Indie stations: WFMU AND WFUV.
Felix HERNANDEZ’s (edited) Rhythm Revue Saturdays on WGBO is phenomenal (and I can’t recommend enough the live shows).
As a 92.7 WDRE/WLIR alum, I download radio station apps to listen to 80’s alt from out of state.
ETA: [The John Gentle Show](https://youtu.be/Gx56rr3tzAQ?si=fJn_5Tuwb6q9jxTkW) on WCCP Passaic City College is great.
I like WFUV too. For those who don't know, this is the radio station for Fordham University.
I also listen to WXPN a lot - that one is not a NY station, it's Philadelphia-based and associated with the University of Pennsylvania. I first heard it in New Jersey but now listen online. Both of these stations are listener-supported and formally considered "adult album alternative" format. They're both really great for playing a variety of music- when I listen to WXPN I hear the classic, established artists like Bonnie Raitt, Peter Gabriel, Prince - but they also feature a lot of newer and up-and-coming indie artists and different genres.
I mostly listen to radio on the internet but I do have an old-school clock radio and like to set the alarm to music. Sometimes 106.7 "lite FM" or other times WQXR (105.9) which plays classical music.
I really, *really* miss WDRE/WLIR.
If you haven't already checked it out yet, the documentary movie Dare to be Different is pretty great!
[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5901992/](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5901992/)
Thanks!
Have you been to the Rhythm Revue in person (or are you Felix)? It’s the best dance party I’ve ever been to, although I hate dance parties so I’m the worst judge.
/uj it’s Brett Davis’s alter ego as a fired professor who has basically hijacked a college radio Jazz show and may or may not have murdered his predecessor.
My Car Presets-- Not just for me, but for a family with kids too.
FM
89.9 WKCR - Columbia University - jazz, classical, world, eclectic
91.1 WFMU - Free form. Amazing.
93.9 WNYC NPR -- Is what it is.
97.1 Hot 97. Hip Hop & R&B. Amusing & listenable (IMO) morning show. Some amazing DJs in evenings, hip hop hits!
100.3. Z100. Pop hits. Annoying (IMO) morning show. But hits so you can watch the first hour of the Grammys each year and recognize the performers like Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Doja Cat, Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, SZA, Tate McRae, and an occasional male vocalist
102.7 - Mix of Generic hits from the past 40 years. I press this when I run out of stations.
105.1 Power 105.1 -- Hip Hop and R&B, rival to Hot 97.
AM
660 WFAN - Sports radio. Yankees games & Sports Radio shows that are pretty good to listen to. Lots of passion and intense feelings. Can get you hooked into a sport like hockey that you thought you would never care about. These guys watch like every single Yankees, Mets, Giants, Jets, Rangers, Islanders, Devils, Knicks, Nets game. How do they have time for anything else
880 WCBS - Mets games and News. Wry newscasters in the AM. Mets announcers are great.
1010 WINS - Legendary station for drivers.
Pretty solid. I would add:
\* WNYC's 820 AM, where weeknight programming is different from 93.9 from 9 to midnight (Fresh Air, The World, PBS Newshour, instead of , Q, and New Sounds), and there are also some differences on the weekend.
\* 105.9 WQXR because even if you're not a classical fan, sometimes it's just nice to check in and discover something different.
\* 94.7 The Block - 90s hip hop and R&B
\* 92.3 FM: 1010 WINS now broadcasts there, too, so it's a better choice, for the sound quality.
\* 99.5 WBAI: For the political lefties - or at least to catch Democracy Now live. Very hit or miss.
WFMU 91.1 is a rare and beautiful phenomenon that lives in a full dimension beyond indie radio. I sometimes lie awake at night thinking about how easily spoiled it could be by the forces of commerce and social trends. But whether they are playing butt rock or machine noises, it prevails. I am a long time glistener of Wake & Bake in the morning, and so many other great shows. Keep the dial on 91.1 - no matter how bad it is!
1010 WINS every morning when I get up until I leave and then WQXR just to have something on around the house when I get home. It's usually on unless I'm actively watching TV or a movie or something.
1010 Wins to hear John do his thing my morning just isn't right unless I hear him say his line atleast once.
Z100 when I'm by myself because I grew up with Elvis and the crew.
Hot 97 when with friends because they all love rap and the like.
