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Tonight (October 26) at 11 a bunch of us are going to hang out in the KXXO studio. We’ll chat, on and off air. Some employees have requested songs. Then at midnight Mixx 96.1 will go out the same way it came in, playing “The Long And Winding Road.” Although, in deference to Sir Paul, we’ll be playing the “Naked” version. Back in 1990 no one knew how much he hated what they’d done to his song.

I’ve written elsewhere about how blown away I’ve been by our audience reaction to the station sale. The last couple weeks have been spent answering the phone, replying to emails, and even answering our doorbell – where I’ve met more than one tearful listener. One day I’m going to compile many of the hundreds of notes we’ve received. So many came with personal stories of how the station impacted their lives. But, I guess the reaction makes sense. We were a 100,000-watt station in a populated area. We spent all 35+ years with the same broad-appeal format. Many personalities stayed for years and years. And we were full-service: news/traffic/weather/local events/school closings, etc. AND…we were warm and personal. No pukers. No egos. (at least not in my era.)

Which leads me to my point. I finally understand that passionate response, as many of our listeners are losing one of their last, real, friends. Oh, we’re real…and VERY real by today’s standards. Our audience skews older. Many of our listeners are at the stage where their friends, relatives, and partners have passed. Their kids have moved miles away. They’re retired and don’t get the social interaction of an office any longer (or they started working from home in 2020 and never returned to an office setting.) Maybe they’re disabled and don’t get out much in general. We’ve been their connection to so many things.

This note was fairly typical of illustrating how KXXO filled in some of the empty spaces in our listener’s lives. Their world, really all of our worlds, is becoming more artificial at an exponential rate. Last week I noticed that ChatGPT is adding erotic features. Meeting real partners in real life is apparently nearly impossible now. Also last week I received a press release announcing the launch of three oxymoronic “hyper-local” AI radio stations. An old friend of mine who I very much respect is highly involved. Read about it here and link through to hear the demos. I’m sorry, but Phoebe is not “a captivating virtual with real talent.” She ‘s not local, much less hyper-local. Again, with all apologies, Dennis (should you read this) these stations are soulless. These robot-powered jukeboxes programmed by MEN in their 70s are destined to fail.

I get it. The landscape today will never support a new version of the live, local, personality-driven station that KXXO was. Although I think that KXXO (with it’s built-in advantages of strong signal and heritage) could have survived for several more years. That’s fine. I’m just happy I was a part of it these past years. What I am lamenting is how detached and artificial our lives are becoming. I urge you to fight it. Support real artists. Support local businesses. Don’t fall for, much less share, AI slop…even if it’s funny in the moment. Touch grass, see a play, watch the Devo documentary, go to your town’s free “Music In The Park” event. Find a radio station with real heart and passion in your community and support it.

Many of us recorded a farewell message to be played in rotation the final two weeks of Mixx 96.1. Here’s mine: