image to listen to a station live!
88.1 WMUC-FM / College Park / MD. - Freeform College
The DC areas only real college station unfortunately is only pushing 10 watts! They cover a surprisingly large area for such a tiny signal, and they webcast too. This is the only place left of the dial where listeners can hear real college radio, not NPR trash, C-SPAN, or any other "service" that takes away the Public from Public Radio. If this station had some real power behind it, I would never turn it off. Unfortunately, if it did have some power behind it, NPR would probably suck it up like the many other former college oriented stations.
88.5 WAMU-FM / Washington / News-Talk, Bluegrass, NPR
American University owned and operated WAMU is a mostly news/talk station, with blue grass banjo music weekday afternoons. They have a lot of local talk, but unfortunately NPR is weasling their canned stuff into WAMU's schedule. WAMU is a good counter station to the right wing talk stations. Not as left as NY's WBAI, but definately leaning towards that direction.
89.3 WPFW-FM / Washington / News-Talk, Jazz
Pacifica's WPFW is DC's only place to hear non-commercial jazz. They also feature left wing talk fare, something that their owner "Pacifica" is well known for (NY's WBAI, for example). DC's only full powered public radio station that is not affiliated with a programming service like NPR.
90.1 WCSP-FM / Washington / C-SPAN Political Talk
Gavel-to-gavel coverage of the Senate and Congress. C-SPAN radio is where you can hear simulcasts of the C-SPAN Cable Networks programming, as well as coverage of hearings that are not on the Cable Network. Incredibly boring radio. Did Brian Lamb (C-SPAN Owner and all around weirdo) really need to take over a once-public station? Did you know that a nickle of every cable bill that you pay goes to Mr. Lamb's C-SPAN, like it or not? Some "gift".
90.5 WJYJ-FM "Joy" / Fredericksburg, VA / Religious
Not really a DC station, but they do have a translator in Alexandria on 97.7 FM. Standard right wing religious stuff here. The simulcaster (they have a bunch) on 97.7 interferes with WIYY (97.9) in a three mile area of Alexandria....was that done on purpose?
90.9 WETA-FM / Washington / Talk, Classical
NPR has its evil grip on this station too. Classical music during most of the night and afternoons, with Talk and NPR fare during the drive times. On weekends WETA mostly airs NPR and BBC talk/informational programming. WETA is DC's strongest station, pumping out 75,000 watts and they have a simulcaster in western Maryland on 89.1 FM.
91.3 WTRM-FM / Winchester, VA / Religious
Winchester is pretty far from DC, but because of the high elevation - the Winchester area stations cover DC pretty well. This religious outlet is no exception.
91.9 WGTS-FM / Takoma Park, MD / Religious
Man, there are a lot of religious outlets in DC/Baltimore. This station is typical of all of the others. I don't understand how religious outlets serve the community, or are even "public" for that matter.
92.5 WINC-FM / Winchester, VA - Adult Contemporary
Another Winchester VA station that broadcasts from up in the mountains. I can get this station out in Annapolis (with bleed from WERQ-92.3). Huge signal that easily goes 100 miles from their transmitter. A slightly "hot" mix of contemporary music, meaning that this station sometimes sounds like a top-40 station, rather than a sleepy station that your mom would like!
92.7 FM WBZS-FM / Prince Frederick, MD - Spanish
This rim-shot station into the DC market carries a Spanish Urban format. A strong signal in Prince George County, Charles County, Southern Anne Arundel County, and Calvert County in Maryland. WBZS also has a decent signal in South-East Washington and parts of Northern Virginia. WBZS is owned by Mega, one of the largest Spanish Language radio station owners in the country, based right here in D.C.
93.3 WFLS-FM / Fredericksburg, VA / Country
For a long time the Fredericksburg area only had three FM stations that had any real coverage! This was one of them. WFLS is a standard Country outlet that covers from just north of DC to Richmond, VA. This ratings winner in Fredericksburg even shows up in the DC ratings, but usually towards the bottom.
