This is another kick in the pants for rock radio, whatever is left of it.
Boston’s alternative rock station WFNX announced
yesterday it is being sold to Clear Channel, resulting in the termination of
most of the staff and DJ’s. The station will continue to remain on the air
while it completes the license transfer with the Federal Communication
Commission.
Rumor has it that the formatting of the station will
be changed to country or a Spanish-language talk format. This makes me want to
be sick.
FNX was the last strand of new and alternative rock
in the Boston area after WBCN “The Rock of Boston”, left FM radio in 2009. Now
all that is left is WBOS and WZLX, Boston’s classic rock station.
This is not surprising though, as the trend of rock
radio stations are slowly dying around the country. Rolling Stone magazine reported in its November 24th, 2011
issue that Clear Channel and its rival radio company Cumulus cut hundreds of
jobs combined to make way for more syndicated shows and personalities. Two
major rock stations in Chicago and New York switched formats last summer,
leaving those markets without a single major outlet for rock music.
With the way that music is being distributed and
marketed these days, radio isn’t even the place to find new acts anyway. The
influences of iTunes and subscription music services have diminished the power
of radio.
Regardless, rock music itself isn’t what it used to
be. Most of the top acts these days are names like Justin Bieber and Katey
Perry. The last influential rock and roll band probably hit the airwaves twenty
years ago. No wonder rock stations are being shut down around the country.
Whatever happens to FNX, this is a sad day for rock
radio in Boston. It is undeniable the
influence the station had, and it will surely be missed.
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