WFNX
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| WFNX | |
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| Broadcast area | Greater Boston, Manchester, NH, Portsmouth, NH, and Portland, ME, |
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| Branding | 101.7/92.1 FNX |
| Slogan | True Alternative |
| Frequency | WFNX: 101.7 (MHz) (Boston) WFEX: 92.1 (MHz) (Manchester, NH) WPHX: 92.1 (MHz) (Portsmouth, NH; Portland, ME) |
| First air date | 1983 |
| Format | Modern rock |
| ERP | WFNX: 1,700 watts WFEX: 170 watts WPHX: 1,800 watts |
| HAAT | WFNX: 191 meters WFEX: 423 meters WPHX: 156 meters |
| Class | WFNX: A WFEX: A WPHX: A |
| Facility ID | WFNX: 40824 WFEX: 52399 WPHX: 74067 |
| Callsign meaning | Phoenix as in Boston Phoenix |
| Owner | Phoenix Media/Communications Group (MCC Broadcasting Company, Inc.) |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | FNXRadio.com |
WFNX is a New England commercial alternative rock radio station. With studios located in Lynn, Massachusetts, the station's primary audience is based in Boston, Massachusetts, where it broadcasts on 101.7 MHz. WFNX is also simulcast on two other New England radio stations, both broadcasting on 92.1 MHz: WFEX in Peterborough, New Hampshire (serving Manchester, NH) and WPHX-FM in Sanford, Maine (serving Portsmouth, NH and Portland, ME).
WFNX is owned by publisher Stephen M. Mindich's company, the Phoenix Media/Communications Group, and promoted as the broadcast cousin of the Boston Phoenix, Mindich's long-running alternative media newspaper.
Colloquially referred to as "FNX", the station began broadcasting on Monday, April 11, 1983. It was one of the first American commercial stations to play alternative rock. WFNX brands itself "the true alternative", an attempt to contrast itself from larger rock music rival WBCN. WFNX offers a more eclectic playlist, giving substantial airtime to less mainstream artists and even some local bands. WFNX also prides itself on being independent, unlike WBCN and WAAF which are owned by CBS Radio and Entercom respectively.
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[edit] History
101.7FM began as the FM outfit of the Lynn-based WLYN located at 25 Exchange Street in Lynn. (25 Exchange Street continues to be the studio for WFNX.)
WLYN-FM for years simulcast WLYN-AM during the day and had its own programming after the AM signed off at sunset.
By the late 1970s, WLYN-FM had begun broadcasting ethnic programming in the midday hours, with drive times still simulcast with the AM. In 1981, WLYN-FM began broadcasting a nighttime block of new wave music which eventually became a 24/7 alternative music format in 1982, known as "Y102". The midday ethnic programs were moved to the AM where they continue to air to the present day.
In the spring of 1983, WLYN-FM was sold to the Phoenix Media/Communications Group and became WFNX, retaining for the most part the format that had been launched by the previous owners.
[edit] Signal Upgrade and Ratings Growth
On March 30, 2006, WFNX doubled its power and receiving permission from the FCC to begin broadcasting from its new antenna located atop One Financial Center in downtown Boston. To promote its signal upgrade in downtown Boston, WFNX sold all of its commercial ad time to beverage maker Snapple from Memorial Day, May 29 through Independence Day, July 4, 2006 (both are national holidays in the United States). The unique deal allowed the station to eliminate traditional commercial breaks for that time.
The combination of WFNX's signal upgrade and the departure of Howard Stern from WBCN resulted in a significant ratings change in the core rock 18-34 demographic in Boston in 2006. Arbitron Ratings four ratings books in 2006 (Fa05, Wi06, Sp06, Su06) showed that WFNX's weekday 18-34 audience ratings had increased by 33% over 2005, while WBCN's 18-34 ratings decreased by 37% from 2005.
[edit] Trivia
Nirvana's 1993 Nevermind It's an Interview limited-edition promotional release on Geffen Records was produced and engineered at the station by Kurt St. Thomas and Troy Smith. The original interview sessions were recorded by St. Thomas the night of Nirvana's first appearance on NBC's Saturday Night Live in 1992.
[edit] Programming
Specialty shows include: First Contact/Sunday Night New Music Program, hosted by Steve Theo New England Product/Sunday Night Local Music Program, hosted by Dave Duncan One In Ten (Sunday Night Gay & Lesbian Talk Show), hosted by Keith Orr and Sue O'Connell The Jazz Brunch, hosted by Jeff Turton and Mike Adams on Sunday mornings.
