WCBN

WCBN is the University of Michigan’s non-​commercial freeform radio station that’s run by students. 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/​karaōke 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.