Many years ago, when legendary Top 40 WCFL Chicago went Easy Listening, the station’s Larry Lujack delivered a final rant (before that word was commonly used) that included his “highly coveted endorsement” for soon-to-be-displaced Top 40 listeners. Unfortunately, Lujack joked, his recommendation was going to another AM legend, KHJ Los Angeles. And since Chicagoland listeners wouldn’t be able to hear that station, “Superjock” suggested that they just try to enjoy the Beautiful Music format instead. (His recommended usage: “Get your clothes off and get in the tub!”)

These days, of course, the New York Alternative listeners about to be disenfranchised by the widely expected loss of WRXP (Rock 101.9) have every Rock station in the world to choose from. The question is whether they’re willing to do the (still considerable) work to stream those stations at home or in the car. Some New York industry people, like Capitol’s Howard Petruziello, say they “can’t go through another several years without new music on the New York airwaves.” He’s finally motivated to get Sirius XM Radio. But if you do want to check out what WRXP PD Leslie Fram is going to listen to now, you can. (More on that in a second.) And Petruziello’s first streaming recommendation is another Rock “Experience,” KEXP Seattle, which came up a lot in this discussion.

There are a couple of obvious, and not so obvious beneficiaries from WRXP’s departure. One perhaps surprising choice is likely to be Hot AC WPLJ, whose ratings have been on the upswing in recent months since throwing in more of the ’80s hits that made the station famous. There’s also the very appealing suburban Triple-A WXPK (The Peak) Westchester County, N.Y., whose signal, unfortunately, cuts off about 10 miles north of the author’s home. Then there’s Triple-A WFUV and its new indie-rock HD-3 channel, “The Alternate Side,” which just took over morning programming on noncomm FM WNYE.

Industry veteran Marc Ratner now works with Colligent, which measures fan engagement in various brands across the social networking landscape. The stations mentioned in social networking by WRXP fans are mostly other New York area stations—the top three are New Jersey heritage rocker WDHA Morristown, N.J., Active sister WRAT Monmouth/Ocean, N.J., and Classic Rock WAXQ (Q104.3).

But what if you’re willing to go beyond what’s readily available on AM/FM radio? We asked industryites for their suggestions, starting with the outgoing PD’s endorsement. And check out some of our programmers’ own stations as well. (All stations are linked from their first mention, so if you can’t click through to a station, just scroll up slightly.)

Leslie Fram, PD, WRXP: “I’ll stream great radio stations to hear new music like WWCD (CD101) Columbus, Ohio, the U.K.’s Xfm, Australia’s Triple-J or (former sister station) Triple-A KGSR Austin, Texas, just to name a few.

Dave Lombardi, EMI Music Special Operations: “I still think listening to the radio gives you a different experience than other options, so when I’m in the mood for radio, there are a few Internet streams I will turn to, including Sirius XM’s Alt Nation, Spectrum and XMU, as well as KEXP,KCMP (The Current) Minneapolis, CD101, KNRK Portland, Ore., WEQX Albany, N.Y., WFNX Boston, and KCRW Los Angeles. They all have different strengths, but what they do have in common is great music and air staffs that are passionate about it.”

Jerry Rubino, Producer/Content Editor, Last.fm Discover: “Online I listen to Xfm for good new music with a tasty library and the BBC. Of course, I’ll tap in to KROQ Los Angeles, KITS (Live 105) San Francisco, and WFNX.”

Mike Kaplan, PD KNDD (The End) Seattle: “Besides us, I’d say [sister station] KNRK, since they play like a hybrid Alternative/Triple-A and WRFF (Radio 104.5) Philadelphia.”

Brad Savage, PD Triple-A WCNR (The Corner) Charlottesville, Va.: “I am so excited about this question. I have two good recommendations from both sides of the spectrum. First, the new WXYG (The Goat) St. Cloud, Minn., an AM station doing a vintage Album Rock format. The playlist is incredible. More than 2,700 songs. It’s like listening to an AOR aircheck circa 1973. Sweden’s Bandit Rock is the best Hard Rock station I’ve heard in years. They don’t get all caught up in genres and what they don’t play, like we do in the U.S."

Larry Pareigis, Nine North Records, “I really like KROQ Los Angeles’ streaming HD-2 [classic Alternative] channel on the CBS Radio.com app a lot. Of all the HD channels I’ve ever heard, they put a lot of time and attention into the product – but then again, I’m not shocked considering the quality of that brand.”

Tim Herbster, PD, WIOQ (Q102) Philadelphia: "KYSR Los Angeles! Very cool to listen to the stream—they do a feature called 'Artist in Residence." (Herbster, it should be noted, is down the hall from WRFF and was posed this question as "besides WRFF...")

Scott Fleischer, Tunein.com, whose stream aggregation site is a natural first stop for somebody looking for a new station in any format. “The first station that pops into my mind as a substitute for WRXP would be East Village Radio. The New York internet-only station has a great vibe and is continuing to gain credibility with artists. Next, I would recommend Tom Leykis’ new project, New Normal Music and New Normal Rock. Programming on New Normal Rock includes the official radio show of this year’s Warped Tour and Eddie Trunk’s show (a connection to New York there with Eddie). I would also recommend [Triple-A] WRNR Annapolis, Md., KCSN Los Angeles [just about to unveil a new format under PD Sky Daniels], KROQ-HD-2, BBC 6 Music, KEXP, Radio Paradise, KCRW Music, [WBOS-HD-2] Radio You Boston 92.9.”

Brian Hatgelakas: “WBOS (Radio 92.9) Boston, [WGPR-HD-3] 94.3 The Bone Detroit, or WFNX. I’ll miss WRXP and WKQX (Q101) Chicago. I think radio should sound like Q101 is sounding now all the time with their jocks picking their musical favorites.”

Read our "Final Listen" to WRXP.

Read Ross On Radio's "Best & Worst" for July 14, 2011