WCBN is the University of Michigan's non-commercial freeform radio station that's run by students…read more What they focus on is bringing things on the radio that you normally wouldn't hear on other stations. My favorite night is late Saturday nights, they usually play some excellent hip hop if you catch it at the right time. By "nomally wouldn't hear", I'm not talking about an obscure noise/basement medley/karaoke cover/whatever-else-obscure 24/7 (though maybe sometimes) fest. For instance, just giving it a listen randomly, they were going over some local events (big kid kickball!) inbetween Kraftwerk and Jean Grae. Currently, my good friend Dustin does Freeform on Thursday nights. He knows a lot about music and is a local musician. I've learned a lot about local music and much more through him, and thanks to him I've opened my scope to being more than a hip hop head. Once, he created an entire playlist for me on my birthday -- one of the coolest birthday gifts, ever. I've also taken a walk through the station itself. It's a great place adorned with decades of history on the walls -- Post-Its, scribbin', photos -- along with a well-loved couch and tech stuff like turntables, cassette decks, reel to reels, amps. Those walls are totally made to house sound. If you're curious about a certain DJ, they playlists are posted online. You can also connect through their website -- no need to sit in the car with the top down and an Icee.

I'm probably a little biased because I went to high school with one of the DJs, but I like this…read morestation. They play a mix of classic stuff from the 1970s and 1980s along with some more recent stuff. The last time I was listening to it in the car, they played Sting, Dave Matthews, and a new song by Donovan. Their website says they're currently playing Talking Heads and Alanis Morissette. The other reason I like them is that they're so active in the community, sponsoring special events. On a recent summer day, I was wandering around downtown Ann Arbor window shopping and deciding where to have lunch, and I heard live music coming from Liberty Square. 107one was sponsoring "Sonic Lunch" in downtown Ann Arbor. A live cover band was playing blues-rock, and people on their lunch break were sitting on benches eating sandwiches and drinking soda pop and listening. It's just one of those little things that makes Ann Arbor the thriving artsy-cultural mecca that it is. The website for the station is really cool, too, with news about upcoming musical events, photos and contact emails for the staff, and a photo gallery of past events (including Sonic Lunch) they've sponsored.

Good station for contemporary music that's not too racous but yet lively and modern. I gave them…read moreonly 3 stars because of the ads. I have to change channels some of them are so bad, then I forget to tune back in. Their MacDonald's commercial does right in the mic what we where always told NOT to do, slurp. What a turn off. Oh and don't get me started on "Nancy Knows".

Michigan Radio 91.7 FM is my preferred stop for news and information. Located out of Ann Arbor on…read morethe University of Michigan campus, the signal is not always great. For some reason there is a big hole in the middle of Oak Park. However, I can usually get it throughout Southeast and Mid-Michigan. The programming is excellent. Generally the format is Morning Edition, BBC NewsHour, Diane Rheme for 2 hours, Fresh Air, Here & Now, 2 hours of Talk of the Nation then All Things Considered. All of the shows are excellent and interesting. I think the radio hosts are also excellent. I think they do a very good job of having local programming and reporting on local issues.

This is the main station on my radio dial in my car. I will occasionally listen to WEMU, but WUOM…read morehas more of the programs I like. They play very little classical music or jazz and concentrate on news and talk programs. They offer the ubiquitous "Prairie Home Companion" and "This American Life" along with some other lesser known programs. I love "Car Talk" and "The Splendid Table" as well. WUOM does a lot of things right. I like them well enough that I've volunteered to answer phones for their fund drives on two separate occasions. Not only do they offer the programs I prefer, but they do nice things for their members. They usually have an annual picnic where they offer free picnic food and some recreation opportunities to members. One year, two friends and I went to Kensington Metropark near Brighton for the station's annual picnic. Michigan Radio offered supporters free hot dogs and hamburgers and other side dishes, as well as free passes to recreational opportunities at the park. You could pick two out of three: a horse and carriage ride, paddle boat rental, or entry into their "Farm Learning Center" (cute goats!). They really make an effort to give back to the members who donate their bucks during those bi-annual fund drives. And, finally, they have a really good Web presence as well. The website for Michigan Radio looks nice and is easy to navigate.

Okay station to listen to if you want to hear far right conspiracies. Most of the commentators…read morewould flunk fact checking on their off the wall comments. They rely on several news sites rated as RR - Far Right. The Friday Music very good.