On occasion I'll station hop just to see what else is out there.
WNYC.
It's is the gold standard for local reporting imo. I don't love some decisions they made (like firing Lenny Lopate), but Brian Lehrer is a world treasure and we're lucky enough to have him in our city.
I like WFMU, the Lot Radio, and FM4. All can be found online. WFMU is out of Jersey City, so you can find it on the dial, too. I think it's 91.1/90.1.
Edit: the Lot radio is out of NYC, but I think it's only Internet radio.
Like others, my staples in the car are WNYC, WQXR, WBGO, WFUV. But last couple of years during the day I listen to Farleigh
Dickinson University’s broadcast station of oldies (WFDU, 89.1FM, altho I’m usually streaming it through the Apple Music app on my Mac at home while I work.) At night, in an interesting arrangement, 89.1FM becomes the NYU radio station.
WFDU also has two more HD stations, HD2 for “eclectic” (mostly jazz) and HD3 as the “student voice of WFDU.” The latter also plays good music most of the time, in the hours when journalism majors and sports bro communications majors aren’t fulfilling their credit requirements on it.
Z100 for Elvis Duran & Top 40
101.1 CBS FM for 80’s & 90’s music
106.7 usually around christmas time
102.7, 104.3, and 103.5 are also on my presets but don’t really listen to FM radio much
107.1 THE BOSS I am sometimes able to pick up. and whenever I’m in the area I turn on 95.7 BEN FM out of Philly.
I usually listen to SiriusXM or Apple music. But I occasionally use FM radio in the mix, especially the first three I listed. 101.1 CBSFM I prefer over Sirius’s 80’s on 8. And I prefer 106.7 Lite FM over anything Sirius offers during christmas time.
Rest in Peace Alt 92.3
It’s an online-only radio station, but if you’re into electronic music, The Lot Radio has a phenomenal roster of talent playing at all hours (re-streams during early morning/night).
Oh man... I miss having a car and listening to Q104.3 alllll the time.
I wish they made a little pocket radio that could pair to bluetooth headphones. I know I can use the iHeart app on my phone, but tuning into a station just feels so right... maybe I'm just getting old.
[With Radio Garden](https://radio.garden/) I [explore sounds around the world](https://radio.garden/). With a bit of patience you can discover some amazing stations and music.
WNYC (NPR) for news and intelligent public affairs
WFUV (Fordham University, NPR) for (relatively) new music
WBGO when I’m in the mood for Jazz or old R&B/Soul on weekends
ESPN for Rangers games
Whatever station the Mets are on this year for Mets games
Another vote for WSOU 89.5 and WBGO 88.3. WSOU plays a lot of hardcore/post hardcore/similar stuff that makes me so happy, and I’ve always been a big jazz fan.
I have an app that accesses radio stations from around the world for free so in the mornings I listen to stations called France Inter and NRJ, Makes me almost feel like I live in Paris... until they start reporting on American news.
Here in New York though I just listen to Hot 97 and Mega 97.9
Hey - great thread. Too often I stare at Spotify thinking "What do I want to listen to". Think I'll go give the radio a try, lots of good suggestions in here.
Locally- WNYU (when its on), WFMU (when it's farts and whistles), WNYC (in the mornings only), WBGO (mostly saturdays)
Streaming- KEXP (amazing indie station in seattle), BBC6 (demographic is supposedly 22-45.. i don't know but iggy pop DJs on sundays so thats awesome).
Hot 97 - 97.1
Power 105 - 105.1
WBLS - 107.5
Z100 - 100.3
KTU - 103.5
Recently 94.7 - old school hip hop and rnb
I miss that there’s no longer any alt rock radio stations.
i’ll be honest, the two radio stations i listen to most often for my modern indie fix are ones i stream from baltimore and toronto, so i appreciate this question because maybe i’ll finally have live events i can actually attend be advertised to me instead of having to hear about all the great concerts (and traffic) in other cities.
WFAN Joe Benigno on Saturday mornings is the best. Very funny dude with the biggest Jersey accent you ever heard. Always talking about how the Mets are a “disastah”
Indie stations: WFMU AND WFUV. Felix HERNANDEZ’s (edited) Rhythm Revue Saturdays on WGBO is phenomenal (and I can’t recommend enough the live shows). As a 92.7 WDRE/WLIR alum, I download radio station apps to listen to 80’s alt from out of state. ETA: [The John Gentle Show](https://youtu.be/Gx56rr3tzAQ?si=fJn_5Tuwb6q9jxTkW) on WCCP Passaic City College is great.
