The Red and Black

Issue date: 4/11/08 Section: Variety

ELKINS

As you begin your daily commute to class, you tune in to your favorite radio station. You hold your breath for the next song, and the announcer cues a 10-minute commercial break. By the time the music returns, your ride is over.

Sick of this scenario? Tune in to WPPP 100.7 FM, Athens' commercial-free Hot 100.7.

"I've been involved in the radio business for eight years," said Xavier Elkins, station founder and general manager. "It took us four years to get approval from the FCC and one year to raise the money needed for the station. Now we've been on the air for about three and a half years."

Based at Common Ground Athens on Newton Street, Hot 100.7's signal a 15-mile radius. Its commercial-free format comes with several benefits, Elkins said.

"First of all, it keeps costs extremely low," said Elkins. "It gives us total freedom of choice in the music we select."

He describes his station's programming as "organized chaos," including such genres as indie-rock, techno, jazz, swing, punk rock and ska.

"We're not affiliated with the government or with any university or corporation," Elkins said. "The owner of our station, the Athens Community Radio Foundation, is also nonprofit, so we're non-commercial by nature. That's why we're free to branch out beyond conventional radio format."

Elkins emphasizes local music and features three to four local songs per hour. Playlists are posted on its Web site at dailyhangover.com. Some local artists in rotation include Don Chambers, Bain Mattox, Allison Weiss, The Winter Sounds and Sounds of Silence.

"I grew up in Athens and was always impressed by its music scene," Elkins said. "My primary motivation for starting this radio station in the first place was to promote local music."

But music isn't all Hot 100.7 has to offer. Elkins and co-host Jon "J. Bird" Bird host a talk show called "The Daily Hangover Chronicles."

"We basically talk about a dozen of some our favorite bands, and we usually include two or three of their songs in the program," Elkins said. "We also keep tabs on the downtown Athens culture and promote local music, bands and shows."

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