93.9 WKYS-FM "Kiss" / Washington / Urban
Radio One owned WKYS is usually one of the three top rated stations in DC. This stations calls itself "The People's Station", the same slogan used at Radio One's WERQ-92.3 in Baltimore. Not really a station for all the "people" because owner Radio One specifically targets African-Americans at all of its stations across the country. Compared to other area Radio One properties, WKYS is definately the most professional sounding music formatted station of the bunch (WERQ, WWIN, WMMJ). The airstaff sounds like they know what they are playing, and they don't dumb-down the delivery like over at WERQ. This is the home of the syndicated "Russ Parr" morning show.
94.3 WPLC-FM "Amor" / Warrenton, VA - Spanish Adult Contemporary
WPLC targets the Washington Market, but they really don't cover very much of it. Their small 3KW signal mostly covers Virginia's South-West DC suburbs. The format is "Spanish Love Songs", and is targeted to the areas Latino population. Co-owned with 92.7 WBZS.
94.7 WARW-FM "Classic Rock 94-7" / Bethesda. MD / Classic Rock
WARW was once your standard classic rock station playing nothing but the same 20 bands over and over, but recently they have begun to add some more eclectic music that still sounds appropriate with the standards or 'core artists'. The air staff is well known in the Washington DC area, having people like Weasel and Cerphe (former WHFS glory days jocks) on the roster. The morning show of Stevens & Medley are funny in a 'safe' kind of way, and the overall personalities at the station are 'safe' but in a non-boring type of way. This station toggles back and forth with their name, sometimes going by "The Arrow", "Arrow 94.7", or just "Classic Rock 94.7". Either way, it's improving.
95.5 WPGC-FM / Morningside, MD / Urban Hits
WPGC "Jams". They play lots of hit oriented Rap and R&B that plays well with the DC area. WPGC is the other top rated station, neck in neck with with WKYS and WHUR, another Urban. The presentation at WPGC is definately not for the masses. Very street sounding and slang talking jocks can get quite annoying if you are not accostomed to that sort of thing. WPGC has a big signal that allows the station to also get numbers in Baltimore.
96.3 WHUR-FM / Washington / Urban AC
The first all-Black college in the country, Howard University, runs this commercial station that also targets the African American population in DC. A big radio pioneer, WHUR is the first minority institution owned commercial radio station to become a number one rated station. Catherine Hughes, who went on to form "Radio One" (now a competitor of WHUR) got her start at WHUR. WHUR is more professional sounding than WPGC and WKYS, but they are going for an older crowd. This station plays a lot of modern R&B and lighter rap-ish stuff.
97.1 WASH-FM / Washington / Adult Contemporary
The place to hear Love Songs at night, and soft hits throughout the rest of the day. WASH calls its music "Soft Rock" but I don't think that Carly Simon and Anne Murray can be called Rock in any way! WASH doesn't really have much of a personality, they just play the music. This station is perfect for being played at Doctor Offices, Banks, Real Estate Offices....you get the point.
98.3 WSMD-FM "Star 98.3" / Mechanicsville, MD / Classic Hits
102.3 WMMJ "Majic 102.3" / Bethesda, MD / Urban Oldies
A mostly automated station that calls itself Classic Rock, but really is Classic Hits. Lots of softer old rock, and some old rock-ish pop. This station covers Southern Maryland up to US-50, and Virginia along the Potomac River.
98.7 WMZQ-FM / Washington / Country
One of the only non-urban music stations to chart decent in the DC book. They are a pretty standard Country outlet, with very good jocks. WMZQ is DC's only country outlet with full coverage of the market, so they have the country listeners all tuned in. Owned by Clear Channel and home of "Ben and Brian" in the morning (also relayed to "Froggy 99.9" in Salisbury-Ocean City MD)
99.1 WHFS-FM / Annapolis - Crofton, MD / Spanish
After over three decades as the Washington and Baltimore Alternative Rock station, the suits at CBS / Infinity flipped WHFS to Spanish "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 Infinity 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.
