WFNX Boston Sold To Clear Channel

Radio Insight ^ | 5/16/12 | Lance Venta

[raccoonradio]

Clear Channel has agreed to purchase Alternative 101.7 WFNX Boston for an undisclosed price.

The station which had been co-owned with the Boston Phoenix newspaper has carried an Alternative Rock format since April 1983. It will now join a Clear Channel cluster of “Talk 1200” WKOX/1430 WXKS, Rhythmic CHR “Jam’n 94.5” WJMN, and CHR “Kiss 108” WXKS-FM. Owner Stephen Mindich released the following memo to the Phoenix regarding the sale:

"Dear Members of the PM/CG Family:

Because this is an emotional announcement to make, let me cut right to the chase.

This morning I met with the staff of WFNX to announce the pending sale of the station to Clear Channel Communications.

Over the years, WFNX has done spectacular things. Since 1983 the station has played an historic role in bringing new music to audiences in and around Boston. We introduced Nirvana and Pearl Jam to wider audiences in 1991.

[Sudetenland]

LOL!!! OH NOES! NOT EVIL CLEAR CHANNEL! NOT RUSH LIMBAUGH'S NETWORK!!!

I can see liberals heads exploding already.

[raccoonradio]

Howie Carr list ping.

Some thoughts:

--Some think it may go Spanish. Ironically enough Stephen Mindich is married to Judge Maria Lopez ("YOU SIT DOWN RIGHT NOW!!!") and for years people thought Mindich would flip it to Spanish and put her in charge of it.

--Dare we think, the new FM home of Talk 1200? Imagine Jeff Katz, Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Severin, (HOWIE?????), Hannity etc on 101.7...

--Or who knows. It will continue as it is for now but when FCC approves it.. we'll see. Sale price about $11 million. I was a WFNX news intern Sept 83-Jan 84 and helped Henry Santoro, Cindy Farias, and the late Margie Coombs. I helped a bit on election night (Ray Flynn vs. Mel King.)

Coverage map:

[massgopguy]

“We introduced Nirvana”. So, it was your fault.

[massgopguy]

BRING BACK REESE!

[warsaw44]

So WFNX would cease to exist??

I’ve been listening to them for years although in my most recent apartment I can not get them on the dial. Outside the apt I listen - love that station.

[raccoonradio]

Yeah I’m surprised they didn’t put Air America on it.

Boston’s Howie Carr nicknames the Boston Phoenix a “one hand rag”. You read it with one hand while the other...er...
(personal ads of all types if you know what I mean)

http://www.wfnx.com

They used to have other stations simulcasting it. One in Portland ME (92.1) now runs oldies. The one in Providence
(103.7) now simulcasts sports WEEI.

I was a news intern for them in late 83; everything from fetching sandwiches and tea for the operations manager to
helping out on election night (Ray Flynn defeats Mel
King). For college course credit. Some feel the WFNX
audience will go to WBOS 92.9 or WXRV 92.5 “The River”

[GOPsterinMA]

“—Dare we think, the new FM home of Talk 1200? Imagine Jeff Katz, Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Severin, (HOWIE?????), Hannity etc on 101.7...”

Now that would be AWESOME!!!

[raccoonradio]

Yes I would hope so but many “experts” think it could be Spanish. But it would make sense...CC needs an FM station to put it on. Why not 101.7? The very idea of El Rushbo or,
dare we think, HOWIE on what used to be (for now still is)
WFNX!

[ConservativeStatement]

And yet Kiss-108 maintains its popularity. Ugh.

[GOPsterinMA]

Well, hopefully the “experts” are wrong.

Howie has been very, very boldly talking about leaving for the past several months now...he must have something signed and ready to roll.

[skinkinthegrass]

“We introduced Nirvana”. So, it was your fault."HA HA!.. and "twisted sister", too.
(present listener of "the Carpenters / Box Tops)

[GQuagmire]

I would guess that they’re going to leave their studio in downtown Lynn when sale is complete

[raccoonradio]

I would have hopes of a “Talk 1200 on 101.7” but not sure it would happen. Expert Mark Schnyder of Boston Radio Watch
tweeted to me: “Let me put it this way -Clear Channel just didnt spend $11 mill on a city FM signal just so 101.7 could be Howie Carr’s new home “

Spanish? Adult contemporary?

btw a little while back a newspaper/site called the Weekly Dig put out a story saying they heard Entercom was buying WFNX so they could put “Mike 93.7” on 101.7, and flip
93.7 to WEEI sports. (The latter part DID happen.) I was suspicious about the story since a)nobody else had it and Ent. and Boston Phoenix were both denying it, and b) The Dig is a competitor of the Phoenix. Obviously they were tweaking the nose of their competitor!

[raccoonradio]

Supposedly the on air staff was let go immediately.

[raccoonradio]

Yes. Studios on the second floor of 25 Exchange St, across from Lynn Item. When I was there WLYN AM 1360 was also on that floor (separate ownership), running foreign language.
These days 1360 runs from studios in Chelsea or Quincy.
I stopped by WFNX a couple yrs back when a radio fan friend
of mine from Ohio was in town—no bumper stickers or anything, we just said hi and I said I’d been an intern there
years ago.

Tweet from Boston Radio Watch guy said he heard air staff
was let go immediately.

Before it was WFNX, it was WLYN-FM or “Y-102” and DJs
included Rich Anzalone. It was odd—for a brief time the
AM 1360 simulcast it, before it went to separate owners,
and you’d hear Mission of Burma’s “That’s When I Reach
For My Revolver” on AM radio.

[woodbutcher1963]

I can not get 1200AM to come in clear up here in southern NH. I miss listening to Severin since he left WTTK. I like Michael Graham but would like to have the option of listening to Jay again.

[ConservativeStatement]

I thought Mike FM was sufficient. That concept is in other cities, too. Maybe it isn’t for everyone to have AC/DC played after Shannon but that is the idea behind “We Play Everything.”

[GQuagmire]

What’s that indie channel in Lawrence? If FNX switches formats, i think that’s the only channel left that’s similiar around...

[ConservativeStatement]

BTW, not sure if this interests you and perhaps you have knowledge, but saw this a few weeks ago in a crappy free newspaper while at the airport...

http://dirtywaternews.com/index.php/current-issue/issue-63/boston-living/1459-the-memories-station