventually
dropped for a straight-out "it's about the music" approach. The station still wasn't a money maker, and in
2004 more changes were made. Most of the second generation airstaff was let go, and veteran radio
programmer / talent Bob Waugh (of the former WHFS and the legendary Long Island alternative station WLIR) was
brought in to improve ratings. In late 2006 WRNR was sold (leased with option to buy) to Nassau Broadcasting, a large
company that specializes in suburban radio stations. Nassau promised to keep the format and most of the current airstaff
as well as to spend money for needed upgrades and promotions. Ratings have improved and the station seems to be doing pretty
well across the board.
THE UNOFFICIAL 103.1 WRNR MESSAGE BOARD - Mostly people complaining, but interresting.
104.3 WSMJ-FM / Baltimore / Smooth Jazz
WSMJ "Smooth Jazz 104.3" is the newest radio station in Baltimore. This used to be a Classic Rock station
(WOCT then later WXFB "B104.3") and for many years they struggled with low ratings. 104.3 tried all variations of Classic
Rock and Classic Hits. They started as 104.3 WOCT "The Colt" doing Classic Hits, a wimpy version of Classic Rock.
They moved to a standard Classic Rock format, then to a classic hard-rock format as simply WOCT, then back to standard
Classic Rock as "B104.3"......now they ditched the format completely for the likes of Kenny G.
The classic rock format (and some of the old B104.3 airstaff) can now be heard on 100.7 WZBA "The Bay" in the Baltimore area.
105.7 WHFS-FM / Catonsville, MD / Hot Talk
Baltimore's "Good Times Oldies" WQSR was located on 105.7 until September 2001. They moved to 102.7 because the 102.7
frequency has a better signal in most of the Baltimore area. WXYV was moved to 105.7 and became a "hip-hop" station
called "X105.7", taking on Radio One's popular "Q92.3". After being handidly bested by Q92.3, 105.7 was flipped to
talk radio featuring Howard Stern and Don & Mike. WHFS used to be located on 99.1 and was an alternative rock station
covering both DC and Baltimore. When 99.1 flipped to Spanish WZLL "El Zol", CBS (owners of WHFS and WXYV) combined the
alt-rock format with the hot talk format on 105.7 for Baltimore. 105.7 WXYV then changed it's call letters to WHFS. When Howard
Stern left to go to Satellite Radio, all of the CBS stations that aired Stern started calling themselves "Free-FM" in a
move to compete with satellite pay-radio. In 2007, WHFS dropped the "Free-FM" moniker and also dropped what WHFS was known
for, the alternative rock. WHFS is now "Baltimore's FM Talk" and now has the former 98 Rock morning show "KMS", as well as
Baltimore Orioles, Baltimore Ravens, and Maryland Terps sports coverage. 105.7 has an odd signal that covers the entire
Baltimore market, but none of DC due to DC's 105.9. It also has some problems from 105.7 in the York PA area in the
Nort-West direction.
106.5 WWMX-FM "Mix 106-5" / Baltimore, MD / Hot A.C.
Baltimore's "Mix" station has a larger playlist than most other stations with this format.
Lots of retro music "mixed" with today's current music. The target audience is women over 30 years old.
Home of the popular "Jojo and Kenny" in the morning and "The Cyber Cafe" mid-days. They play a wide variety of music -
living up to the "mix" name a good deal more than other stations using this moniker. They have a good clean signal
except by D.C., where 106.7 WJFK causes interference.
107.9 WFSI-FM / Annapolis, MD / Religious
Another commercial religious station that seemingly gets no ratings.
This one is owned by "Family Stations", a national religious radio company, A.K.A. Special Interest Group.
Very strong signal in Annapolis.
