I'm getting ready to take a trip to see a kid at college soon. With the days shorter and the nights colder (and with a little help from the Earth's ionosphere), to paraphrase Ray Charles, "the nighttime is the right time" for AM Radio listening between dusk and dawn.

Now most people think of AM Radio as old technology into today's world of digital and apps . But I have been a fan of AM Radio forever. There are a number of these AM 50,000 watt "clear channel" stations you can here in the DFW area. Below is a list of those that come to mind that can be heard in our area:

1. WSM/Nashville. On 650AM, you will hear the best country music of all time from the 50's to today. It is also the radio home for the Grand Ole Opry. Nighttime personality most nights is Eddie Stubbs, the most knowledgeable man on the planet where country music is concerned.

2. WBBM/Chicago: On 780AM, this is one of the oldest radio properties owned by our company, CBS. All news all the time. It also has an FM simulcast frequency in Chicago. Been airing the all -news format for over 50 years.

3. KRLD/Dallas Fort Worth: On 1080AM, this all news/talk station blankets over 35 states at night.

4. KOA/Denver: On 850AM, this is a news/talk station and the radio home of the Denver Broncos.

5. WWL/New Orleans: On 870AM, this station takes over the frequency in our area when a local station here, KFJZ 870, signs off at dusk. News/talk/sports. Your place for LSU Sports and the New Orleans Saints.

6. WHO/Des Moines: On 1040AM, this is also a news/talker. KGGR 1040 in Dallas signs off at dusk then WHO takes over.

7. WBAP/Ft. Worth- Dallas: On 820AM, this station is a boomer in nearly 40 states at night. Was country for years until they phased it out during the 6am-12mn time period and went news/talk/sports.

8. KMOX/St. Louis: On 1120, this is a legendary station hitting 44 states at night. News/talk format and home of the St. Louis Blues. It is "The Voice Of St. Louis". Also a CBS Radio owned property.

9. KFAQ/Tulsa: On 1170, former call letters were KVOO with a country format. Now a news/talker

10. WOAI/San Antonio: On 1200AM, this 50,000 watt blowtorch is awesome. News/talk and home of the San Antonio Spurs.

This is no way an exhaustive list as there are many more. It just depends where you live, if AM wave propagation is enhanced by the Earth's atmosphere, or if a local station is granted nighttime authorization by the FCC to operate with reduced power on a clear channel frequency. CBS Radio owns a number of 50 ,000 watts AM "clear channel" stations, such as WCBS/New York, WFAN/New York, KNX/Los Angeles, WSCR/Chicago, and WPHT/Philadelphia to name a few. I-Heart Radio (formerly Clear Channel Radio) loves big AM stations as they own WOR/New York, KFI/Los Angeles, WLW/Cincinnati, and WHAS/Louisville. Cumulus Radio, the largest "pure play" radio company in America, owns WABC/New York, WLS/Chicago, KGO/San Francisco, and WJR/Detroit.

Have a great week. See you next time.

(©2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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