Freeform (radio format)

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Freeform, or freeform radio, is a radio station programming format in which the disc jockey is given total control over what music to play, regardless of music genre or commercial interests. Freeform radio stands in contrast to most commercial radio stations, in which DJs have little or no influence over programming structure or playlists. In the United States, freeform DJs are still bound by Federal Communications Commission regulations.

The first freeform radio program was Nightsounds on KPFA-FM in Berkeley, California, DJ'd by John Leonard. WFMU in New Jersey is the longest running freeform station in the United States.

The freeform ethos tends to disdain playlists confined to a single music genre. However, DJs may opt to play selections according to an arbitrary theme (e.g., Bob Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues" followed by Radiohead's "Subterranean Homesick Alien"). Freeform-ish stations that played only or almost only rock music were known as progressive rock stations.

Although ordinarily the freeform radio format is incompatible with commercial radio, an exceptional case is Indie 103.1 FM of Santa Monica and Newport Beach, California. Indie 103.1 broadcasts radio programs in which famous musicians from the world of popular music host radio programs and choose the playlist.

One commercial freeform radio station still broadcasts in the United States. KHUM "radio without the rules" at 104.3 and 104.7 FM broadcasts from Ferndale, California with all selections chosen by the air personalities. KHUM has broadcasted since 1996 and is the most popular station in Humboldt County, California

Amateur radio, college radio, and Internet radio are sanctuaries of the freeform format. Radio Paradise and Radio Free Phoenix are two examples of freeform Internet radio streams. FreeFall on KUSF is an example of a freeform radio program. Many freeform stations are small and lack corporate backing, and therefore have relatively weak radio transmitters (especially around metropolitan areas where corporate radio signals dominate), a problem that has caused numerous broadcasters to transition to Internet radio, pirate radio or both such as FRSC (Free Radio Santa Cruz).

Freeform radio stations in the United States:

KAOS (Olympia, Washington)
KCMP (St. Paul, Minnesota)
KDVS (UC Davis/College Radio, Davis, California)
KFJC (Foothill College/College Radio, Los Altos Hills, California)
KHUM (Garberville/Ferndale California)
KPSU (Portland State University, Portland, Oregon)
KUOI (University of Idaho/Moscow, Idaho)
KWRP (Pecos, New Mexico)
KWUR (St. Louis, Missouri)
WCBN (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan)
WESU (Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut)
WETX-LP (Tri-Cities, TN)
WEXP (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
WFMU (Jersey City, New Jersey)
WHRW (Binghamton University, New York)
WKDU (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
WMFO (Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts)
WMSC (Montclair State University, Upper Montclair, New Jersey)
WMUC (University of Maryland/College Radio, College Park, Maryland)
WOBC (Oberlin College/College Radio, Oberlin, Ohio)
WPKN (Bridgeport, Connecticut)
WPRK (Rollins College/College Radio, Winter Park, Florida)
WSUM (University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI)
WXBC (Bard College/College Radio, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York)
WXYC (UNC Chapel Hill/College Radio, Chapel Hill, North Carolina)
WZRD (Northeastern Illinois University/Chicago, Illinois)

Freeform radio stations in Canada:

CKUT (Montreal, Quebec)

[edit] Freeform radio vs. eclectic radio

Eclectic radio describes radio programming encompassing diverse music genres. Unlike freeform radio, the eclectic radio format involves prescribed playlists. While freeform radio stands in contrast to commercial radio formats, a number of commercial radio stations offer programs showcasing an eclectic variety of music.

Some eclectic radio stations in the United States are: