WERC-HD3 B106.5 Birmingham, AL

WERC-HD3 B106.5 in Birmingham, AL is a curious beast. It's branded as pop and hip hop, but the oldies and R&B cuts are what really stand out. The morning blocks lean heavily into 60s Motown and 70s soul - think Stevie Wonder and The Temptations. Then suddenly you'll get a 90s hip hop classic like Biggie's "Juicy" before dropping into a modern R&B jam from Beyoncé. That's the station's strength: its refusal to stay in one lane. As pop radio from the United States goes, this one has real personality. The hip hop picks are solid, though the pop selections occasionally lean toward the safe end. St…