Lucky Dog Radio

Although freeform radio stations had been around since the early '60s, it wasn't until the FM dial was opened up later in the decade that the (non)format truly flowered. It was driven by the evolution taking place in pop music, as albums began to take precedence over singles and songs grew in length.

By the end of the decade a freeform station could be found in most major metropolitan areas. Music-loving DJs were picking the tunes themselves and experimenting with the manner in which it was presented, creating sets of songs with a defining feature (or two) that created a whole greater than the sum of its parts.

In the early '70s, the business side of rock and radio began to exert control. Some clever people figured out that formatting a station to only play the most popular tunes from the most successful artists would mean a larger audience and greater profits. In the decades that followed this process was consistently refined, resulting in the situation that's with us today--stations that are dedicated to narrow niches and playlists.

That would be the human touch. It is rare to find a radio station today with music content chosen by a real live person; some have done away with DJs altogether. The result is that so much wonderful music goes unheard by all but the most adventurous fans, and the sense of community created among listeners by their favorite stations has long since disappeared.

In recent years, however, more and more folks have discovered that the Internet is the place to find radio programmed by people who have a true passion for the music they play, just like it was back in the heyday of freeform. Sure, most stations are devoted to niches and sub-categories, but many are run by folks who simply love offering the music they like for others to enjoy as well.

I'm one of those people who used to make mix tapes/CDs and give them out as gifts. These days I don't have the time, because all my efforts are devoted to the music mix heard on Lucky Dog Radio.

Back in the dayfree form radio was how I became exposed to so much music that has stayed with me over the decades. It also taught to open up my ears, and as a result I've explored many genres that previously didn't interest me. Now I'm always interested in new sounds, whether it's stuff that's just been released or older things that are only "new" to me.

Whatever the specifics, it all goes into the mix. LDR listeners can expect plenty of they know and love, some tunes they half remember from long ago, other stuff they've never heard before and a nice helping of new material--from both their favorites and new artists.

Each week brings a new two-hour program on Wednesday and Saturday, and every show is broadcast four times a day throughout the week. The emphasis during these programs is on both the connections I find among individual tunes as well as on the overall flow.

The time in between each show is filled with the Lucky Dog Radio Well of Music. This deep pool of sound contains more than 1,000 tunes that cover a wide range of musical genres, and it keeps the music flowing 24/7.

If any of that sounds the least bit interesting, then perhaps you'd like to give Lucky Dog Radio a try.