Project 42 Radio plays four decades (and then some) of the greatest hits from pop, rock, rhythm and blues, dance, country, and whatever else we happen to like. Then, we mix in album cuts from established artists, songs from independent and breaking acts, and a select group of current hit music. It’s something conventional radio stations can’t …or won’t…do. Many stations have corporate interests to answer to, and as a result, it limits what they can do with their programming. That’s not the case at Project 42 Radio. We’re a station without strings in a world of radio puppets.
What We’re Playing
We were raised on the radio. From the time we were young enough to figure out the “on” switch, we were listening to pop, rock, country and R&B pumped out by the local AM (and later FM) radio stations nearby. We still love most of those songs, and we love playing them as part of the mix here at P42R.
That’s not where it ends, though. There are great songs that were never radio hits, unsigned and independent acts making great music, and still some good music that shows up on conventional radio. Why not put it all together and see what happens? P42R is the station we have on while at home, so we don’t play what we don’t like. There’s a lot we do like, though, so you can go many hours — even an entire work day — without hearing a song repeat. If you want to see what we’ve played recently, click “Playlist” on the menu at the top of the page.
Where And How
Project 42 Radio streamcasts from my home in Fritch, Texas, a small town in the Texas Panhandle near Amarillo. I moved here with my family when I was 15. I graduated high school here, got my first job in terrestrial radio, and married here. After a long time away and a lot of life happening, I’ve moved back to the old hometown with my teenaged son. I could write here about all the technical stuff that keeps P42R going, but I don’t want to bore you with it. Suffice it to say, we’re doing what we can to make the stream sound as good as possible. If you want to know the nuts and bolts behind the scenes at the “secret broadcast cave”, email me at the address at the bottom of the page.
Behind The Microphone
I’m Don (aka “Dr. Don”) and I’ve been involved in radio in one form or another since 1985. Right now, I’m still getting the bills paid working in AM/FM radio while studying for a degree in web design/development. Project 42 Radio began while I was away from broadcasting for a couple of years. I realized that while I needed a break from the “behind the scenes” stuff in radio, I still loved playing music and having a little fun with the listeners. I started investigating what it would take to put an internet station together, and after a lot of work and a few test runs, Project 42 Radio began streaming in June 2009.
P42R is presently a hobby and a labor of love. I have a few dedicated listeners and friends (and thanks…you know who you are), and I hope that someday this will become something big. I’ve always enjoyed music, and P42R is a way of sharing the music I enjoy with friends past, present and future. A lot of time, brainpower and sweat have gone into it so far, and it’s my hope P42R keeps getting better as we learn more about internet radio.
Why “Project 42?”
One of the hardest things about putting this all together was coming up with a memorable name for the station. Most of the good ones were already taken, and names that may have been more descriptive were, well, dull. I bounced a lot of ideas off friends and family until, while doodling some logo ideas, I arrived at Project 42 Radio. Still, I’ve had people ask me (no, really, I have)…”What does the 42 mean?”
Well it means several things…
The initial (and continuing) purpose of the station was to go beyond the top 40 hits…hence a number larger than 40. It’s “40 and then some”.
My goal was to launch the station during my 42nd year of life on this big blue marble (mission accomplished).
When P42R started, it was “the music of a lifetime”…my lifetime, to be exact. Songs anywhere from the year of my birth to the present day could show up on the playlist. Think of it as the “Quantum Leap” of internet radio. I’ve modified this a little bit since then, but the range of songs is still a lot broader than most terrestrial stations.
Yes, I am a fan of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. No shame in that.
As Another Fictional Dr. Once Said, “I’m Listening”
Project 42 Radio is listener-supported in more ways than one. I pay attention to what you tell me. Your input helps me polish our playlist. If you hear something you really like or dislike, let me know through email, Facebook or Twitter. Since I’m just one guy, I may miss out on discovering good new artists, so if you have any you feel strongly about that aren’t in our library, let me know that too. I don’t worry about how songs “fit the format”, since we really don’t have one; it’s about finding and showcasing talented artists. Tell me about it, and I’ll look for it and put in the player. If it’s hard to come by, then send me a file or send the CD via snail mail. Contact me and I’ll get you the mailing address.
Contact me: Don C. (mail-at-project-42-radio-dot-com)
