The first name someone might utter in the morning might not be that of a loved one, unless his or her name is Alexa: as in, “Alexa, play Mountain Country 107.9 radio.”
As of the beginning of the month Mountain Country 107.9 radio was made made available via Amazon’s Alexa enabled devices.
“They (Alexa enabled devices) started proliferating the market, “said Chris Torrick, CEO/COO of the online Alpine-based station. “This last Christmas Alexa was the gift to give.” Based on the popularity of the devices, Torrick decided to add an app that allows his radio station to be accessed via the products.
“We play country, legacy country, and Texas-country— back to the 1950’s to 1995,” said Torrick. “Like Waylon Jennings or Mel Tillis.” For the last six years they have been a country-based station, East County Broadcasting, Inc., but have been around for ten years.
Besides just enjoying their playlist via Alexa, listeners might want to start listening a little closer for other reasons.
“We’re giving out tickets to the fair. We partnered with the fair,” said Torrick.
“I just recently got my Alexa in January. I don’t usually get tech products like that, but I heard Chris announce you could get the station on it,” said listener Jan Morse.
“It is difficult to get service in the mountains, so this is perfect. I like the fact that I can listen to it anytime and it’s good quality.”
Torrick outlined the initial steps to set up his station on an Alexa enabled device:
- Set up the speaker, download an app to the phone for the set-up process. After the app is added, click the action button in the upper left-hand corner.
- Click on an option for “skills.” Once skills is selected, type in “Mountain Country 107.9”
- Click the green enable button.
“I understand privacy concerns,” said Torrick. “There is a button on devices to disable the microphone if you want to.”
The radio station is available on a laptop/computer at www.fm1079.country and on “Live365” app for iPad, iPhone, and androids. They also plan on live streaming various content direct to televisions on April 1.
“It’s broadened my horizons to listen to his station,” said Morse. Mountain Country 107.9 is the official radio station of the Lakeside Rodeo.