I was pleasantly surprised driving through the boonies recently. Scanning through the channels I stumbled upon a station that I'd say was playing only 20-30% typical radio hits, with the rest filled with artists you may have heard of if you follow the scene but that never made as traditional radio stars along with a healthy set of underground/up-and-comers that you likely haven't heard of. It felt like how many describe the glory days of radio.

I also learned that that said station is owned by the same company as a station in my hometown, which is as bland, boring, and repetitive as radio gets. Still has me wondering what that market has that my local market doesn't. Perhaps the true death of radio is hinged on urbanization coupled with limited channel space? Maybe a channel like that can survive there because the small overall audience doesn't invite someone else trying to encroach on the available frequency? Whereas, as you noticed, where frequency space is at a premium someone else with formulaic programming in hand will soon come to buy out anyone who tries anything interesting.