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The Susquehanna Valley has always been rich in music. A considerable number of regional musicians have released quality recordings, and to a global reception. However, many artists report that if you're not on a major record label, they are road-blocked from mainstream FM radio even in their own hometown. Where do they go for local airplay?

ChiliTech.FM, a web-radio station in downtown Williamsport, has expanded their programming airspace. Their emphasis is on music with a local slant.

"This is true community music radio," said ChiliTech.FM programming director Matt Hoppes. "Our focus is to broadcast music made by, for, and from this area, alternating with music by non-locals who have creative connections with Williamsport and surrounding regions."

Listeners are able to request songs online. The ChiliTech.FM playlist currently airs The Blind Chiltin Kahunas, Entity, Sarah Fleck & the Palpitations, "Mandolin Medicine Man" Don Hess, Lumpy Gravy and Jamie Notarthomas, a New York-based singer-songwriter who frequently performs in Williamsport. Future playlists will feature Hannah Bingman, Earl Pickens, Hugh Ross, Alice Weiler and more locally-connected independent music acts.

In addition to the current "24/7 general rotation," ChiliTech.FM will launch four specialty programs on March 3rd.

Billtown Loves the Groove: An hour of jazz, funk, fusion and "space music" hosted by Starvin' Marvin. Mon. 10-11pm, Thurs. 12-1pm, Sat. 1-2pm.

The debut features local trio Burgess Mitchell & Seal and Ithaca-based fusionaries Wingnut. The playlist also includes saxophonist Aviva, drum legend Earl Palmer, Funk Dub Division, Eris (featuring Scott Francis), Machine Gun, and poetry reading by The Infamous Cassie (with Chris Bovard and Cha'lie Holmes) live from "The Mr. Beat Experience" 9/25/97 at The Bullfrog.

Caffeine Theatre Hour, hosted by "Singer at Large" Johnny J. Blair. Sun. 4-5pm, Tues. 10-11pm, Sat. 10-11am.
It's an audio cafe with a Williamsport aroma. Blair will play his own music and recordings by artists he's met on the road and in the studio, spiked with commentary from "an array of clowns, poets, prophets and vagabonds." The debut will give style lessons in saying "right on," Arms of Kismet (with an excellent bonus reading from the Book of Genesis), Beyondo "The Cecil B. DeMento of You Tube," bumper-sticker propaganda by Entity, Davy Jones (The World's Greatest Tambourine Player), the amazing Richard X. Heyman (whose accomplishments include breaking Dennis Wilson's floor tom), Funk Dub Division, Monette Newsuan, a flock of kids, Dave Isaacs, The Dead Elvi, and an introspective anthem by ex-Jersey Shore-ites Steve & Jennie Kanski.

Sonic Valley: A 2-hour program of chamber, experimental and symphonic music, presented in conjunction with the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra. Sun. 5-7pm, Thurs. 6-8pm, Sat. 5-7pm.

The first program will air highlights from the WSO's 2008 Young Artists' Competition (Evangeline Krajewski, David Lui, Joyce Xi), The Eaken Trio, pianist Arthur Goldstein, classical guitarist Jonathan Haley, composer/pianist Mike Garson (David Bowie, Smashing Pumpkins), and The New Professionals Orchestra of London with Rebecca Miller, recent WSO guest conductor. The NPO will perform CONCERTO FOR PIPA WITH STRING ORCESTRA with Wu Man, pipa.

Word2Soul: 2-hours of contemporary Christian and urban gospel music. Sun. 1-3pm, Wed. 10pm-12am, Sat. 8-10am.

It is produced by the Word2Soul Project, a Williamsport-based production company that specializes in the genre. Much of the material on the program was engineered by musician/producer Tim Breon. Featured artists include Word2Soul singers and musicians (Chris Bovard, Monette Newsuan, Johnny J. Blair, Alice Weiler, Tim Breon, Janice Todd) along with Andrew Cornell, Marianne Kesler, Don Hess, Chris Pick, Samuel Bowen and others.