This afternoon, I was reminded of why I listen to 99X. They aired a two hour special titled "99X&Y, The Coldplay Special", playing the entire new Coldplay CD alternating with Leslie Fram and Music Director Jay Harren's interview of bandmembers Chris Martin and Jonny Buckland. It's a given that interviews lasting over 15 minutes are the domain of NPR or Talk Radio. It's also a given that if you want to hear a cut more than a few deep on any album, you had better buy the CD or listen to college radio. It's nice to listen to a station where "Rock Without Rules" means more than playing Sting 30 times a day (thanks to former 99X Talent Whip for that line.)
It's 99X's willingness to be on the forefront of new music that earns this type of access to bands once they make it big. davefm or The Buzz may play the hell out of Coldplay now, but only 99X had the vision to play Coldplay when no one knew who they were. It's that vision that will keep 99X's going long after davefm and The Buzz have changed formats to whatever the next flavor of the month is.
