About

Update: We are currently working on getting a low power FM license from the FCC to bring the detour to the FM dial. Although we are in the beginning stages of this process, we invite anyone in the Tri-Cities, Knoxville, or Phoenix, AZ area that is interested in starting a community radio station, please click here to contact us. Make sure to include your name and phone number!

The original reason the station was created...
2005: The station was originally created to give ETSU students an opportunity to get a voice on the air...most colleges have a student run station. MTSU and the University of Tennessee have student run stations. Even Milligan College has a station. Yes, ETSU does have both a public radio station and a campus cable radio station; they are both great stations, but let students have minimal control. It was time to give ETSU students an opportunity have total control: program the station as they wanted, say what they wanted to say, and be as unprofessional as they wanted. This is way the detour originally was here... "to let students do their thang..."

more recent reasoning...
We figured out that focusing the station to just ETSU was limiting the station's potential. The detour changed directions to serving the entire East Tennessee area. We had a new mission and actively seek to promote the detour to the entire area. We also switched the station to a non-commercial format, only accepting donations through detour supporting memberships.

As time progressed, we decided to yet again refocus our efforts on separating our music and talk programming. We also expanded on making the station more hybrid and accessible to people interested in getting on the air outside of the Tri-Cities, TN area. We changed our slogan from "the independent voice of Appalachia" to "freeform radio without boundaries." Each of our stations feature a diversity of programming and styles of thinking. We now attract a worldwide audience that is exposed to new ideas, music, and opinions. detour MUSIC, detour TALK, and detour BLUES are lisred in iTunes Radio and the Windows Media Guide. We are always looking for new volunteers who are interested in getting on the air.

• COMPLETELY independent!: We cut out all of the junk that stations with oversight have. Each radio host has the freedom to play say what they wish. We are in control! We decide what goes on the air, and what we play. We are NOT required to force extra information down your throats. We aren't forbidden from saying negative things We are completely FREE! Free to run our stations like we want!
• TRUE variety/mix of music: Many stations claim to have a variety, but it really ends up sounding the same. Welp.. here at the detour..you never know what you are going to hear next! We'll go from a rap song to a heavy metal song, from a Christian rock song to a country song, then ending with some jazz. the detour knows no boundaries when it comes to music. We play main stream and underground. Some of the genres that we play include alternative, active rock, pop, rap, most Christian genres [rap, rock, pop, praise and worship], jazz, oldies, country, Celtic, techno, classic rock, underground, and many more.
• new music first: the detour plays NEW music first. Each week the detour updates its playlist with brand new, never heard music! Many of the songs that you hear on regular FM stations were popular on the detour 2 or 3 months ago. Most stations take as much as 2 to 3 months to get new music on the air, but the detour beats them by getting it to you first!
• requests: Any request, any style of music, any genre, any artist...if we have it, we will play it. If we don't have it, we will try our best to find it! We also take dedications, and other special requests! Requesting a song is SIMPLE! Click here to go to requestNOW! Once your there, search for the song you want, and then simply click "request NOW!" to play it. Your request will be played a few minutes after you request it!
• live shows!: We feature live hosts that do their own shows. They play what they want.. what their listeners want. We give them total control to plan and produce their show as they see fit. They aren't restricted by the top 40, or genre. When they get on here, its up to them what goes!
• Appalachian events and news: We keep you in the loop with what's happening around the Appalachian area. Stay up to date with what's going on around the Appalachia by listening to the detour!

As you can see, there are many reasons to listen to the detour! Listening to the detour is easy! Click here for instructions on how to listen! If you have any questions or comments about the detour, please click here to contact us! Thanks for visiting the detour, and we hope that you continue to enjoy the sounds of the detour!

The detour network of stations are based in the United States of America. We pride ourselves on the freedom of expression. We do not limit our broadcasts to any opinion, viewpoint, or mentality. We never censor our broadcasts and allow FULL freedom of expression. We also invite listeners from countries that have limited freedom of expression rights to get on our stations and express their opinions freely. We will NEVER allow any government, person, corporation, organization, or culture to limit our freedom of expression.