Des Moines lands an alternative radio station, hitting airwaves with favorites, Iowa music

MTV launched on Aug. 1, 1981, playing “Video Killed the Radio Star” by the Buggles just after midnight. On Thursday, just after midnight, a new alternative station took over the airwaves, kicking off its new era with "Capricorn" by Vampire Weekend, who just played Hinterland in early August.

The alternative music station on 94.1 FM and on 88.9 FM in the Bondurant/Mitchellville area features music made in Iowa, hosts based in Iowa, and music alt fans want to hear, according to a news release from Iowa Public Radio, the parent company.

"Those are three things that are harder and harder to find in the current music and radio landscape," said Jordan Bahnsen, marketing manager at Iowa Public Radio.

Which alternative bands will 94.1 play?

Fans can expect to hear a mix of ’90s, ’80s, and new music encompassing "alternative, indie and rock in all its eras so there's a little something for everyone, played every hour," Bahnsen said. Think Arctic Monkeys, Hozier, Father John Misty, Modest Mouse, Jack White, the Police, Echo and the Bunnymen and the Talking Heads, for starters.

“We’ve been working for months to revamp the sound of Studio One to give Iowans more of the music they want,” Al Schares, music program director at Iowa Public Radio, said in a news release.

Fans can also expect to hear local music, such as The Nadas, as well as live sets recorded at music venues throughout Iowa.

Des Moines is no stranger to the alternative music scene and makes a nice stop for bands rolling through town to play bigger cities surrounding it. In recent months, the Des Moines metro has seen the likes of The Pixies and the Smashing Pumpkins play Vibrant Music Hall in Waukee, the Violent Femmes at Water Works Park, and Greta van Fleet and the Avett Brothers at the Iowa State Fair. Hinterland brought alternative artists such as Chappell Roan, Hozier and Vampire Weekend to St. Charles. Cage the Elephant plays Wells Fargo Arena in September.

More: These are some of the biggest concerts near Des Moines in 2024, from Slipknot to Alabama

Who are the deejays behind 94.1?

So far, the lineup for talent on the radio includes:

• Tressa Glass
• Cece Mitchell
• Tony Dehner
• Mark Simmet
• Lucius Pham
• Sean McClain

Where to listen to 94.1

The new signal is part of Iowa Public Radio's Studio One format, currently heard on IPR News and Studio One stations.This new station marks first time Studio One will be heard around the clock on broadcast radio.

The new sound airs on 94.1 in Des Moines and, in select hours, on 13 IPR News and Studio One stations across the state. It’s also available online at iprstudioone.org and in the Iowa Public Radio and Studio One apps.

Des Moines had an alternative station, ALT 106.3 FM, that flipped formatting to a sports station in 2020.

Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook , Twitter , or Instagram , or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Des Moines lands an alternative radio station, hitting airwaves with favorites, Iowa music