The Mellow Jams of T Radio
Collecting one’s thoughts isn’t easy to do in our city. There’s always someone near you whose iPod is too loud, a herd of teenagers shrieking, or televisions in the grocery store that blare ads while you try to shop. For many of us, T platforms were places that, while not necessarily quiet, gave us a place to tune out and think.
We’re all going to have to find another place to reflect, because the MBTA has ushered in the newest form of urban aural torture–T Radio.
The new radio station made its debut yesterday at North Station, South Station, and Airport Station. What can you expect to hear while you wait for your train?
T-Radio entertainment, information and news features Boston-based celebrities and sports figures in 30 and 60-second segments designed for people on the go. Contributors include Boston comedian and television actor, Lenny Clarke, former Boston Bruin, Lyndon Byers, entertainment reporter Joyce Kulhawik of WBZ-TV4, and an array of Boston radio personalities and media figures. . . .
The music covers many genres: Rock, R&B, Top 40, pop hits, Latin chart toppers, and mainstream crowd pleasers.
Mainstream crowd pleasers? Ugh.
When we got off at North Station, we could already hear an advertisement for Taco Bell. Justin Timberlake’s “What Goes Around. . . ” started to play, and once JT’s song was over, Lenny Clarke came on and told us we were listening to T Radio. Thanks, Lenny.
Then a perky woman who identified herself as “Lotto Lisa” read the daily numbers and wrapped her segment with a forceful “Ching Ching!” Next, a T safety announcement came on in Spanish. Finally, an ad for the Globe’s Patriots coverage came on, and we returned to the music with Elton John’s “I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues.” Indeed, Elton. Indeed.
October 11th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Considering most of the time it’s too loud on the platform for me to even bother putting my ipod on, I imagine this will go over like a fart in a spacesuit…
October 11th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
I heard it at North Station this morning. Originally I thought it was coffee-depravation induced hallucinations but now I know it was real.
It is …. entirely unnecessary is the thought that springs to mind. I have my own iPod, thanks.
October 12th, 2007 at 9:26 am
T platform musicians are intrusive enough - I second Amy P. on it usually being too loud already to even listen to an ipod, never mind have a conversation. But at least the dude with the overamped guitar can kind of count as one of those “street character” kind of things that contribute to the urban energy of city life. Canned music is at least as annoying, but generally lacking in character, unless that character is “suburban grocery store.”
October 12th, 2007 at 3:18 pm
This station will be 85% ads and 15% radio. The T needs to generate more revenue because there would be an upheaval if they started jacking $5 bucks for a one way ticket.
October 24th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
I get enough spam at work without being subjected to an aural version. Makes me want to drive into work every day.
Do note that www.mbta.com has already added “T Radio” as a topic in their customer comment section. Complain early and often!
October 25th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
At South Station it it so LOUD, not to mention OBNOXIOUS, the I have literally had to resort to earplugs. I am looking into parking and plan to start driving into work if this becomes permanent.