The 8 Best San Francisco Radio Stations

From the Black Information Network to ‘80s hits and more, these are the top radio stations to tune in to in San Francisco.
Written by Melanie Johnson
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
Whether you’re getting your news fix from KQED on your morning commute or jamming out to 106.1’s hip hop and R&B on your way home, these are the best eight radio stations in
San Francisco.
Everyone has their go-to radio station—be it to get information or to provide a soundtrack for life. Whether you’re more of a news junkie or just want to belt out some power ballads, San Francisco’s myriad radio stations have something for you.
Car insurance
comparison shopper and broker app
Jerry
understands the importance of finding that favorite radio station in
California
. That’s why we’ve created this handy dandy guide to AM and FM stations in San Francisco. We’ll cover news and informational radio stations in the Bay Area, as well as the stations to rock out to in the car with the windows down. 
Stay tuned (see what we did there?) for the eight best radio stations in San Francisco! 
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The best news and talk radio stations in San Francisco

Radio can help you stay informed of what’s going on in your city. Whether you’re looking for traffic updates, local or national news, sports coverage, or something else, flip the dial to these stations in San Francisco. 

88.5 KQED: NPR News & Information

Call sign: KQED
Frequency: 88.5 FM
KQED
is an NPR-affiliate radio station in San Francisco. "Home of Forum and The California Report, [it] is one of the most-listened-to public radio stations in the nation with an award-winning news and public affairs program service.” Check out
Morning Edition
from 3 am to 9 am or the
Forum
from 9 am to 11 am.

BIN 910: Black Information Network

Call sign: KKSF
Frequency: 910 AM
The first and only 24/7 Black news service,
Black Information Network
is committed to telling stories from the Black perspective. The Bay Area’s affiliate station
BIN 910
provides news, as well as weather and sports coverage.

Bloomberg 960: Financial & Business News

Call sign: KNEW
Frequency: 960 AM
Another 24/7 broadcast,
Bloomberg Radio
is a global business radio station. In San Francisco, you can tune in to
960 AM
for in-depth coverage of the financial markets.

91.7 KALW Public Media: Local Public Radio

Call sign: KALW
Frequency: 91.7 FM
KALW Public Media
is another NPR-affiliate radio station to check out. Licensed to the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD), 91.7 FM delivers content from NPR, American Public Media, Public Radio International, and the BBC. Tune in from 5 am to 9 am for
Morning Edition
or enjoy the
Crosscurrents
Morning Report Monday through Thursday at 6:51 am and 8:51 am.
MORE: San Francisco to Yosemite road trip

The best music radio stations in San Francisco

Sometimes you need to disconnect from the news and connect to a good beat. For those moments when you want to relax and unwind, here are the best music radio stations in the Bay Area.

Star 101.3

Call sign: KIOI
Frequency: 101.3 FM
Star 101.3
is San Francisco’s radio station for music from the ‘90s, 2000s, and today. Tune in for hosts Marcus and Sandy from 6 am to 10 am, Nina Chantele from 10 am to 3 pm, Ryan Seacrest (we love him!) from 3 pm to 7 pm, and Hudson from 7 pm to 12 am Monday through Friday.

106.1 KMEL 

Call sign: KMEL
Frequency: 106.1 FM
San Francisco’s number one station for hiphop and R&B and one of the highest-rated stations in the Bay Area is
106.1 KMEL
. Tune in for the
Sana G Morning Show
from 6 am to 10 am and jam out to some great beats the rest of the day.  

98.1 The Breeze 

Call sign: KISQ
Frequency: 98.1 FM
Sometimes you just need to chill. For those moments, choose
The Breeze
. The Breeze broadcasts a “soft adult contemporary radio format”—we’re talkin’ relaxing hits like “When You Love a Woman,” and “Hey There, Delilah.” Aren’t you already feeling more relaxed? 

103.7 FM 80s+ 

Call sign: KOSF
Frequency: 103.7 FM
The 80s… plus way more!
103.7 FM
features the best of the ‘80s, as well as other hits sprinkled in throughout the day. Check out the
Morning Drive with Christie
until 10 am,
The Martha Quinn Show
from 10 am to 3 pm, and more! 
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How to save money on car insurance in San Francisco

There ya have it. You’ve hopefully found a couple (or several) radio stations to liven up your morning commute, your workday, and your drive home. Just make sure you’re protected on those trips to and from the office with a stellar car insurance policy! 
Jerry can help you find the policy you need. The No. 1-rated insurance app has helped users save an average of $887 per year on car insurance! 
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quoted me a price that saved me almost $4,000 a year in California! I definitely recommend Jerry.” —Patricia B.
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FAQs

That depends. If you’re looking for great local and national news coverage, check out
KALW
and
KQED
—two NPR-affiliate stations.
BIN 910
is another fantastic resource for news from the Black perspective.
Do fish swim in the sea? You bet. Several San Francisco radio stations throw it way back—from
98.1 The Breeze
to
103.7 80s+
to
Star 101.3
and more!
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