Ridge Radio

Ridge Radio "The Ridge" is classic tunes from the 70s, 80s, and more, from Southwest Wisconsin's Military Ridge I helped put WIXL-LP in Madison on the air in 2007. Enjoy!

So what's the story behind "The Ridge?"

Hi, Tom Weeden here, a guy who's always been fascinated with the technical and production aspects of radio and television. I was that kid who would listen to music and voices originating from studios hundreds of miles away and coming out of a little hand-held transistor AM radio in his bedroom. I'm a Wisconsin native, originally from Beloit, graduated from

high school in Brodhead, then spent 4 years earning a degree in Radio-Television Broadcasting at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in the late 70s. For most of my life I've lived and worked in broadcasting in Wisconsin, from UW-P's campus radio station WSUP, to WEKZ in Monroe, WDBQ in Dubuque IA, WSWW in Platteville, KIXL in Austin TX, and WNWC in Madison. On the television side I worked briefly at WTVO in Rockford IL, and most recently, an almost 34-year stint at WMTV/NBC15 in Madison where for most of that time I served as Chief Engineer, making sure that channel 15 made it to your TV set. Early on in my career I found an awesome girl from Fennimore who had also attended UW-P. Lesa and I got married, had two kids, and she still patiently puts up with my broadcasting fascination. And she knows how to work the system too...once while I was hosting the Trading Post on WSWW, she called in from a garage sale and tried to sell my golf clubs. I retired from WMTV in April, 2020. Wanting to get back to my radio roots, I began working on an online station that I thought could meet a need for people around my age. OK, I'll say the word: Boomers. People who came of age anywhere between the late 1960s and the mid-1980s. People who associate the music of that era with their grade school, high school, and college memories. People who got busy with life after that time and don't really relate to music of the 90s and later. People who are tired of 5-minute-long commercial breaks on radio stations. People who want something reasonable to listen to for long periods at work or while driving or doing chores at home. That's what I wanted to listen to. So I created The Ridge. Musically, The Ridge features recognizable artists and songs mainly from the 1970s and early to mid-1980s, with a few late 60s thrown in, plus some newer songs that have the same feel as the good stuff from the 70s and 80s. It has an easier sound than classic rock stations, but not sleepy. Think of Chicago, Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, Toto, The Eagles, Dire Straits, Billy Joel, The Carpenters, America, Phil Collins, you get the idea. "The Ridge" gets its name from both the terrain in Wisconsin's Driftless Area and from the original Military Ridge Road built by the US Army in 1835 connecting Fort Crawford in Prairie du Chien to Fort Howard in Green Bay. Ridge Radio is based in Dodgeville, but its focus will be all over the southwest corner of the great State of Wisconsin. The logo for The Ridge is inspired by the memorable yellow-and-black Wisconsin license plate from the late 70s/early 80s, coinciding with the era of the music. It was designed by graphic artist Tom Morrison whose art deco designs you may have seen around. https://morrison-art.com/

The Ridge isn't an FM or AM radio station (at least not yet), but you can get it online, on your smartphone, and on your Alexa-enabled smart speaker. On your computer, just go to http://RidgeRadio.us and click on the LISTEN NOW button. On your phone you can also go to the web site, or even better, download the Live365 App and search for "The Ridge." It sounds great in your vehicle when you pair your phone with your radio via Bluetooth. Alexa-based smart speaker users can listen in just 2 easy steps. You only need to do the first step once to set it up.

> “Alexa, enable Live 365 skill.” (“three sixty-five.”)
> “Alexa, play The Ridge from Live 365.” (I’m told the word FROM is important.)

[Map: 7:45 AM radar]  Today: Cloudy, morning showers likely, then a slight chance of late afternoon showers, high 59.Ton...
10/15/2025

[Map: 7:45 AM radar]


Today: Cloudy, morning showers likely, then a slight chance of late afternoon showers, high 59.
Tonight: Cloudy, slight chance of early evening showers, low 50.
Thursday: Partly sunny and warmer, 20% chance of morning showers, high 69.
Friday: Partly sunny, high 74.

Your station for the best music of the 70s and 80s with limited commercial interruption is The Ridge!
Listen here: https://live365.com/station/The-Ridge-a91300

  - Some on-and-off showers beginning tonight, but look at Friday's high temp!Today: Partly sunny, high 64.Tonight: Clou...
10/14/2025

- Some on-and-off showers beginning tonight, but look at Friday's high temp!

Today: Partly sunny, high 64.
Tonight: Cloudy with showers likely after midnight, low 49.
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, 40% chance of morning showers, high 58.
Thursday: Partly sunny and warmer, 20% chance of morning showers, high 69.
Friday: Partly sunny, high 76.

Here's your listen link for The Ridge, playing lots of great 70s and 80s hits: https://live365.com/station/The-Ridge-a91300

[Map: 7:28 AM radar]  Today: Showers ending this morning, gradually becoming mostly sunny, high 72.Tonight: Mostly clear...
10/10/2025

[Map: 7:28 AM radar]


Today: Showers ending this morning, gradually becoming mostly sunny, high 72.
Tonight: Mostly clear, low 40.
Saturday: Sunny, high 66.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, high 70.

Your home for cool tunes of the 70s and 80s with limited commercial interruption is The Ridge. Click on the listen link below to enjoy:
https://player.live365.com/a91300?l

  Today: Sunny, high 66.Tonight: Partly cloudy, a 30% chance of showers, a slight chance of a thunderstorm overnight, lo...
10/09/2025


Today: Sunny, high 66.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, a 30% chance of showers, a slight chance of a thunderstorm overnight, low 48.
Friday: Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of an early morning thunderstorm, then gradually becoming sunny, high 72.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, high 65.

