Two Legendary Stations Play Radio Roulette…

Wednesday, July, 15, 2009 by Mel Phillips.

Together they total 114 years of broadcasting.  WBCN was launched in 1968 while WQXR was founded in 1936.  Both will disappear entirely — one by being sold, the other by a programming decision from high above.  The only commonality the stations share is the news of their demise — made on the same date…

As I outline in my Commentary, WBCN, the “Rock of Boston” was given life because of the success of Boston’s first Rocker, WRKO-FM, which was an automated top 40 station, the first of its kind on Boston’s FM band.  In mid-August, WBCN will disappear, replaced by CBS Radio’s Mix 98.5 and sports in a repositioning of formats and call letters.  The demise of WQXR is more complicated…

In order to help its struggling newspaper, the New York Times, classical music formatted WQXR is being sold for $45 million, in a two-part sale that will help the Times pay off its debt.  The station will continue to play classical music but at 105.9 on the FM dial instead of 96.3.  Under the terms of the deal, Spanish-language Univision Radio will pay $33.5 million for the 96.3 slot on the FM dial that the Times uses for WQXR.  The Times in turn will get the license for 105.9, now owned by Univision.  It will sell the license, transmitting equipment and the call letters WQXR to WNYC Radio for $11.5.  Got that?  The deal is expected to close in the second half of the year…

In a day that finds radio gasping for air for its very survival, the news that two giants have fallen will not bolster the spirits of those trying to keep the ancient medium alive…       

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1916] What’s your name?: In Seattle, Pacific Aero Products is incorporated by William Boeing. He will later name the company? Boeing!!!
2. 1952] Debuted on this date: Patti Page makes her TV debut in a summer replacement series for Perry Como…1968] The soap “One Life to Live” debuts…1996] MSNBC debuts. Originally a 50/50 partnership between NBC and Bill Gates, Gates sold 32% of his shares in 2005. NBC is now principal owner with 82%, Gates with 18%…
3. 1964] Vote for me: Conservative Barry Goldwater is nominated for President at the Republican National Convention.  Ronald Reagan gave the keynote address…
4. 1965] Smile, you’re on Candid Mariner: Mariner IV sends back the 1st closeup pictures of Mars but can’t get the red eye out as hard as they try…
5. 1968] Commack, home of the Amerinets: The New Jersey Americans move to Long Island and become the New York Nets. Then they move back to Jersey and they will soon move to Brooklyn. Have you been following along???
6. 1973] Lending an ear: John Paul Getty III (grandson of J.Paul), 16, is kidnapped. His parents receive a lock of hair and an ear in a box. Paul will be ransomed for $2 million with less hair and one ear…
7. 1973] Oh no? Oh yes: Nolan Ryan becomes the 1st pitcher since Allie Reynolds in 1951 to pitch and win 2 no-hitters in one year. Ryan is the best pitcher I’ve ever seen in my lifetime…
8. 1992] Taking care of T-C-B: Aretha Franklin sings the National Anthem as Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton is nominated for the presidency at the Democrats National Convention at Madison Square Garden.  Here’s Aretha at the Inauguration…
9. 1997] In cold blood: Designer Gianni Versace is shot to death by Andrew Philip Cunanan outside his home in Miami Beach. Cunanan was found dead 8 days later…
10. 2002] Turncoat gets his due: John Walker Lindh pleads guilty to 2 felonies: supplying services to Afghanistan’s former Taliban government and for carrying explosives during the commission of a felony. Lindh agrees to spend 10 years in prison on each charge…

Music Memories:

• 1974]  Number One on this date: “Rock Your Baby” - George McCrae…1986]  “Holding Back The Years” - Simply Red…

Commentary:

Another legendary station bites the dust with the announcement that WBCN, aka the “Rock of Boston” will be gone in August.  Mix 98.5 will be moved by CBS Radio to 104.1, BCN’s frequency and a new, all-sports station will carry the call letters WBZ-FM at Mix’s spot on the dial.  WBCN will be relegated to being an Internet station.  The history behind WBCN’s launch in March, 1968 was formed by the success of Boston’s first FM rocker — WRKO-FM, which I had the good fortune to program starting with its launch in the fall of 1966.  The automated “ARKO” format was so successful that it led to WNAC becoming WRKO (AM) on March 13, 1967.  The launch of WBCN followed, in great part to the success of WRKO-FM.  The demise of WBCN will mark a sad day for Boston radio listeners…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday“:  Beth Ostovsky (Stern) (37), Forest Whitaker (48), Kim Alexis (49), Barry Melrose (53), Terry (”Lost”) O’Quinn (57), Jesse Ventura (58), Arianna Huffington (59), Alicia Bridges (61), Linda Ronstadt (63), Millie Jackson (65) and Alex Karras (74)…

Timeline Countdown: 8 days until NFL training camps open and 54 days until Labor Day…     

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