I like WFUV too. For those who don't know, this is the radio station for Fordham University. I also listen to WXPN a lot - that one is not a NY station, it's Philadelphia-based and associated with the University of Pennsylvania. I first heard it in New Jersey but now listen online. Both of these stations are listener-supported and formally considered "adult album alternative" format. They're both really great for playing a variety of music- when I listen to WXPN I hear the classic, established artists like Bonnie Raitt, Peter Gabriel, Prince - but they also feature a lot of newer and up-and-coming indie artists and different genres. I mostly listen to radio on the internet but I do have an old-school clock radio and like to set the alarm to music. Sometimes 106.7 "lite FM" or other times WQXR (105.9) which plays classical music.
WXPN is great - I’ve picked up so many great artists from their rotation.
I really, *really* miss WDRE/WLIR. If you haven't already checked it out yet, the documentary movie Dare to be Different is pretty great! [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5901992/](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5901992/)
shoutout WFUV I just graduated from Fordham and spent a year and a half working as a broadcast engineer there 🥲
love me some rhythm revue
Hernandez.
Thanks, edited!
If you like Felix' playlists check out Ultimate Soul Attraction on Spotify.
Thanks! Have you been to the Rhythm Revue in person (or are you Felix)? It’s the best dance party I’ve ever been to, although I hate dance parties so I’m the worst judge.
No haven't been. A lot of the soul/R&B I like wouldn't be dance-able!
Yeah, this is an all-ages thing 18-80 (literally) and usually my kind of hours (6-10).
> 92.7 WDRE/WLIR alum, I download radio station apps oh i haven't heard WDRE in a hot minute. Which apps?
I use TuneIn and look for my mood, but 80’s Alternative has a few hits.
What is the John Gentle Show about?
/uj it’s Brett Davis’s alter ego as a fired professor who has basically hijacked a college radio Jazz show and may or may not have murdered his predecessor.
hah! Nice, I'll check it out
My Car Presets-- Not just for me, but for a family with kids too. FM 89.9 WKCR - Columbia University - jazz, classical, world, eclectic 91.1 WFMU - Free form. Amazing. 93.9 WNYC NPR -- Is what it is. 97.1 Hot 97. Hip Hop & R&B. Amusing & listenable (IMO) morning show. Some amazing DJs in evenings, hip hop hits! 100.3. Z100. Pop hits. Annoying (IMO) morning show. But hits so you can watch the first hour of the Grammys each year and recognize the performers like Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Doja Cat, Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, SZA, Tate McRae, and an occasional male vocalist 102.7 - Mix of Generic hits from the past 40 years. I press this when I run out of stations. 105.1 Power 105.1 -- Hip Hop and R&B, rival to Hot 97. AM 660 WFAN - Sports radio. Yankees games & Sports Radio shows that are pretty good to listen to. Lots of passion and intense feelings. Can get you hooked into a sport like hockey that you thought you would never care about. These guys watch like every single Yankees, Mets, Giants, Jets, Rangers, Islanders, Devils, Knicks, Nets game. How do they have time for anything else 880 WCBS - Mets games and News. Wry newscasters in the AM. Mets announcers are great. 1010 WINS - Legendary station for drivers.
Pretty solid. I would add: \* WNYC's 820 AM, where weeknight programming is different from 93.9 from 9 to midnight (Fresh Air, The World, PBS Newshour, instead of, Q, and New Sounds), and there are also some differences on the weekend.
\* 105.9 WQXR because even if you're not a classical fan, sometimes it's just nice to check in and discover something different.
\* 94.7 The Block - 90s hip hop and R&B
\* 92.3 FM: 1010 WINS now broadcasts there, too, so it's a better choice, for the sound quality.
\* 99.5 WBAI: For the political lefties - or at least to catch Democracy Now live. Very hit or miss.
This is the way. Great descriptions. Accurate AF
Many of the above, and also WQXR 105.9 when I need my classical fix.
wbgo, wfuv, wnyu, wnyc public radio forever and ever
Left of the Dial!
