96.1 The River

96.1 The River plays it safe, and that's exactly why it works. Pop radio in the United States has a formula, and this station follows it to the letter. You'll get back-to-back hits from the likes of Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa, and Harry Styles, with minimal interruption. The DJ chatter is brief, the energy stays high, and the playlist rarely deviates from the top 40. It's predictable. But predictable doesn't mean bad. Commuters rely on it. Stores play it. It's the background music of suburban America. If you want to listen to 96.1 The River online, you'll get the same polished product you'd hear o…