I don’t spend much time listening to the radio anymore. What with WHFS having gone Latin and DC101 moving further and further towards an “All Nirvana, All the Time” format, I’ve had to turn to 94.7 The Arrow for anything approaching rock. Problem is, I’ve never much been a fan of classic rock, much less classic rock stations that promote themselves via TV ads starring a guy with a “radio in his finger.” Yeah, you know the one.

So I was shocked when over the weekend they played Screaming Trees and REM on the station. Either I was getting much older, much faster — since when was “Nearly Lost You” considered classic rock? — or 94.7 had changed its format. Thankfully, it was the latter. From an email DCist received last Friday, we learned that 94.7 was re-naming itself “The Globe,” doubling its play list to include more rock hits from the 90s and actively working to fight climate change. Huh? Yeah, we were confused too. From the email:

Starting today, WARW-FM will be renamed 94.7 The Globe, CBS Radio’s first environmentally-friendly “World Class Rock” station! 94.7 The Globe will operate using renewable energy to power its 50,000 watt signal. This move will contribute to lowering the threat of global warming through the purchase of energy resources generated by wind. Additionally, station vehicles will be replaced with hybrid models, and 94.7 The Globe will further its “green” focus by taking a number of steps on and off-air to consistently promote ways for listeners to live an eco-friendly lifestyle.

Wow. You have to give the honchos over at CBS Radio credit. We never expected that last week’s announcement by the Intergovernmental Climate Change Panel saying that global warming is all but a reality would provide such immediate marketing opportunities, especially in radio. But it has, and now we can all listen to Sublime’s “Caress Me Down” while helping ensure that polar bears aren’t helplessly stranded on chunks of glacier floating out into the ocean.

Listeners, you’ve had a weekend to ponder the change, so what do you think? DCRTV’s Dave Hughes is a fan, writing last week that the mix of more rock and environmental advocacy is “energizing and thought provoking.” The Post’s Marc Fisher, an expert on radio, has withheld judgement, though many of his commenters love the new format. Is the switch from the standard “Zeppelin Rules” classic rock to a more 90s friendly format a good one? Or is it just more watered down corporate radio?