99Xtinction
It's sad to admit, but I've historically been pretty lazy when it comes to finding new music.  And even though 99X has been making steadily decreasing additions to my playlist, it's going to hurt seeing it go.  I won't be following the station as it makes its move to online-only and pretends to invent this 'new' thing called "visual radio," for a few different reasons.  For one, I don't spend much time watching the internet, aside from an occasional YouTube video.  I prefer to read it or write on it.  Then there's the fact that 99% of my radio listening is done in the car, and, well, I don't have the internet in the car.  And I really have no idea how much time and money Cumulus is going to commit to the success of the station now that it's off the air, so there's no point in getting involved in something that may fade away soon anyway.

On November 16, 2006, Atlanta had TWO Alternative stations.  After this weekend, we may have none.  A lot of the commentary over at 99X Watch seems to cite failings that are common to the Alternative format in general, and not just 99X.  One such bugbear is the fact that the format continues to have Grunge as its cornerstone, a genre of music that unfortunately lost nearly all its steam after the suicide of Kurt Cobain in 1994.  The other big factor is new technology.  The generation carrying on the mantle of alternative music listener is more likely to avoid "terrestrial" radio and opt for satellite radio or their own iPods. 

All of this of course leaves me without a source of new music.  I usually need to hear a song a few times before deciding if I like it or not, which made radio a great way to discover new stuff.  That option is not going to work for me as well anymore.  Project 9-6-1 is an Active Rock station that plays too much old crappy Butt Rock mixed in along with "sellout" bands like Alterbridge and Nickelback that one must endure while waiting around for the good Alternative and Heavy bands like Modest Mouse and System of a Down.  88.5, the GSU radio station, plays too much ambient and avant-garde crap for my preference.  Most of the time I find it annoying to listen to for too long, aside from Nippon Music Champ.  That leaves Dave FM, which will lure me into a false sense of security by playing great old Alternative songs I haven't heard in years and then shock the conscience by playing something like Billy Joel.

In a desperate search for an alternative... er... Alternative, I found a college radio station in Rochester, NY that broadcasts online.  WBER's playlist looks like exactly what I'm looking for - some of the best stuff from the 99X playlist combined with a lot of new music I've been desperately needing exposure to.  Unfortunately I'll only be able to listen when I'm near a computer, but it's better than nothing, and I won't be tied to watching the screen.