Forget radio stations that provide nothing but the same old factory-created tunes and annoyingly peppy DJs that like to hear themselves talk -- the new place for music-starved listeners is All WNY Radio.com, an online radio station that plays nothing but a solid stream of local artists.
Created by Scott Leffler of Lockport, this station highlights music from up-and-coming WNY musicians as far as Rochester and Jamestown. Launched April 4, the site is barely two weeks old and Leffler hopes WNY catches on.
The station is arranged much like college radio, encompassing every genre of music including heavy metal, motown, hip hop, acoustic and even experimental.
Leffler, a host for Lockport's talk show radio station WLVL 1340 AM, came up with the idea when he began featuring local bands between programs.
"There are bunch of great local bands that would love to have their music heard, so I thought I would give them an outlet to do it," he said. "(All WNY radio) is what I came up with."
Leffler chose online radio because it is a less expensive medium and a source of potential within the world of music.
There are currently 14 hours worth of listening pleasure on the site. Each band may contribute only two original songs. Also available are concerts that were recorded at local venues.
"A lot of people don't listen to online radio because it is the same songs they can hear on the radio. This is something different," Leffler said. "I'm hoping if you give them something different they'll come to it."
Including every genre on one station may prove difficult, however, because song transitions aren't always smooth.
"When I was in college I worked at my school's radio station," said Leffler. "While I was there, I found it hard to go from playing Metallica to Barry Manilow."
During the day, the station plays a loop of all the songs. As All WNY acquires more music, Leffler hopes to organize a set schedule featuring one genre per hour so that listeners will know when to tune in to their favorites.
As of now, the station plans to continue airing amateur musicians. Playing the music of local artists with record deals such as Teddy Geiger of Rochester is trickier because of the legal costs involved, and Leffler feels it takes away from the station's uniqueness.
Because All WNY radio runs through a software program, there are no bothersome DJs to listen to, the music is free and because of the wide variety of songs, there are slim chances of hearing the same song -- or even the same artist -- within a short period of time.
Despite the benefits, online radio has some limitations. Most importantly, a computer is needed to listen to the station with. Additionally, All WNY radio is currently commercial free, but as Leffler hopes for his new hobby to become a profitable venture he is currently seeking advertising endorsements.
For students at UB, All WNY is a welcome source for new music.
Seth Dobbs, a senior political science major and president of Phi Alpha Delta, regularly listens to radio stations that play classic rock and hip hop, such as 101.1.
"Everything is about two months old," he said.
Sophomore computer science major Ian Blissard is attracted to the convenience online radio station offers, because he doesn't have to fight with an antennae or download music in order to listen in.
"I like the radio, but I don't get reception in my room, and I don't have a car, so I don't get to listen to the radio often," said Ian Blissard, a sophomore computer science major. "I do listen to an online radio station from back home in Ithaca, and I would be interested in listening to a WNY station."
AllWNYradio.com, where the radio station can be accessed, offers each band their own Web page to display biographies and a calendar of future concert dates.
In the future Leffler hopes to have regular spin-off concerts showcasing the local All WNY radio bands. Details are listed on the website, along with contact information for those interested in having their music played on the station.
For now, Leffler is open to airing everything and everyone.
"I'm not judgmental to what kind of music is played," Leffler said. "I can think something is crappy when someone else loves it."
