Well played, Indie

Indie 103.1 has chosen to go off the FM airwaves. I remember in 2004 when Indie was a baby, and I was so stoked when I discovered it. It was my special secret within my world. I considered it perfect, except for Dicky Barrett's morning show, but that was soon cancelled. I remember one morning when he was reading all his hate mail on the air, and I kind of felt bad, but I agreed with every letter. Unfortunately, it was too good to be true, and Indie deteriorated into blah. Of course I could still look forward to Jonesy's Jukebox, which kept me on from time to time, but I was no longer a regular listener. I absolutely and completely agree with Chris Morris when he slammed Indie as being 'KROQ Jr.' I'm relieved to know that Indie felt the same way as its original listeners, and has decided to stick to the net and to their true spirit.

I find it so funny that this news comes the day after I post my KXLU praises. I hope the same doesn't happen to it someday. Then again, I probably won't be in LA anymore.

A brief history of Indie 103.1 (courtesy of wiki):

On December 25, 2003 at 11 PM, Indie 103.1 was born. The station began as a collaboration between Entravision and Clear Channel. Clear Channel primarily handled advertising on the station, but because the organization already owned the maximum number of stations in the Los Angeles market allowed by Federal Communications Commission regulations, the arrangement was terminated in March 2005.[citation needed]

In March 2006, Dicky Barrett of "The Mighty Morning Show" left the station.[1] He was replaced by Joe Escalante, who called his show "The Last Of The Famous International Morning Shows."

On August 19th, 2008, Station Manager Dawn Girocco announced her departure from the station.[2] Starting in October 2008, longtime specialty shows were either dropped ("Feel My Heat," Community Service," "Big Sonic Heaven," "Camp Freddy Radio") or moved to weekends ("Harmony in My Head").[3] Upon the cancellation of his roots music show "Watusi Rodeo," Chris Morris accused the station of "now being styled as KROQ Jr." in an effort to increase the station's ratings.[4]

In November 2008, Escalante stated he was giving up the morning show but would continue to host an expanded two-hour version of his legal-advice show, "Barely Legal Radio."[1] He was replaced by longtime station DJ "TK."

On January 15, 2009, Indie 103.1 announced on the air that it would soon be ending its run on the FM frequency.[5][6] They told listeners it can still be heard on the Internet and would sound more like what the station was early on.

The statment Indie put out:

Indie Activist:

This is an important message for the Indie 103.1 Radio Audience -

Indie 103.1 will cease broadcasting over this frequency effective immediately. Because of changes in the radio industry and the way radio audiences are measured, stations in this market are being forced to play too much Britney, Puffy and alternative music that is neither new nor cutting edge. Due to these challenges, Indie 103.1 was recently faced with only one option --- to play the corporate radio game.

We have decided not to play that game any longer. Rather than changing the sound, spirit, and soul of what has made Indie 103.1 great Indie 103.1 will bid farewell to the terrestrial airwaves and take an alternative course.

This could only be done on the Internet, a place where rules do not apply and where new music thrives; be it grunge, punk, or alternative - simply put, only the best music.

For those of you with a computer at home or at work, log on to www.indie1031.com and listen to the new Indie 103.1 - which is really the old Indie 103.1, not the version of Indie 103.1 we are removing from the broadcast airwaves.

We thank our listeners and advertisers for their support of the greatest radio station ever conceived, and look forward to continuing to deliver the famed Indie 103.1 music and spirit over the Internet to passionate music listeners around the world.