Check out The Ridge for a smooth mix of 70s and 80s hits with limited commercial interruption! Scan the QR code with your phone or click on this listen link: https://player.live365.com/a91300?l

1974 is our featured music year on today's Lunch Hour Flashback at noon on The Ridge! Keep this listen link handy (or us...
10/08/2025

1974 is our featured music year on today's Lunch Hour Flashback at noon on The Ridge! Keep this listen link handy (or use it now): https://player.live365.com/a91300?l

- We'll be edging back to highs in the 70s early next week.

Today: Sunny, high 62.
Tonight: Clear and cool, low 38.
Thursday: Sunny, high 66.
Friday: Partly sunny, high 68.

  - A Frost Advisory has been issued for Richland & Sauk Counties from 3-9 AM Wednesday.Today: Sunny, high 68.Tonight: C...
10/07/2025

- A Frost Advisory has been issued for Richland & Sauk Counties from 3-9 AM Wednesday.

Today: Sunny, high 68.
Tonight: Clear and cool, low 36.
Wednesday: Areas of morning frost (mainly north of Highway 151), otherwise sunny, high 62.
Thursday: Sunny, high 65.
Highs will be back to the low to mid 70s this weekend.

Here's your link to listen to The Ridge, with plenty of great 70s and 80s hits:

"The Ridge" is classic tunes from the 70s, 80s, and more! Serving southwest Wisconsin from the Military Ridge in Dodgeville, WI. http://ridgeradio.us

[Map: 7:51 AM radar]  Today: Cloudy and cool, occasional showers likely, high 65.Tonight: Mostly cloudy and cool, 50% ch...
10/06/2025

[Map: 7:51 AM radar]


Today: Cloudy and cool, occasional showers likely, high 65.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy and cool, 50% chance of showers and a possible thunderstorm, low 46.
Tuesday: Sunny, high 68.
Wednesday: Sunny, high 65.

Click below to listen to The Ridge, for plenty of good 70s and 80s tunes, and no 5-minute-long commercial breaks.
https://player.live365.com/a91300?l

  - Daytime highs will still be about 20 degrees above average through the weekend, then cooler with rain chances on Mon...
10/03/2025

- Daytime highs will still be about 20 degrees above average through the weekend, then cooler with rain chances on Monday.

Today: Sunny and warm, high 87.
Tonight: Clear, low 62.
Saturday: Sunny and warm, high 86.
Sunday: Sunny, breezy and warm, high 84.
Monday: Mostly cloudy and cooler, a good chance of showers, high 68.

Here's the link to listen to The Ridge, for a mix of above-average 70s and 80s tunes! https://live365.com/station/The-Ridge-a91300

  - A few more days of high temps in the 80s...Today: Sunny, high 82.Tonight: Mostly clear, low 61.Friday: Sunny and war...
10/02/2025

- A few more days of high temps in the 80s...
Today: Sunny, high 82.
Tonight: Mostly clear, low 61.
Friday: Sunny and warmer, high 87.
Saturday: Sunny and continued warm, high 85.
Amy says the next chance for rain is on Monday.

Howzabout some cool tunes from the 70s and 80s? We have 'em on The Ridge. Click below to enjoy.

"The Ridge" is classic tunes from the 70s, 80s, and more! Serving southwest Wisconsin from the Military Ridge in Dodgeville, WI. http://ridgeradio.us

  - Amy says mild and dry conditions continue.Today: Partly sunny, high 80.Tonight: Mostly cloudy in the evening, becomi...
10/01/2025

- Amy says mild and dry conditions continue.

Today: Partly sunny, high 80.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy in the evening, becoming partly cloudy overnight, low 55.
Thursday: Sunny and continued warm, high 85.
Friday: Sunny and very warm, high 88.
(Madison's record high for October 3rd is 85. Dubuque's record high is 90.)
Next chance for rain is early next week.

We're keeping the music of the 70s and 80s alive here on The Ridge! Click the link below to listen, or tell your Alexa smart speaker to play Ridge Radio Wisconsin.*
https://player.live365.com/a91300?l

*First, do the one-time setup command: "Alexa, enable Ridge Radio Wisconsin skill."

1977 is our featured year on today's Lunch Hour Flashback. Join us at noon on The Ridge! https://player.live365.com/a913...
09/30/2025

1977 is our featured year on today's Lunch Hour Flashback. Join us at noon on The Ridge! https://player.live365.com/a91300?l


Today: Partly sunny and warm, high 82.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, low 56.
Wednesday: Partly to mostly sunny, high 78.
Thursday: Sunny and warm, high 84.

  - Amy says our warm and dry stretch will continue this week.Today: Sunny and warm, high 85.Tonight: Partly cloudy, low...
09/29/2025

- Amy says our warm and dry stretch will continue this week.
Today: Sunny and warm, high 85.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, low 58.
Tuesday: Patchy morning fog, partly sunny and warm, high 82.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, high 77.

Our stretch of great 70s and 80s tunes continues on The Ridge! Listen at the link below:

"The Ridge" is classic tunes from the 70s, 80s, and more! Serving southwest Wisconsin from the Military Ridge in Dodgeville, WI. http://ridgeradio.us

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Dodgeville, WI

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