Radio is a great thing for a long drive, providing news when one cannot get to a television or a means to keep up with what’s “hip.” However, sometimes “hip” isn’t as appealing to some music lovers’ tastes. As stations are being flipped back and forth in a tiring effort to escape the commercials and for a new song that hasn’t been played three times in a row, it gets frustrating. So why not change the channel, permanently.
Luckily, WXPN is something old and something new for radio listeners. A brief history on the XPN website says that this radio station began at the University of Pennsylvania. It started when there was a wireless radio signal coming from Houston Hall in 1909, and by 1945, it became a carrier current station airing at 7:30 a.m. Twelve years later, during 1957, the University was granted its full license as a 10-watt college radio station tuning in at 88.59 FM with the addition of their original frequency at 7:30. As the station’s popularity grew around the University, by the 1970’s it was freed from the confines of college radio and became it’s own radio station, and in 1984 switched its channel from 88.9 to 88.5 FM, according to XPN’s own website.
Though, for years after becoming independent, XPN isolated, only sending waves throughout the local Philly area, but when they made it a national signal, its popularity truly flourished.
Inside these radio signals harbors the fresh, new music that people are starting to crave. Many artists that one may hear today occasionally on commercial radio or during the Grammy’s actually made their first, small debut on XPN upon arriving in America, including artists such as Adele, The Lumineers, Foster The People, and even Mumford & Sons. This station plays various kinds of genres from raw folk to techno to just the coffee shop sounds of singer/songwriters.
Also, there are not just different genres of music; there are different eras of music. With a segment called “Funky Friday” disco is pouring from speakers and with “The Many Moods of Ben Vaughn,” listeners get a taste of the early 1900’s on Saturdays. While XPN is a member supported station, there are some days where they have fundraisers to keep them airing. Members, however, don’t only help XPN but can receive discounted tickets to their annual music festival at Camden Waterfront in New Jersey which is a weekend of live music, activities for children, and mini tent shops set up around the park and is highly recommended for those who love the arts and live music.
If one is interested enough to listen locally, they can tune to 88.7 FM, and further details on the festival are on their website year round at xpn.org.
