Your Radio Is Safe Again

Have you been worried about the dangerous music your child might be exposed to? Well, ClearChannel is here to help. What used to be Z102, the classic rock station we used to listen to in high school, is now The River 102.3. Even the new title of the station is enough to calm you down, isn't it?

We first found out about this new station last weekend while driving through the Windsor Park neighborhood, where a billboard saying "Positive Music" (or was it "Family Listening"?) and depicting the three whitest kids you'll ever see is posted next to the barber shop and laundromat. We flipped to the station, in disbelief that Z102 was gone (admittedly we hadn't listened to the station since ClearChannel took it over). When we heard someone singing about Jesus' teaching of the Golden Rule, we had to face facts. Z102 is officially no more. But now you and your radio can be empowered by the sanitary lyrics of Jaci Velasquez and Jars of Clay (and let's not forget John Tesh's nationally-syndicated radio show)!

* Photo by Matt Wright

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By Elizabeth S. in Other on April 10, 2006 11:11 AM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

ttrentham

I took a shot of one of these billboards at the corner of Rebel and Oltorf. Barf.

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/t...

And incidentally, Butter Woman, I find it interesting that you were the one to mention East/West Austin in your first comment, which I agree has nothing whatsoever to do with the original post and then when Elizabeth S. correctly pointed out that Windsor Park *is* East Austin, you respond immediately to say that you're not trying to get into a debate about East/West Austin.

I'm just sayin'.

Butter Woman

Not trying to get into a debate on west/east Austin. The change from 102-3 to The River was four months ago.

eliz. s.

The billboard in Windsor Park is new, and I believe that classifies as East Austin. Well, Northeast/Central Austin, anyway.

Butter Woman

Nah. The change-over and the billboards (at least in east Austin) happened at the first of the year. I guess the billboards have oozed into west Austin.

bella

Public Radio, Baby.

eliz. s.

I mainly posted about this now because the tacky billboards are a recent development.

john

Z102 is LONG gone, and the almost tolerable 102-3 Generic Classic Rock station became The River for a few months now. I first noticed it around Christmas time when I wondered why this new Generic Classic Rock was playing so much shitty Christmas music.

Good article, bad timing.

Jimmy

I'm wondering why this is all-of-a-sudden news? I've lived here for years and Z102 hasn't been around for at least 2.

Props to Anon's post- Thank God for Satellite Radio.

jen

Sorry to burst anyones bubble but Z102 hasn't been around for a while now. It was even something else before the River (anyone remember Channel 102.3 - World Class Rock?? They had everything from Dylan and early Stones to things you didn't hear on the radio like certain songs from the 50s-60s) The research that they did for the Austin market may have been accurate, however Clear Channel didn't even give World Class Rock a chance. They flipped the station to the river before the channel ratings even came out. and to top that off, channel 102.3's program director got a ratings bonus AFTER the station had been changed, meaning it obviously did very well. So, regardless of their generic research, Clear Channel just doesn't give a damn. I think we already knew that.

anon

Radio....what's that? Didn't they have that back with 8-tracks? Actually - I guess that was also when radio played music and not commercials all day. Praise the Lord for satellite!!!

sean

I'm willing to entertain the possibility that the demographic research that led them to change the format really was accurate, and does reflect the true demographics of the Austin radio audience.

I say this because it would confirm my long standing hypothesis that only backwards assholes listen to the radio any more.

On the other hand, I'd also like to believe CC got fed some highly biased, inaccurate demographic data and will lose money on a crap radio station that has no audience.

I mean, if it is at all possible for them to lose money.

tylernol

ooh! John Tesh Radio Show!

odam

enough of that 'positive music' and i think i'd start shooting jack daniels & coke into my arm, also

blackmail

like townes van zandt always said, "there's the blues, and there's zip-a-dee-doo-dah." i'll take a pass on zip-a-dee-doo-dah FM.

Jazz One

Positive Music? Even if it wasn't the church station in a thinly veiled disguise, how could you only listen to Positive Music? Music reflects emotion. Unless you are crazy, you usually run the spectrum of emotions. Music strikes a chord with emotions and that is why music makes you feel. Somedays you need a song that will pick you up, others days you want music that sounds like the person is feeling the same you are.