Hanging with Amber from Live 100.5

I spent this morning with Amber from Birmingham’s newest (and most MODern) radio station, Live 100.5. The brainchild of Gigi South and Scott Register, the station’s well on its way to taking over where the X in it’s heyday left off.

Since 100.5 is technically labeled as “AAA” (or Adult Album Alternative), Amber’s show revolves around being about to listen to just about anything she and the listeners want, regardless of whether that particular track has been released as a single or not. She says, “I can’t believe I get to play my favorite music every day at work.  Not only do I get to play artists like Jeff Buckley, Kings of Leon, Passenger, Wheat, Ryan Adams, Black Kids, Matt Nathanson (I could go on forever), but I DON’T have to play artists like 3 doors down, Hinder and Nickelback.  This is a dream come true”. My kinda girl! Especially after professing our mutual love of britpop, then hearing that she happened upon a crowded Arctic Monkeys show once while in New York.

Alot of effort is put into choosing what and how music gets on the radio, since Amber is also the Music Director. “It’s all about spacing and order with the playlist”, she continued. “We have to pay attention to who plays what at what time so we don’t all play the same thing”. I guess that becomes extra important when they work at a place that prides itself on being “a station of music lovers FOR music lovers”.

She also takes submitted mixtapes and plays them on the air. Today’s theme was “Chicks Who Rock”.

Since I had a seasoned radio vet in my clutch, Amber shared a few recommendations for new music (which you can actually hear on the radio for a change):

• The Annuals (who are playing Bottletree on 02/08!)
• Passenger (especially their single Night Vision Binoculars)
• The Young Dubliners
• Maccabees

Lastly, here is Amber’s interview with local artist Matthew Mayfield, who is playing the BHAM.FM show that’s soon to be announced in March!

Amber is on Live 100.5 in Birmingham from 3pm until 7pm every weeknight!