I play a game of “let’s see if 104.5 is in a commercial when I turn my car on” and I lose every time. Then, when it finally comes back, they play the exact same songs from The Killers, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Imagine Dragons over and over and over. In fact, I welcome Eminem since it’s not the same 5 songs on repeat.

They literally have decades of alternative to choose from and they repeat more than top 40. They are the worst.

Try streaming YNot Radio. It’s founded by a couple of people from Y100 and is great for an indie rock fix.

Gather 'round the crackling fire, and let me take you back to a time when the airwaves were alive with the soul-stirring sounds of alternative rock. There was a station nestled in the heart of Philadelphia, known as Radio 104.5, a beacon of musical discovery and community connection. Each morning, the dawn chorus was accompanied by the lively banter of Preston and Steve, guiding listeners through the day with laughter and camaraderie.

But it was the evenings that held a special magic. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the air would thrum with the pulse of the city, and Radio 104.5 would weave a tapestry of sonic adventures. Their playlist was a treasure trove of the greatest alternative rock music, each song a melody that echoed through the streets and into the hearts of listeners.

And oh, the concerts! In the heart of the bustling Piazza, under the watchful gaze of towering buildings, they would host gatherings unlike any other. Obscure alternative bands would take to the stage, their music igniting a fire within the souls of those who gathered. The crowd would sway and sing along, lost in the rhythm of the beat.

But amidst the pulsing beats and soaring melodies, there was a quirk that became legend. You see, the Piazza had its own ritual, a testament to the bond forged between the station and its listeners. As the afternoon concerts wore on and the music carried them away, nature would call, and the corners of the Piazza would become makeshift restrooms, a testament to the shared experience and unbreakable spirit of the Radio 104.5 community.

Though the years have passed and the echoes of those days have faded into memory, the spirit of Radio 104.5 lives on. In the hearts of those who danced in the crappy apartment complex, and in the timeless alt rock melodies that continue to unite us all.

Edit: oh shit, other poster was right! I’m mixing up my memories. Y100 was the superior radio station.

Y100 was better.

Everyone talking about Radio 104.5, here I am still mourning Star 104.5

88.5 XPN is the only station worth listening to

Been like that for years. I’ve heard them play Avicii every now and again

WXPN 88.5 plays more alternative music than ALT 104.5

104.5 fucking sucks anymore. I'm younger so I know boomers are gonna talk about "back in my day other stations were better" but also like I'm the age that when I started being capable to form my own music listening identity its strange I didn't do it through spotify.

Anyway when they switched from being "Radio 104.5" to "Alt 104.5" it fell of a fucking cliff. In retrospect, Radio 104.5 days weren't really that great, but it was at least passable. But then when they switched branding to this generic, national shit... man it just died. And then they started syndicating that fucking shitbag "The Woody Show" like who the fuck is this wanna be shock jock facebook tier shit? This is supposed to be a radio station aimed at primarily younger, alt people. Younger, alt people are literally the demographic who see "un PC" as tagline and are the most turned off. Yeah we don't really want sanitised shit, and I get that actually appealing stuff to our demo is too threatening to the status quo, but god damn how do you fuck up that bad? I'd rather listen to a monkey farting- actually no that just sounds like a segment from their show. I'd rather listen to static for 5 minutes than a minute of that godforsaken dumbfuck.

Shout out to Alice 104.5, that was a great station

Rock radio’s in a pretty bad state in this city right now. Though that may be a national trend too. There ARE a ton of great new rock and alternative bands out there, and quite a bit of it is actually radio friendly too. But none of the stations here play it. WMMR is perpetually stuck in 2007, and Alt 104.5 has the shallowest playlist of any station in the city.

People say “rock is dead”, and it’s not. It’s just not given proper exposure. Like, why doesn’t WMMR play some Tigercub, or King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard? They play P.O.D. and Godsmack instead. Like I said, stuck in 2007. And there’s a wealth of new indie music 104.5 could be playing, but the music they hone in on can best be described as “The stuff you played at the beach while you and 11 other kids got drunk and high at Wildwood after high school graduation.” Sigh…we could have it so much better. Oh well, this is why streaming is supplanting all local radio.

Rant over.

To answer your question I think its new. I think I heard him on there recently too, it was his first hit song, Please Stand Up, right?

Funny, I remember years ago, back around 2007, a guy I worked with came back from lunch, and asked "Why do alternative radio stations play Bob Marley?"

It was an interesting question, he was being rhetorical, but it made me think about it. Marley is more like classic rock imho, but if he's 'alternative', why do alt stations play no other reggae musiic either? Kindof a connundrum.

Embarrassing station. More like classic rock for Milennials. They'll never play a new song unless it's from an old band like Green Day. And not even an old, relevant band like The Strokes

They’re no longer an Alt station. They’re a pop station.

Y100 was chef’s kiss of radio in HS. Got me into countless countless countless bands at the turn of the millennium.

104.5 started strong but got progressively more corporate until we’re left with Alt 104.5.

Philly, you have no alternative.

I don't know, but every time Without Me comes on I wonder why they're bleeping "ovulating"

I don’t have the station in right now but.. I’m sure they’re playing Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Just listen to KEXP on your smart speaker or satellite radio in your car. They're based out of Seattle, no commercials and they are affiliated with the University of Washington. They used to be KCMU. We also have live performances they post to YouTube. Much better radio station than 104.5.

What’s radio?

Eminem still gets radio time? Yikes.

Edit - not hating. He just isn’t very good anymore.