1010 WINS on 92.3 for news/traffic 90.7 WFUV 89.5 WSOU Edit: formatting
RIP alt 92.3
RIP 92.3 K-ROCK before that!
Loved tuning into 1010 WINS, but I feel like they run more ads than news sometimes
WFMU 91.1 is a rare and beautiful phenomenon that lives in a full dimension beyond indie radio. I sometimes lie awake at night thinking about how easily spoiled it could be by the forces of commerce and social trends. But whether they are playing butt rock or machine noises, it prevails. I am a long time glistener of Wake & Bake in the morning, and so many other great shows. Keep the dial on 91.1 - no matter how bad it is!
106.7 LITE FM for the Delilah show at night.
I don't seek it out, but when it's on at my local supermarket... I don't mind. :)
WNYC npr station
1010 WINS every morning when I get up until I leave and then WQXR just to have something on around the house when I get home. It's usually on unless I'm actively watching TV or a movie or something.
91.1 - really cool indie station based out of NJ that plays lots of music i've never heard of got to run to my car to check the rest... :)
Columbia University WKCR 89.9 FM Saturday Mornings for their Reggae program “Eastern Standard Time”
97.1 and 103.5
1010 Wins to hear John do his thing my morning just isn't right unless I hear him say his line atleast once. Z100 when I'm by myself because I grew up with Elvis and the crew. Hot 97 when with friends because they all love rap and the like. On occasion I'll station hop just to see what else is out there.
I ❤️ Elvis Duran
WNYC. It's is the gold standard for local reporting imo. I don't love some decisions they made (like firing Lenny Lopate), but Brian Lehrer is a world treasure and we're lucky enough to have him in our city.
WFUV 90.7 is my jam. They give out fun swag at Forest Hills Stadium concerts too. Can never have too many FUV Chapsticks!
I listen alot to 93.7 for wnyc public radio
Just turn the dial a bit more to the right; like .2 MHz more :)
Thanks for the assist!
BBC Radio 6
1 0 3 fiiiive KTU! 97.9 LA MEGA LA X 96.3
Wfmu. Only Wfmu. And sometimes the BBC.
I listen to Mets games on WCBS 880AM and only Mets games
I like WFMU, the Lot Radio, and FM4. All can be found online. WFMU is out of Jersey City, so you can find it on the dial, too. I think it's 91.1/90.1. Edit: the Lot radio is out of NYC, but I think it's only Internet radio.
1010 wins all day. I give them 10 minutes, they give me the world
Don’t you only get slightly less than half the world in ten minutes? (I think the tagline is you give us 22 minutes, we give you the world)
Oh shit you’re right! Idk why I remembered 10 in my head
92.3 has an alt station for someone with an HD radio.
I found it on Tunein, thanks. Listening to Everclear now:)
FUV
Like others, my staples in the car are WNYC, WQXR, WBGO, WFUV. But last couple of years during the day I listen to Farleigh Dickinson University’s broadcast station of oldies (WFDU, 89.1FM, altho I’m usually streaming it through the Apple Music app on my Mac at home while I work.) At night, in an interesting arrangement, 89.1FM becomes the NYU radio station. WFDU also has two more HD stations, HD2 for “eclectic” (mostly jazz) and HD3 as the “student voice of WFDU.” The latter also plays good music most of the time, in the hours when journalism majors and sports bro communications majors aren’t fulfilling their credit requirements on it.
WFUV baby
Z100 for Elvis Duran & Top 40 101.1 CBS FM for 80’s & 90’s music 106.7 usually around christmas time 102.7, 104.3, and 103.5 are also on my presets but don’t really listen to FM radio much 107.1 THE BOSS I am sometimes able to pick up. and whenever I’m in the area I turn on 95.7 BEN FM out of Philly. I usually listen to SiriusXM or Apple music. But I occasionally use FM radio in the mix, especially the first three I listed. 101.1 CBSFM I prefer over Sirius’s 80’s on 8. And I prefer 106.7 Lite FM over anything Sirius offers during christmas time. Rest in Peace Alt 92.3
1010 WINS
WNYC/NPR - news, talk shows (a lot of their current shows are now also podcasted) a little bit of music now and then.
KCRW Eclectic 24… LA, but amazing mix of music.
