Driving through the O’Neill Tunnel or stuck in gridlock on I-93, you’ve probably felt that itch to just turn the dial until something makes sense. Boston’s airwaves are crowded, sure. You’ve got the sports talk guys yelling about the Sox and the Top 40 stations playing the same three songs every hour. But then there’s 89.7 FM.
It's GBH.
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It is the heavy hitter of the local dial. Honestly, it’s kinda weird how much power this one frequency holds in the city's intellectual life. It isn't just a place for "polite" radio; it's the nervous system of the Greater Boston area.
If you grew up here, you know the voice of Jim Braude. You’ve probably found yourself nodding along—or screaming at your dashboard—while Margery Eagan breaks down whatever nonsense is happening at the State House. That’s the magic of 89.7 fm radio boston. It’s high-brow, but it’s gritty. It’s local news that doesn't feel like it’s being read off a teleprompter by a robot.
The Sound of 89.7 FM Radio Boston: More Than Just NPR
People often mistake 89.7 for just being "the NPR station." That’s a massive oversimplification. While it carries the big national shows like Morning Edition and All Things Considered, the real soul of the station is homegrown right there in Brighton.
Take Boston Public Radio. It’s a three-hour marathon of civic engagement that somehow manages to feel like a conversation at a pub. They bring in Governor Maura Healey for "Ask the Governor" segments, and they don't throw softballs. It’s a rare space where a regular person from Dorchester can call in and tell the highest-ranking official in the Commonwealth exactly why their commute is a nightmare.
And let’s talk about the music.
You wouldn't expect a news-heavy station to have such a deep relationship with jazz and blues, but 89.7 has been holding that line for decades. Eric Jackson, the "Dean of Boston Jazz," spent over 50 years on these airwaves. His legacy still hangs heavy over the evening programming. When the sun goes down, the hard news fades, and the station transforms into something smoother, deeper, and much more soulful. It’s this weird, beautiful duality.
Why Brighton Matters
The station moved to its massive headquarters in Brighton years ago, and that building—the one with the giant digital mural overlooking the Mass Pike—is basically a lighthouse for nerds and news junkies.
The "Guest Street" location isn't just an office. It’s a production powerhouse. They have a theater. They have a library. When you tune into 89.7 fm radio boston, you’re hearing the output of one of the largest public media producers in the entire country. GBH (formerly WGBH) produces about a third of the content that goes out to the national PBS system. Frontline, Nova, Antiques Roadshow—all of that DNA is baked into the local radio broadcasts you hear while you're trying to find a parking spot in Back Bay.
The Rivalry Everyone Ignores
Boston is one of the few cities left in America with two major, competing public radio stations. You have 89.7 WGBH and 90.9 WBUR.
It’s a rivalry. Period.
Even if they don't admit it publicly, these two stations are constantly jockeying for the ears of the Boston elite and the everyday commuter. WBUR is often seen as the "traditional" news powerhouse, while 89.7 has leaned hard into personality-driven local talk.
In recent years, 89.7 has really doubled down on being "Boston’s Local Newsroom." They’ve hired away talent from local newspapers and other outlets to ensure that when a water main breaks in Somerville or a new development is proposed in the Seaport, they have someone on the ground.
- WGBH (89.7): Known for Boston Public Radio, local jazz, and a heavy focus on the intersection of politics and culture.
- WBUR (90.9): Known for national heavyweights like On Point and Here & Now.
Which one is better? Honestly, it depends on whether you want a lecture or a conversation. 89.7 usually feels like the latter.
Digital Transitions and the Death of the Dial?
Is terrestrial radio dying? Some people say so. They’re probably wrong, at least in a city like Boston.
But GBH isn't taking chances. They’ve poured a ton of money into their digital presence. You can stream 89.7 fm radio boston through their app, on smart speakers, or via their website. They’ve also mastered the podcast game. Shows like The Big Dig—which is arguably the best deep dive into Boston’s most famous infrastructure disaster—showed that they can compete with anyone in the world when it comes to long-form storytelling.
That’s the thing. They realized that "89.7" isn't just a spot on the FM dial anymore. It’s a brand. It’s a seal of quality. When you see that bold, yellow logo, you expect a certain level of factual accuracy and intellectual depth.
The Underappreciated Cultural Programming
We have to talk about The Culture Show.
In a world where local arts coverage is being slashed from every major newspaper, 89.7 decided to go the other way. They launched a daily show dedicated to the local arts scene. They interview local playwrights, muralists from Lynn, and chefs from Eastie. It’s a reminder that Boston isn't just a hub for biotech and finance; it’s a living, breathing cultural center.
If you aren't listening to the midday blocks, you're missing the stuff that actually makes living in Massachusetts interesting. It’s easy to get cynical about the T or the cost of rent. Hearing a local artist talk about their work on 89.7 makes the city feel a little more human.
How to Get the Most Out of the Station
If you’re new to the area or just getting into public radio, don't just leave it on in the background while you do dishes. You have to know when to tune in.
The morning drive is essential for staying informed, obviously. But the "hidden gems" happen in the late morning and early afternoon. That’s when the deep-dive interviews happen. That’s when they bring in the scientists from MIT and Harvard to explain things like CRISPR or the latest climate data in a way that doesn't make your brain melt.
Also, pay attention to the "Informing the Electorate" segments during election cycles. They do some of the best candidate debates in the region. They don't do the "he said, she said" style of journalism. They push for actual answers.
Misconceptions About Public Radio
A lot of people think public radio is just for old people in Birkenstocks.
That’s a tired trope.
The audience for 89.7 fm radio boston is actually getting younger and more diverse. They’ve made a conscious effort to include voices from the Dorchester, Roxbury, and Mattapan communities. They have reporters like Saraya Wintersmith and Paris Alston who bring perspectives that were frankly missing from the airwaves for a long time. It’s not your grandfather’s news station anymore. It’s sharper. It’s faster.
Actionable Steps for the Boston Listener
If you want to actually stay connected to the city, here is how you should integrate 89.7 into your life.
First, download the GBH News app. The live stream is reliable, and it’s better than trying to catch a signal in some of the deeper valleys of the suburbs.
Second, check out the Boston Public Radio podcast if you can't listen live from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. It is the definitive pulse of the city. If you want to know what people are talking about at the office water cooler (or on the Slack channel), it’s usually whatever Jim and Margery were arguing about that morning.
Third, look at their events calendar. They often host live tapings and community forums at the Boston Public Library’s central branch in Copley Square. You can literally walk in off the street and watch the news being made. It’s one of the coolest free things to do in the city.
Finally, consider the value of what you're hearing. Public radio survives on memberships. If you find yourself leaning on the station for your news, your weather, and your sanity during a snowstorm, it’s worth tossing a few bucks their way. It keeps the reporters on the beat and the jazz playing through the night.
89.7 fm radio boston remains a cornerstone of the New England media landscape because it refuses to be boring. It’s loud, it’s opinionated, and it’s deeply, unapologetically Boston. Whether you're listening for the latest on the MBTA's slow zones or just want to hear some world-class journalism, it’s the frequency that defines the city's modern identity.