SF Bay Area radio connaisseurs! Need to find a radio station similar to a So Cal favorite.

June 1, 2006 10:45 PM

Are there any radio stations that can be heard in the SF Bay Area that play similar music style to STAR 98.7 in L.A.?

I've mostly found stations such as Star 101.3 which plays the softer rock songs from Lifehouse, Jack Johnson, Maroon 5, James Blunt, or stations that play hard alternative only such as Green Day and Fall Out Boy.

I'm looking for a station that plays it all like STAR 98.7 in Los Angeles does.

The closest I've come is B93.1, a Clear Channel station that is very similar to STAR 98.7, but it's located in Modesto, so it's a little static-y where I am in the Tri-Valley and may be very weak in Palo Alto where I will be commuting to every day.

posted by beammeup4 to media & arts (6 comments total)

Alice 97.3? I doubt you'll get "hard alternative" (no Rage Against the Machine if you were fond of those LA locals), but it's a bit more mixed than 101.3. And the signal is crystal clear in Palo Alto. I think that's the closest you'll get to STAR. 105.3 is more of a KROQ match.
posted by synapse at 11:09 PM on June 1, 2006

I can't really give you a good answer for this one since Channel 104.9 went off the air, but they were close.

Even though you didn't ask, I recommend checking out the strong college radio stations in the bay area, if you can tune them in:


89.3 KOHL Ohlone College--one of the only top 40 stations that plays it all from Panic! at the Disco to Gnarls Barkley.

89.7 KFJC Foothill College--really earns the label "eclectic." I fondly recall a DJ who spoke in character as a pirate and played sea shanties, and the Norman Bates Memorial Soundtrack show on Saturdays with a wide-rangins playlist of movie/tv soundtracks.

90.1 KZSU Stanford University--my favorite show this semester was "Screw It, I'm a Senior."

90.3 KUSF University of San Francisco. I don't recieve this too well in the south bay; you may have better luck.

90.5 KSJS San Jose State, my alma mater. My political science adviser hosts the "Disco Funk Explosion."

91.1 KCSM College of San Mateo. Focused almost entirely on Jazz and Blues; really deep and enjoyable--no smooth jazz here.

103.3 KSCU Santa Clara University.

Hope this gives you some listening enjoyment.
posted by JDC8 at 11:20 PM on June 1, 2006

I don't know how much this will help. I love 98.7, but I am currently in San Diego. You can try listening to them online.
posted by state fxn at 11:42 PM on June 1, 2006

JDC8: How can you name all the great bay area college stations without mentioning the best one of all, 90.7 KALX Berkeley?
posted by aspo at 12:18 AM on June 2, 2006

aspo, i was about to say the same thing! (of course it sounds cheesey coming from me since i work there.)
posted by kendrak at 12:53 PM on June 2, 2006

Um JDC8, as much as I love college radio (hence the mefi handle), you can't expect someone who listens to Clear Channell crap to explore college radio!
posted by radioamy at 10:31 PM on June 2, 2006