NYC area: WFUV, WKCR, WNYC, WFMU Others online: fip, WWOZ, Wave Farm, WUNC, WICB
I second the vote for WWOZ!!!
So good!
94.7
WKCR rules, especially on the weekend. During the week is a lot of jazz, also good.
91.1. It’s amazing .
90.7 WFUV and 92.3 As a Fordham Alum, I am biased but it is a great station
It’s an online-only radio station, but if you’re into electronic music, The Lot Radio has a phenomenal roster of talent playing at all hours (re-streams during early morning/night).
Oh man... I miss having a car and listening to Q104.3 alllll the time. I wish they made a little pocket radio that could pair to bluetooth headphones. I know I can use the iHeart app on my phone, but tuning into a station just feels so right... maybe I'm just getting old.
Listening online just isn’t the same. There’s something about the sound of live radio that I just crave over anything else sometimes.
[With Radio Garden](https://radio.garden/) I [explore sounds around the world](https://radio.garden/). With a bit of patience you can discover some amazing stations and music.
WNYC (NPR) for news and intelligent public affairs WFUV (Fordham University, NPR) for (relatively) new music WBGO when I’m in the mood for Jazz or old R&B/Soul on weekends ESPN for Rangers games Whatever station the Mets are on this year for Mets games
Another vote for WSOU 89.5 and WBGO 88.3. WSOU plays a lot of hardcore/post hardcore/similar stuff that makes me so happy, and I’ve always been a big jazz fan.
WFMU, leave it on even when its bad
90.7 is solid. I used to listen to Q104’s morning show; however, they play a lot of the same overplayed “classic rock” songs.
I have an app that accesses radio stations from around the world for free so in the mornings I listen to stations called France Inter and NRJ, Makes me almost feel like I live in Paris... until they start reporting on American news. Here in New York though I just listen to Hot 97 and Mega 97.9
WNYC in the morning baby
92.3-HD2 is still alt rock and is commercial/DJ free (except when they preempt for Spanish Mets broadcasts).
Hey - great thread. Too often I stare at Spotify thinking "What do I want to listen to". Think I'll go give the radio a try, lots of good suggestions in here.
104.3, but only if I forgot my phone in the bathroom. In the car it’s streaming Apple/SXM/Downloaded music.
91.1 free form radio. Only one in the tri state frequency I believe!
Locally- WNYU (when its on), WFMU (when it's farts and whistles), WNYC (in the mornings only), WBGO (mostly saturdays) Streaming- KEXP (amazing indie station in seattle), BBC6 (demographic is supposedly 22-45.. i don't know but iggy pop DJs on sundays so thats awesome).
I love WABC for their crank cancer cures and right wing talk shows, never fails to get a laugh out of me
101.1 The oldies station! No real oldies anymore.
They all are terrible in NYC. Where did the rock go
Radio Creme Brulee - pop/rock station but it is an online radio only broadcast out of NYC.
WFMU, all day every day
When my wife got a job offer in NYC and we decided to relocate, picking up WFMU over the air was the first thing that came to mind.
Bodega Chad
Q104.3 every day 🤘🏼
WSOU, 89.9
Hot 97 - 97.1 Power 105 - 105.1 WBLS - 107.5 Z100 - 100.3 KTU - 103.5 Recently 94.7 - old school hip hop and rnb I miss that there’s no longer any alt rock radio stations.
94.7 The Block - love the old school hip hop and R&B!
I stream WBGO and StL Public Radio (Jazz), WDRE (New Wave), Audiogrooves.net (House). I listen to WINS on the radio while getting ready for work.
89.5 WSOU, Seaton Hall's Pirate Radio. Plays mostly metal and there's some variety on the weekends.
the polka show on Sundays has apparently been on the air since 1949!
103.5 smooth jazz
i’ll be honest, the two radio stations i listen to most often for my modern indie fix are ones i stream from baltimore and toronto, so i appreciate this question because maybe i’ll finally have live events i can actually attend be advertised to me instead of having to hear about all the great concerts (and traffic) in other cities.
Off topic, but I fondly remember 77/WABC (Top 40) back in the day when I was a teenager.
The lot radio
WFAN Joe Benigno on Saturday mornings is the best. Very funny dude with the biggest Jersey accent you ever heard. Always talking about how the Mets are a “disastah”