On the Air

• By GEORGE MORRIS
• Advocate News Features staff
• Published: Aug 29, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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There are some things you can count on. Radio station formats are not among them.

Sure, some stations establish a niche and stick with it. But others, fighting to survive in the Darwinian world of airwave ratings, are apt to change programming the way Nick Saban changes team loyalties. (It’s Friday: He’s still at Alabama, right?)

So, for those of you who wonder why button “4” on your car radio sounds like it has hit the wrong station, or you haven’t scanned the dial to see what’s out there, here is a list of stations that reach the Baton Rouge area, and what they’re playing. For now, anyway.

AM stations

• 600 (WVOG): Christian talk is the format for this New Orleans station, featuring Focus on the Family with James Dobson and a popular local show, Ask Dr. Mary, hosted by Charles Mary.

• 640 (KTIB): This Thibodaux station combines news talk — highlighted by Rush Limbaugh from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Michael Savage from 6-8 p.m. and Moon Griffon from 9-11 a.m. weekdays — and oldies music.

• 690 (WIST): Michael Savage and Neal Boortz are the national headliners for this New Orleans talk radio station, which also has local hosts Kaare Johnson and Eric Asher.

• 870 (WWL): “The Big 870” is the flagship station of the New Orleans Saints. It also features news, sports and talk shows. WWL airs a talk show by longtime New Orleans newsman Garland Robinette from 2-5 p.m. weekdays and sports insights by former Saints quarterback Bobby Hebert.

• 1150 (WJBO): Baton Rouge’s oldest radio station has been broadcasting since 1934. It’s known for talk programs, news and information, especially during emergencies. Best-known programs include Clarence Buggs in the morning, Rush Limbaugh at midday, and Sean Hannity and Bill Profita in the afternoon.

• 1210 (WSKR): “The Score” is a sports talk station featuring local hosts Richard Condon, Jordy Hultberg (and “the other guy”), Buddy Songy, Josh Innes and Matt Moscona on weekdays, the Jaguar Journal with Carlos Brown and Fred Batiste on Saturdays, plus national programming by Jim Rome from 6-7 p.m. weekdays and Fox Sports Radio.

• 1260 (KBRH): The AM station of Baton Rouge Magnet High School offers radio training for high school students. Programming includes classic R&B hits Monday-Thursday, and all blues on Friday. Saturdays, which are simulcast on WBRH (90.3 FM), include Rhythm Review with Rob Payer, Tabby’s Blues Box with Tabby Thomas and Jukebox Legends with brothers S.J. and Mickey Montalbano. The Southern Soul Show with Noel Jackson is on from 3-6 p.m. Sundays.

• 1300 (WIBR): ESPN Radio in Baton Rouge has numerous national shows, including Mike and Mike in the Morning and The Herd with Colin Cowherd, and local talk hosted by Jimmy Ott from 3-6 p.m. on weekdays.

• 1460 (WXOK): “Heaven AM 1460” of Baton Rouge features an urban gospel format.

• 1550 (WPFC): Gospel music is the mainstay, specifically urban alternative gospel.

• 1590 (KKAY): Broadcasting from White Castle, the station offers several talk shows, including Catholic Answers and The Moon Griffon Show.

FM stations

• 88.5 (WJFM): This station features praise and worship selections from Jimmy Swaggart Ministries, as well as Bible studies and Frances and Friends with Frances Swaggart mornings from 8:30-10:30 a.m.

• 89.3 (WRKF): Baton Rouge’s public radio station carries National Public Radio’s Morning Edition and, in the afternoon, All Things Considered. Other offerings include Fresh Air with Terry Gross, Midday Music with Bob Mooberry and The Jim Engster Show.

• 90.3 (WBRH): The classic jazz and mainstream jazz station of Baton Rouge Magnet High School serves as a training ground for high school students. The station has a jazz format weekdays, a mix of R&B, Cajun, zydeco and jazz on Saturdays — simulcast on KBRH (1260 AM) — and classic jazz on Sundays. Among the on-air personalities are Zia Tammami and Dr. Fritz McCameron.

• 91.1 (KLSU): The university student-run station’s music broadcasts alternative, underground music and prides itself on highlighting unsigned bands. But there is variety, including the long-standing jazz show hosted by Zia Tammami from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays. The station also is a source for news and sports, and serves as a training ground for students interested in radio, broadcasting, journalism or mass communication.

• 91.5 (KPAE): The listener-supported station in Erwinville features Christian programs, with preaching, teaching and talk shows and Southern Gospel music. It also broadcasts on 89.7 as WPAE out of Centreville, Miss.
  

• 92.3 (WDVW): “Mix 92.3” offers an eclectic mix of rock artists such as Bon Jovi, U2, Better than Ezra, Def Leppard, Goo Goo Dolls and Gnarls Barkley. On-air personalities include Mike and Stacy in the morning.

• 92.7 (WBKL): Called “K-Love Radio,” it’s a nationally syndicated Christian music station featuring artists such as Matthew West, Casting Crowns, Third Day and Steven Curtis Chapman.

• 93.3 (WQUE): “Nuthin’ but Jamz Q 93” is a New Orleans station with a hip-hop and R&B sound. Its programs include Steve Harvey in the mornings, and Wild Wayne at night.

• 93.7 (KRDJ): “Acadiana’s Classic Rock” plays songs, shows and features dedicated to all forms of classic rock, from the blues to heavy metal, from ’60s to the ’90s. DJs include Jason Ginty from 2-6 p.m. Wednesdays, Jim Hanzo from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays and Kelee from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays.

• 94.1 (WEMX): “Max 94 One” plays a format focused on hip-hop and R&B. J Tweezy and the Wake Up Syndicate gets the day started, and later on there’s LaTangela, Tony King, Shashika, Supa Mike, Big Cheeze, Missy and AJ Boogie.

