WFNX got Snapple to sponsor the concert - and they gave out thousands of bottles of juice. Glass bottles. As one reporter concluded: "Small mobs of punk rock fans roaming Boston's Back Bay looking for action."
H/t Chris Devers.
Who knew that Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeahs Yeahs was from Sharon, Massachusetts (SPOILER ALERT: I did)? And who knew that Zinner traveled to South Africa (!!!), joined a band called Africa Express (!!!!), and has left the South Shore in his dust. Talk about a glow up.
So all that talk of WFNX becoming a right-wing haven on the FM dial turned out to be just a ruse for Clear Channel's real intentions for the now former alt-rocker. Radio Insight reports Clear Channel on Monday will launch WHBA - the Harbor 101.7 - playing pretty much the same "variety hits" format as the old Mike 93.7. Because the Boston dial can never have too many places to hear "Don't Stop Believin'." Also of note: The format requires no live local DJs.
Promptly at 7 p.m., with "Let's Go to Bed" by the Cure as the last ever song (was also the station's first ever song).
Kay Hanley tweeted:
Goodbye, WFNX. Thank you for teaching me about good music and changing my life.
The happiness + pride I felt when WFNX played Cleo's music still indescribable. You played a HUGE role in me & Greg even starting a band.
J.P. Dowd tweets:
TJ Connolly reports WFNX goes off the air for good at 7 p.m. on Friday, to be replaced by, well, something that isn't WFNX. Boston Radio Watch reports Neal Robert will handle the last show, 2-7 p.m.
Earlier:
WFNX to become right-wing wankfest?
Is this town big enough for two online-only WFNXes?
UPDATE: No right-wing wankfest - station will a Mike 93.7 successor.
The Phoenix reports the station it's selling to Clear Channel might be about to become Boston's new home of Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and Jimmy Severino, at least, if you follow where talk1017.com leads to.
MuckRock files a Freedom of Information request and gets copies of 19 complaints filed with the FCC over Clear Channel's impending purchase of the local alt-rock station.
Via Occupy WFNX.
The day after the Globe announced it was hiring key WFNX staffers to start an online alt-rock station, the Phoenix announced, hey, waitaminnit, it's starting its own WFNX online alt-rock station:
The Globe announced today it's hired former WFNX staffers Henry Santoro, Julie Kramer and Adam 12 and former program director Paul Driscoll to build an alt-music streaming service that will be available both through the Web and mobile apps.
A launch date and program details will be announced later this summer.
The Boston Business Journal reports the Phoenix has sold WFNX to Clear Channel and that pretty much everybody but news anchor Ted Baxter Program Director Paul Driscoll has been let go. The station could go to Spanish or country and western.
Phoenix Editor Carly Carioli has a short reply to the Dig item - which we, being good little media sponges, sucked right in - about how Entercom might be thinking of buying and shutting down WFNX to move WEEI to FM:
For the record: it's total bullshit.
No doubt Jeff Lawrence is formulating a response at this very moment.
The Weekly Dig, which, granted, isn't the most disinterested observer in such things, reports (third item) the hot rumor in local radio circles is that Entercom wants to throw some money at the Phoenix to buy 'FNX and replace it with that milquetoast Mike format from 93.7 so it can move faltering WEEI onto FM and try to smack the Sports Hub around.
People who really want the Sandbox back on WFNX stage a protest outside 'FNX/Phoenix offices, 126 Brookline Ave, on Thursday. The protest is listed as starting at 9:30 a.m., but organizers are asking folks to be there as early as 8 a.m.
They may be able to block our emails but they can't block the street.
Legendary Boston DJ Oedipus broadcasts his annual Christmas Eve show on WFNX for the first time.
Check out Boston Radio Watch for more info on the history of his Christmas Eve show.
WFNX media sib Phoenix breaks the news:Former 'BCN program director Oedipus will do his annual Christmas marathon on WFNX.
Or as the Phoenix put it: "Hell freezes over." As Boston Radio Watch notes, 'FNX/Phoenix daddy Steve Mindich once had this to say about Oedipus: "He acted in an unfairly competitive, disingenuous, and often slimy way."
'FNX listeners narrowly pick his Rage Against the Machine choice over some other guy's choice. Selected comment:
Yoon looks like a badass. I feel if I don't vote for him he'll come to my house and punch me in face, steal my wallet, and drink milk straight from the carton.
Long running Sunday show cancelled for financial reasons, the Herald reports.
Seems 'FNX cancelled some goth ball but never bothered to notify the people who'd won tickets to it:
... Can you imagine showing up at Hurricane O'Reilly's dressed up like your inner goth fag? Nothing like getting your latex-wearing ass kicked by a bunch of drunken jocks or frat boys on the streets outside the Banknorth Garden. It's not that I could give a crap whether or not I go to your stupid goth ball. Just get your heads out of your collective ass, please. ...
Ken Jennings, yes, that Ken Jennings, gives his side of whatever it is that caused veteran WFNX news director Henry Santoro to stomp off the air yesterday. Basically, Jennings doesn't buy the story of Santoro quitting under an onslaught of complaints from outraged Jennings fans over a taped interview aired on the wrong day:
... I really don't understand a beloved local newsman quitting over some angry phone calls, even if there were any. It's not like he ran forged National Guard papers about the President. He mis-announced a little book signing. Who the hell cares? ...
You can't make stuff like this up.
Or can you? Santoro was back on the air this morning, at least, based on this Sandbox clip (toward the end).
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