On July 23rd 2007, former WDYL personalities Charlie, Fletcher, and Special Ed reunited on WFNX as the hosts of a new morning show, The Sandbox. Starting at midnight July 16, "The Sandbox" did a preview week during the overnight hours on WFNX. The Sandbox officially debuted during morning drive on July 23rd. [1]
The weekend air staff includes Jim Ryan, D-Tension, Clarissa, Jason Layne, Aaron Sullivan, Xero, Eric Stafford and Private Snowball.
[edit] Notable Former On-Air Personalities
- Kurt St. Thomas, former production, music and program director, evening host, 1987-1995, award winning independent filmaker and now at KROQ-FM, Los Angeles. Co-wrote Nirvana: The Chosen Rejects with ex-FNX jock Troy Smith.
- Troy Smith, a.k.a "Boy Troy", former Production, Music and Program Director, midday show host, 1989-1996, now at WQRC-FM, Cape Cod, MA
- Bruce McDonald, former Music Director, Assistant Program Director air staff 1983-1990; evening host, 1989-1990. Creator and host of "Moods For Moderns" which mutated into "First Contact." Many interviews included Elvis Costello, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lou Reed, David Bowie, The B-52s, Johnny Rotten, Kate Bush, XTC, The Pixies, Nine Inch Nails, Sugarcubes, Midnight Oil, The The and Depeche Mode. Later Program Director of WHTG, Asbury Park. Also Polydor Recordss' National Director of Promotion, Restless Records' Vice President of Promotion and Mute Records' Artist Development.
- Tom Irwin a.k.a. "Morning Guy Tai" for his initials T.A.I. (morning drivetime host 1985 - May 1997)
- Joanne Doody (Evenings 1983-1985, middays 1985-1994)
- Tom Lane (1983?-?)
- Nik Carter (Evenings 1988-1995, middays September - November 1995). Left to join WBCN-FM.
- Neal Robert (1987?-1995, 1998-2000. co-host of morning drivetime show Asleep At The Wheel May 1998 - 2000)
- Anngelle Wood (part-time then midday fill-in 1998-2002; Morning co-host and music and entertainment reporter, 2002-2005) - now at WZLX, Boston.
- Chris Kennedy (June 1989-April 2001, longtime host of overnight music show Annihi-late Night 1991-2000, producer of Morning Guy Tai morning show as well as brief interim host of morning show 1998-1999). Now working party time at WBOS-FM, Boston.
- Cruze (1998-2003, program director. Afternoon drivetime host from 1998-2001, 2003). Currently the Program Director at WHFS-FM, Washington.
- Angie C (1993-2002, evenings 1996-1998. Morning arts correspondent 1998 - May 2002)
- Brian Mulhern a.k.a. "The Pharmacist" (Co-host of morning drive time show Jaxon and the Pharmacist August 2000- August 2001. Morning host August 2001- June 2002)
- Paul Jaxon (Co-host of morning drive time show Jaxon and the Pharmacist August 2000 - August 2001)
- Juanita (former host of Boston Rocks - local music showcase)
- Steven Strick was on-air and music director during the 1980s, before returning to WBCN.
- Dick Mac wrote and voiced the Denver Dirt feature in the mid-1980s.
- Kat Corbett (now middays at KROQ in Los Angeles and host of Locals Only)
- Michael Swasey (2004-2007, Swasey in the Morning show host)
- Kevin Mays (Former music director and part time on-air talent) Currently the music director and afternoon drive talent at WBTZ-FM in Burlington, VT.
- Duane Bruce 1987-1992(Host of "Radio Free Boston","Moods for Moderns" and "X-Nite")Killed in a drive-by shooting in 2007.
- Bill Abbate (1984-1988 evenings & weekends); Stepped down to add golden voice to WBCN & Patriots Rock Radio Network: 1988–2003
(Tokyo Bill doesn't get to be last in many lists with a name like that); Most recently part time at WZLX
[edit] External links
- WFNX official web site
- WFNX MySpace fan site
- Query the FCC's FM station database for WFNX
- Radio Locator information on WFNX
- Query Arbitron's FM station database for WFNX
- Query the FCC's FM station database for WFEX
- Radio Locator information on WFEX
- Query Arbitron's FM station database for WFEX
- Query the FCC's FM station database for WPHX
- Radio Locator information on WPHX
- Query Arbitron's FM station database for WPHX
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