• 94.5 (KSMB): This Lafayette-based station features artists such as Avril Lavigne, Kanye West, Pink, Justin Timberlake and Gwen Stefani. Bobby Novasad and Chris Reed handle the morning and evening drives.

• 94.9 (WPRF): “New Orleans’ Inspiration Station” focuses on Christian praise and worship music.

• 96.1 (KRVE): “The River” plays light rock from the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and today. Programs include the local show Murphy, Sam & Jodi In The Morning, which is syndicated in 12 cities. Other on-air personalities include Scotty Mac and Rick Cantu. Delilah is featured Sunday-Friday evenings.

• 96.9 (WHYR): This Baton Rouge station is a low-power Christian station that accepts local music submissions.

• 97.1 (WEZB): New Orleans’ “B-97” plays contemporary hits featuring artists such as Mariah Carey, Chris Brown, Lil Wayne and Saving Abel. Special programming includes Kidd Kraddick’s syndicated morning show.

• 98.1 (WDGL): “Eagle 98.1” is a classic rock station based in Baton Rouge. Special programs include the syndicated Walton and Johnson in the mornings. The Eagle is also the home of LSU athletics, with broadcasts of football, baseball, softball, men’s and women’s basketball and shows by coaches of major sports.

• 98.5 (WYLD): This New Orleans station has an urban adult format — its slogan is “The best R&B and back in the day jams,” with shows by Tom Joyner, Adrian Long, A.D. Berry and Keith Sweat.

• 99.1 (KXKC): The Lafayette country station features Scott and Casey in the mornings, Jimi Foxx middays and Ray Robicheaux during drive time. Whitney Allen hosts the Big Time Saturday Night Show from 6 p.m.-midnight.

• 99.5 (WRNO): This news-talk station calls itself “Rush Radio” because it is the New Orleans home for Rush Limbaugh. Other hosts include Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity and Dennis Miller.

• 99.9 (KTDY): The Lafayette-based adult contemporary station plays “The Best Variety of the ’80s, ’90s and Today.” It also airs Delilah at Night from 7 p.m. to midnight Sunday-Friday.

• 100.3 (KRRV): This Alexandria-based station plays “today‘s best country and yesterday’s favorites” from artists like Toby Keith, Reba McEntire, Kelly Clarkson, Travis Tritt and Rascal Flatts.

• 100.7 (WYPY): “New Country 100.7 FM” offers Scott and Michelle in the Morning and Roland Doucet’s Rockin’ Cajun Show, which airs 5-10 a.m. Saturdays.

• 101.1 (WNOE): The New Orleans country music station features Alan Jackson, Trace Adkins, Brad Paisley, George Strait and other country stars.

• 101.5 (WYNK): This Baton Rouge country station airs the syndicated Big D and Bubba in the morning, which began in Baton Rouge, and Rachel Day and Sam McGuire later in the day. Scott Innes, the voice of Scooby Doo, drives home with listeners each afternoon, while Austin James takes the night shift.

• 101.9 (WLMG): “Magic 101.9” is a New Orleans soft-rock station featuring artists such as Billy Joel, Celine Dion, the Eagles, Kelly Clarkson, Rod Stewart and Sheryl Crow.

• 102.5 (WFMF): This Baton Rouge station plays Top 40 music by today’s artists. Kidd Kraddick, a syndicated morning show, is probably the station’s best-known program. On-air talents include Margie Maybe, Kevin Campbell and Libby Davis.

• 103.3 (WCDV): “Sunny 103.3” is a light rock station that includes The At Work Network from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., the John Tesh show from 2-7 p.m. and Sunny After Dark from 7 p.m.-midnight on weekdays and Casey Kasem’s America’s Top Ten from 7-10 a.m. Saturdays.

• 104.1 (KYRK): “The Rock of New Orleans” fills the air with artists like Weezer, Carolina Liar and Disturbed. Rod Ryan gets it started from 5-9 a.m. and Doubledown takes folks home from 2-7 p.m.

• 104.9 (KNXX): “104 the X” bills itself as “Baton Rouge’s new rock” featuring artists like Carolina Liar, Coldplay, Saving Abel and Foo Fighters. Favorite songs from the grunge era are played every weekday at noon. On-air talent includes Shannon Marks, The Fish and Dan Day. The station is also simulcast on 104.5 (WNXX).

• 105.5 (KDDK): Broadcasting out of Addis, “Radio Tropical Caliente” offers all-Spanish programming, including news, talk and music.

• 105.7 (WBRJ): This station is based at Jefferson Baptist Church and offers a wide range of Christian musical styles, sermons from the church’s pastor, the Rev. T.C. French, nationally known speakers such as the Revs. Charles Stanley, John MacArthur and Charles Swindoll as well as talk shows, interviews and news and weather.

• 106.5 (KQXL): “Q106 dot 5” is an urban adult contemporary station that features classic soul and rhythm and blues, the syndicated Tom Joyner morning show 5-9 a.m., DJ Incredible from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and Michael Baisden from 2-6 p.m. on weekdays, while JoJo is on the air 6 p.m.-midnight weekdays. The Weekend Blues Café, hosted by Ron Kelly, is on from 9 a.m.-noon on Saturdays and 7 p.m.-midnight on Sundays.

• 107.3 (WTGE): “Country Legends 107.3” plays country classics of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. On-air personalities include Brian King and Bob Bishop.

• 107.9 (KRKA): Erath-based “Hot 107.9” is Acadiana’s hip hop station emphasizing songs from Shakira, Chris Brown, Mariah Carey, Rihanna and Nelly, among others