When my friend Serena told me about 98.3 The Seagull WXQA/Barkley, MD I was skeptical. Most LPFM stations, even those with formats, sound extremely low budget. Although my two favorite stations lately are variety hits and classic hits, she still thinks of me as the CHR listener. Honestly, there are only a handful of songs out right now that I really like, and the two stations are more interesting listens than any current-based format right now. Even so, I’m willing to give stations a listen, regardless of format. Usually, I give a station one listen, then don’t bother coming back. Not with the Seagull though. According to the station’s website, it launched as an internet only station under the name Sunny 105 in 2022, and quickly became successful. After a rebrand to The Seagull, the station applied in the most recent LPFM window, and was granted 98.3 WXQA-LP. Serena told me about the station the week the LPFM signed on, and I sampled it within a week. Right away, it became clear this wasn’t a standard LPFM. The imaging is voiced by well-known imaging voice Chad Ericson, and has jingles from Reel World. All of this is done without commercials. I’m not sure if they have other sources of funding, but they do take donations through the station’s website. The station is also fully staffed 6A-5P Monday through Friday. I’m honestly not sure why that afternoon shift doesn’t extend until 7 as is typical. The station also carries state news from the Maryland News Network, and national news from NBC at the top of every hour, and traffic reports in mornings and afternoons. Local weather is at the end of the update at top of hour. Musically, the station is well within the Hot AC format, but much broader than most. Because this monitor was taken on Martin Luther King Day and it appears the Maryland News Network takes weekends and holidays off, there’s no local news here. It’s also 1:00 P.M. so no traffic. Come December, expect a fresh monitor of this station, as they have a slightly different take on Christmas music. Here’s the station on January 19, 2025 with midday host Buzz Arnold:
- Train – Drive By
- AJR – Betty
- Hoobastank – The Reason
- Lips, Inc. – Funkytown
- BBMAK – Back Here
- Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
- One Direction – What Makes You Beautiful
- Maroon5 – Wakeup Call
- Big Time Rush – Oh Yeah
- Kesha – Your Love is My Drug
- Paramore – Still Into You
- Flashdance – What a Feeling
- Katy Perry – Birthday
- Alex Warren – Ordinary
- Ben Rector – Brand New
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