What do you mean "we," white man?

I kid because I love. But in such a diverse and racially polarized city, it seems odd to resort to the "we" construction in talking about "our" tastes. Are "we" really interested in classical music? Who is "we"?

First if all, Chris, take a moment to read your own words! Should WE all share your parochialism and sense of alienation? That's a tall order, don't be shocked if there are not many takers.

I think the trends Marc spotted (or rather, that Google spotted for him - nice gig there) have to do with the overall educational level and international makeup of the city.

Interesting that mass media is trending in the exact opposite direction. I've long been predicting a bottoming out of mass media's potential to actually suit people's interests, and ultimately the death of TV and radio as we have come to know it. Looks like DC may be on the cutting edge of this process. Turn the &%$# things off and keep them off, people!

I'd be interested in seeing some stats on the various areas' level of computer ownership and internet access, you know, who's doing all those Google searches, before I'd get too excited about Google Trends numbers. You could say "Bugatti Veyron owners have the highest degree of customer satisfaction!", but unless you add that the car can top 250 mph and costs over $1 million, you haven't said much.

Oh, and since the Post took over WTOP, bye-bye traffic reports. Thanks, gang!

Again I say, Huh?

Chris, I'm a white woman so does that mean I can't (or shouldn't) listen to Snoop Dogg? I guess I'd better get rid of those Tupac cds too.

What, no punk and hardcore?

Relax, people, we're not nearly as highbrow as you worry. DC also was in the top ten for "cheap beer", "bars", "alcohol consumption", "kegs", "Jack Daniels", "ice luge", "sorority", and "frat party".

Classy!

(after that I ran out of 'lowbrow' words that I could google at work...)

The Post didn't "take over" WTOP. WTOP moved to 103.5 FM and the traffic reports are still there on the 8's.

As far as radio goes, it isn't just classical or jazz, it's anything that isn't pop.

DC has always had a decent indie scene, so it isn't like people who live in this town aren't rock fans. WHFS was a pioneer in the alternative rock genre, a station that started the careers of many great bands like REM. I'm not sure what the lack of searching on Google Trends means, but it isn't representative of the musical tastes of the city.

Well as a radio guy I concur with the dreadful state of Washington area radio. This we can blame squarely on mega media companies being allowed to buying up every station they see. Clear Channel owns eight stations in the Washington market followed by Infinity/CBS and others. This mass ownership has lead to a homogenized blandness that makes radio almost unlistenable.

Growing up in DC in the 60's and working at the old WINX in Rockville radio was an adventure. Differenet formats, locally produced programmming and loads of talented individuals on the airwaves. Not now! Today it's the same old corporate driven dribble, nothing exciting, nothing to rock the boat and of course nothing to distrube the Capitalist masters that own the stations. Bland, bland and more bland!

Of course there is one bright spot on the DC radio map and that is XM Satellite Radio. Here forgotten formats and programming alternaitves abound all for a monthly fee. Yes,on air, we've lost Pacifica, Beatuiful Music, Music for Your Life, radio drama and other formats. However, for the critical radio listener XM holds out the promise that radio can at once be entertaining and engaging. Something that so-called "free radio" has yet to rediscover.

Regarding Washington area radio, what happened to MIX 107.3? Used to be able to hear decent music but now the stuff they play has me wanting to bang my head into the car window.

phreaking Mexicans took over HFS

We have not lost Pacifica. 89.3 is still there.. I grew up listening to it which is why this 36 year old suburban white male is a jazz musician. I'm a long time supporter and unless you want more of this corporate homogenization of the local airwaves I ask that y'all support them too.
The station we lost was 90.1 which was the University of the District of Columbia's station. what a loss... I cried listening to Candy Shannon and Fawnée sign off for the last time. Fortunately both can be heard on 89.3. That is the station that became CSPAN.
Does anyone remember Ernest White's show Crosstalk? I used to listen to that in class in high school.

I think some people have it figured out: over the air radio is for poor people and immigrants. Everyone else has one of these options:
1) XM or Sirius
2) Cable/Dish music
3) Their own music stash via old records/CDs or MP3s
4) Internet Radio.

FM is for losers, just like AM was for the last 40 years.

Mark, what's happened? You used to write actual pieces. Now I'm getting Google Trends crammed down my throat! It hurts. ...and it's actually making me not want to use it.

My favorite radio station is now WIPOD. Fisher is right, radio in this area blows.

The "use the Internet" or "rely on XM or Sirius" argument ignores another segment of the population. Some older people, while they have plenty of money, are set in their ways. (Yes, yes, I know business decisions are made with an eye to the younger demographic. But still, the elderly are just as human as younger folk - they enjoy their pleasures just like anyone else!)

Many senior citizens never use computers. And prefer to continue using free radio because that is what they grew up with and have used for what, 70 or 80 years. If I recall from reading history stuff, scheduled radio broadcasts began in the U.S. around 1920 or 1921. (Speaking of aging, let's see how well we all do with technological changes that may feel as if they are being forced involuntarily on us, when we're 80 years old!) I know some seniors who really miss having access to WGMS. Come to think of it, as a classical music love, I do, too.

I can't help but wonder if rock music hears the bells tolling just over the horizon. Even more so when I hear a Townsend song in another commercial.
Didn't the money men decide to kill off rock for the younger demo of hip-hop? Didn't MTV kill the rock n roll star?

"XM holds out the promise.."

You must work there. Because it's the same nationalized, homogenized, corporate crap that you despise. There's just lots more of it.

Music on Washington radio is so barren these days -- heck, I'm glad Weasel is still on the radio, but chafe at the rather bland corporate rock he plays on WARW compared to Marshall Crenshaw, Dave Edmunds and Elvis Costello on the old WHFS -- that I only regularly listen to a few programs other than WTOP or WTWP for news and Nats, respectively. And both air on public radio on Saturdays.

From 4 to 7 p.m., the Andrea Brey show on WPFW plays all sorts of great R&B and soul from the '50s, '60s and '70s, many of them obscurities that oldies stations simply forgot existed. Old school, indeed, and worth the listen. And Andrea gives the program a real sense of community; more power to her.

Then I switch to WAMU at 7 for three hours of Rob Bamberger's "Hot Jazz Saturday Night." Scholarly but enthusiastic, Rob presents all sorts of vintage jazz, including occasional air checks from radio broadcasts. For those of us who now realize that the ties between rock and jazz are closer than we first believed (something Joe Turner knew all along!), it's fantastic listening, and makes one appreciate just how revolutionary Louis, Bix and Bing were.