99.5 WIHT "Hot 99.5" / Washington / CHR / Top-40
Owned by radio giant 'Clear Channel', "Hot 99.5" is the areas only CHR (Top-40) station. Musically, they play lots of music aimed at the younger set and have a high energy presentation. The place to hear Brittney Spears and N*Sync, and a health dose of pop-hip-hop. The station seems to be leaning a bit more urban-ish as of late. Ratings have been a bit low here, so expect the music to sway in a few different directions until it clicks with listeners. WIHT signed on in 2001, after the plug was pulled on "Jammin' 99.5", an Urban oldies station. Before "Jammin'", 99.5 was WGAY, a soft Adult Contemporary station.
99.9 WFRE-FM "Free Country" / Frederick, MD / Country
This country outlet, broadcasting way out in Western Maryland, covers a big part of the DC market. I can usually get WFRE all the way out in Annapolis too. A pretty standard small market country outlet that focuses only on the Frederick area.
100.3 WBIG-FM "Big-100" / Washington / Oldies
A standard "Good Time Oldies" type station. "Big-100" is DC's place to hear "Mack The Knife" or "Up On A Roof", a health dose of Beatles, and some early 70's music. Good delivery by a talented airstaff, and the overall production is top-notch. Very similar to WCBS-FM in NYC in every way. When "Big-100" does remote broadcasts, they really shine. WBIG has a huge portable DJ truck that really stands out in the crowd, probably more than any other station in town.
101.1 WWDC-FM "DC101" / Washington / Rock
DC101 is an odd rock station. They are more of a Modern Rock station than a AOR/Rock station ala Baltimore's WIYY "98ROCK". The liners say "The Only Station That Really Rocks", but DC101 really is like a cross between an Alternative Rock station (like WHFS) and a regular Rock station (like 98ROCK in Baltimore). More like WHFS than 98ROCK though. Musically, they play the standard pop-"nu" rock stuff like "Puddle Of Mud", and also throw in the occasional Jimi Hendrix tune. You are more likely to hear newer rock here though. DC101 is home to "Eliott in the morning", a locally based crude - but often funny - morning show (also now heard on 102.1 "The X" in Richmond VA. Also home to John Ballard's "DC101 Road Show" in afternoon drive.
101.5 WBQB-FM "B101.5" / Fredericksburg, VA / Adult Contemporary
This station, along with WFLS, puts in one great signal to the DC area. This station can even be heard in Annapolis, MD. They are a community oriented station with local traffic and news for the Fredericksburg area. The music is Adult Contemporary bordering on Top-40 hits at times.
This Radio One owned station puts out a great signal for a little class A (low power) station. They play lots of vintage R&B, Motown, and 70's retro. The Tom Joyner Show gives WMMJ the number one spot in the AM Drive, and a great lead in for the rest of the day. This station sounds very good, great jocks and professinal imaging. Some Radio One properties sound extremely low budget - like WERQ-92.3 in Baltimore and WWIN-95.9 in Glen Burnie - but WMMJ sounds like a real deal urban oldies outlet complete with a personality all its own.
103.5 WTOP-FM / Washington / News
103.5 was the home of classical outlet WGMS for many years until owner Bonneville decided to move the classical music to the old 'Z104' frequencies of 104.1/103.9 to make way for cash cow WTOP. WTOP started out on 1500AM and grew to be simulcasted on 107.7 FM in Virginia and 820AM in Frederick MD. The AM signal had problems in DC, especially pennetrating buildings, and the 107.7 frequency was too far south to cover most of the area. The solution was to get rid of the ratings challenged 'Z104' and move WGMS to the signals that cover the 'burbs well and to place all-news WTOP on the signal that covers the entire DC market fairly well.
