It's hard to believe No Boston Rock Radio station ( non-College stations) plays New Rock music. I remember Boston had a lot of good rock stations that played new Rock music ( WFNX,WCOZ,WAAF and WBCN ) .
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New Rock
- Thread starter shutupandlisten
- Start date
There might still be some new rock on the automated "WAAF" music feed on 104.1 WWBX HD2 on an HD radio, and there might occasionally be some new (lighter) rock on 92.5 WXRV "The River", but no real full service commercial new rock stations left.
That was then, this is now. It's a sign of the times.
WFNX got sold to Clear Channel to fund in my opinion, a unwise print media expansion. WBCN for Sports Radio and WAAF for Christian music. WCOZ was long gone before I started listening to radio.
But yeah, aside from Eli mentioning that the HD subchannels, the only place you're gonna find new rock is on the college stations.
WFNX got sold to Clear Channel to fund in my opinion, a unwise print media expansion. WBCN for Sports Radio and WAAF for Christian music. WCOZ was long gone before I started listening to radio.
But yeah, aside from Eli mentioning that the HD subchannels, the only place you're gonna find new rock is on the college stations.
The college stations often played new rock first anyway, even back in the heyday decades ago. If songs got a good response on college radio, the commercial stations picked them up, WFNX and WBCN often did right away.
That was back in the day when there was actually good rock music. You can still hear that music on WZLX and it still sounds great today.
At one time, rock stars would willingly go to radio stations to promote their music. Today, that would seem beneath them. Rock stars don't need radio to act as an intermediary anymore. They cut out the middle man and deal directly with their fans. Their fans PAY to be members of fan clubs, where they get personal goodies from their favorite artists. The fans also are part of social media groups where they interact with other fans and the artists themselves. Where would radio fit in that ecosystem?
There is!
I listened to the WAAF stream last week, and it sounds surprisingly good from a music and overall programming standpoint. I did hear some currents.
Too bad the analog FM version of the station its final decade+ on the air sounded nowhere nearly as good. The "play a tight rotation of only safe, proven songs" mentality + poor signal sent 107.3 FM's ratings straight down the drain. Tight, safe playlists work in many instances; WAAF @ 107.3 was not such an instance.
I don't recall off the top of my head when WAAF threw in the towel, but I'm pretty sure it was within the last 10 years or so. Rock has been in decline (at least as far as new music goes) for the better part of this century. I'm sure the lack of general interest in new music, combined with the less than ideal signal is what did them in. A little surprising considering what a rock town Boston/eastern Mass has always been, but times change.
When I travel towards Worcester I'll listen to the The Pike 100.1 or in the North Hampton area Laser 99.3/98.5.
You'll find some former 'AAF jocks at both
Maybe someday there will be rock back in Boston
You'll find some former 'AAF jocks at both
Maybe someday there will be rock back in Boston
E
ex radio pimp
Guest
I worked at FNX, granted years before it was sold. The sale wasn't about expansion of The Phoenix. No expansion happened. In fact it was downsized and then closed within a year.
And even the college stations aren't the rock strongholds they used to be. When I left Connecticut at the end of 2021, WESU Middletown (Wesleyan University) was playing more current R&B and hip-hop than current rock, and WWUH (University of Hartford) and WHUS (UConn) were also de-emphasizing rock.
Alright, pretty much everything in your post is false. To begin with, there's a ton of good rock music right now. Jack White, The Hives, The Black Keys, Wolf Alice, all great. Green Day, Papa Roach, Foo Fighters, Linkin Park and Evansescence are all heritage bands with strong new music out right now. The red hot Wet Leg is one of the best bands of the summer with a new album out this week. To name a few. All getting radio airplay, both commercial and noncom..
The aforementioned Wet Leg just did a Tiny Desk Concert for NPR, and recent station events for KROQ and KCSN ahead of their album release. I would be shocked if they don't do radio interviews during their forthcoming tour dates.
Do you just like to hear yourself talk, even if it means making stuff up?
Everything in that paragraph happens every day. Maybe you don't see it. But it happens.
In February of 2020 during WAAF's sign-off, jocks Mistress Carrie, Mike Hsu, and their PD (whose name escapes me) said that they had planned to "re-launch" WAAF--updating their music and ditching an evening talk show. However they never had the chance to do so. Sounds like the music on WAAF HD-2 is being updated. Glad someone is paying some attention to it.
I was surprised (but not that surprised) that the former Rock 92.9 WBOS didn't go in an active or new rock direction following WAAF's demise. Given that Beasley also had stations like WMMR/Philly, WRIF/Detroit, and WDHA/Dover, NJ in their portfolio, I would have thought some resources could have been brought in to revitalize and update 92.9 when they had the chance.
I was surprised (but not that surprised) that the former Rock 92.9 WBOS didn't go in an active or new rock direction following WAAF's demise. Given that Beasley also had stations like WMMR/Philly, WRIF/Detroit, and WDHA/Dover, NJ in their portfolio, I would have thought some resources could have been brought in to revitalize and update 92.9 when they had the chance.
They did. They brought in WRIF's morning show. But it didn't have any effect.
In most cases it's usually the morning show is what attracts the audience at active rock stations, not focusing on music.
Examples include WMMR, WMMS, and KISP.
That's because Boston isn't Detroit.
WBOS tried several ways to catch an audience with rock. Classic Rock, Hard Edged Classic Rock, Alternative. You might say each time it was poorly programmed. But if an audience were there, they would still have listened.
It is amazing that Boston, with all its colleges and universities, can only support a Classic Rock station and an Adult Alternative station. Markets like Denver, Seattle and Salt Lake City have multiple rock stations of all stripes.
It is amazing that Boston, with all its colleges and universities, can only support a Classic Rock station and an Adult Alternative station. Markets like Denver, Seattle and Salt Lake City have multiple rock stations of all stripes.
It's not Philadelphia either, but WKLB is using Philly's morning show.
I was responding to the comment that Beasley could have brought in resources from other successful rock stations, and they did.
It's because people at colleges and universities likely don't listen to commercial radio. I didn't either when I was their age.
Dave & Chuck were piped in for mornings long before Alt 92.9 became Rock 92.9. They were part of the prior format for a good 18 months, I want to say.
Alt 92.9 toward the end, after the burnt to a crisp 90s-centric playlist was greatly expanded to include currents & recurrents, actually sounded quite good. AQH share had improved from mid 1s to mid 2s. I was surprised when the alternative rock format was ditched and the pivot to a mostly 80s/ 90s rock mix was made (i.e. the launch of Rock 92.9).
The WRIF morning show was not the thing they needed though. I'm talking more along the lines of music research, promoting bands, etc. For example, if a new Jack White song is doing well at WMMR, then WBOS could have added it.
I'm guessing you mean KISW/Seattle. I'd also add 98 Rock WIYY/Baltimore to the list of personality-driven rock stations that are doing quite well.