103.9 WWVZ-FM "WGMS" / Braddock Heights, MD / CHR
104.1 WGMS-FM / Waldorf, MD / Classical
D.C.'s "WGMS" moved from 103.5 to the 104.1/103.9 frequencies in January 2006, replacing longtime Hot AC station "Z104". Z104 had been a ratings dud for many years, and owner Bonneville decided that it would be best to move ratings giant WTOP from its scratch AM home at 1500 to 103.5 for better coverage in office buildings around the metro area. That displaced longtime classical outlet WGMS, so Bonneville placed it on the old Z104 frequencies which don't cover the entire metro area as well, but offer good coverage in Northern VA and other wealth 'burbs. WGMS plays fairly well known classical music over obscure pieces and it has been a solid ratings performer in the area for many years. Apparently, even though it gets good ratings, WGMS doesn't make as much money as WTOP, so 'TOP got the better frequency.
WGMS-104.1 F.C.C. COVERAGE MAP
105.1 WAVA-FM / Arlington, VA / Religious
This station used to be a great CHR before they were sold to Salem, and now they are a low rated religious outlet. Standard right wing religious talk and news. WAVA simulcasts on 1230AM in Baltimore.
105.9 WJZW-FM "Smooth Jazz 105.9" / Woodbridge, VA / NAC - Jazz
The place to hear "Kenny G." and other Pop-Jazz. An overall sleepy station, WJZW often can be heard in offices in the Northern VA area. They have a rim-shot signal that mainly covers DC proper and Northern Virginia only. Baltimore's WQSR-105.7 knocks them off the dial in Maryland.
106.7 WJFK-FM "Free-FM" / Manassas, VA / Talk
The home of "Don & Mike", "The Sports Junkies", and DC's home of Howard Stern until January 2006. WJFK also features "Bill O'Reilly" and others that make this station probably the only true unique station in the Washington area. The weekday lineup on 'JFK is pretty good, but the weekends are horrible! Much of the weekend is made up of radio infomercials that are just dreadful to listen to. WJFK gets wiped off the dial in Maryland due to Baltimore's WWMX-106.5, but Baltimore's WHFS-105.7 (also owned by Infinity) carries most of the same programming). I'm not sure why Infinity plays alternative rock on 105.7 and not on 106.7 though.
107.3 WRQX-FM "Mix 107.3" / Washington / Hot Adult Contemporary
"Mix 107.3" plays a lot of the hit oriented Modern Rock along with the standards of the Hot AC format. Home of the popular "Jack Diamond Morning Show". "Mix 107.3" also has a lot of retro 80's shows, like "Back Trax" and "The 80's at 8". Also home to "Retro Saturday Night", a 70's and early 80's dance-ish show. "Mix 107.3" is the kind of station that you can put on at work, and hear a decent tune in every set. Very similar to Baltimore's WWMX-106.5, also a "Mix" station. A good strong signal throughout the entire Washington area.
107.7 WTOP-FM / Warrenton, VA / News
DC's 24 hour AM news station (1500AM) started simulcasting on 94.3 (now WPLC) then flipped to 107.7 to get more coverage. WTOP-FM covers Northern Virginia well, but that's really it. For DC and Maryland you still have to listen to the noisy AM signal. Overall, a good news outlet. "Headline News" for radio. Great place for local news, traffic, and national headlines. The newscasters are also very good. It is rare to hear one stumble up.
107.9 WFSI-FM / Annapolis-Crofton, MD / Religious
Like WHFS, WFSI has good coverage of the two markets here. They have some trouble making it into Northern Virginia due to signal "bleed" from WTOP-107.7 in Warrenton. A standard religious right wing news/talk outlet owned by "Family Radio", one of the largest religious broadcasters in the country. Can you believe the amount of God-FM's here? 95.1, 91.9, 105.1 and 107.9....not to mention the AM's! How they make money I'll never know.
