RadioBDC.com staff at recent launch party.
In recent years when alternative stations sign off their terrestrial signal and keep a streaming/digital presence, it is usually with little fanfare.
In the case of WFNX/Boston signing off recently, a flurry of groundbreaking activity has taken place. Many of you recall that the WFNX core of Paul Driscoll, Henry Santoro, Julie Kramer and Adam 12 created an all new streaming alternative station as part of The Boston Globe’s Boston.com. A very inventive move that could be a new model for local “newspapers”. Hey NME, Rolling Stone and other music magazines have their own radio stations, why not a newspaper.
And then last week news came of former WFNX Program Director Kurt St. Thomas returning to Boston as Executive Producer of www.WFNX.com, owned by The Phoenix, WFNX’s previous owner (blog.thephoenix.com/BLOGS/phlog/archive/2012/08/17/legendary-program-director-kurt-st-thomas-returns-as-executive-producer-of-the-new-wfnx-com.aspx).
Alternative Contraband.com can see it now…..online radio wars. Boston has always been great for radio head games, now maybe it’s coming to the internet. All goofing aside, we sat down for an hour and checked out the brand new www.RadioBDC.com. We caught the end of Julie Kramer’s show and the beginning of Adam 12′s on Wednesday August 30th.
Going into the listening, we wondered if the station would be an extension of what WFNX was or an opportunity to re-imagine what local radio can be? How would they incorporate the incredible content and talent at Boston.com? This concept has all the possibilities of being something incredibly different, vital, compelling and hyperlocal.
And that may still be in the plan. What we heard was (we hope) version one of a several step process toward integrating other local content from Boston.com.
In Twitter terms (140 characters or less), @RadioDBC.com sounds like a more current based WFNX, while slightly stretching the library limits of its terrestrial predecessor.
Here’s a peek at our sampled hour:
Stream Opens with a Morning Parade ID
Oberhofer concert banner ad (Sapporo sponsored)
Mumford & Sons “I Will Wait”
Beastie Boys “She’s Crafty”
Sweeper “This is RadioBDC. Boston.com/radio
Fleet Foxes “White Winter Hymnal”
Cold Segue
Black Keys “Howlin’ For You”
Backsell-Julie Kramer “Adam 12 in soon…”
Imagine Dragons “It’s Time”
Cold Segue
Weezer “Holiday”
Promo Lunch At The Desk With Julie Kramer
Promo Adam 12 and the Friday Four O’clock Free For All
Promo Henry Santoro mornings 7-11…news, interviews, music mixes that can’t be beat
Spot Oberhofer concert
Sweepers RadioBDC.com
Young The Giant “Cough Syrup”
Backsell-Julie Kramer “mmmmm, cough syrup washed down with candy. Where’s the candy.”
Frontsell
Alabama Shakes “Hold On”
Sweeper RadioBDC.com
The Bravery ”Believe (Moon Version)”
Backsell-Julie Kramer Oberhofer concert live liner
A Silent Party “This Stage Is Your Life”
Cold Segue
Green Day “Boulevard Of Broken Dreams”
Tegan & Sara “Walking With A Ghost”
Sweeper RadioBDC.com
The Heavy “How You Like Me Now”
Passion Pit ”Take A Walk”
Ramones “Sheena Is A Punk Rocker”
On-Air Break-Adam 12 Frank Turner Tickets coming up. We’re going to play a game, stay tuned.
Amy Winehouse “Rehab”
Backsell-Adam 12 Joined by Francine from the office, playing the old school hip hop test using Yo MTVRaps baseball cards. Getting two contestants on the phone
Two Door Cinema Club “Sleep Alone”
That’s a great, forward sounding yet accessible hour of tunes with fun, loose personalities. That said, aside from a few concert venue references and a great ”pahty” from Julie Kramer when talking about the upcoming Oberhofer concert, we didn’t feel like we were in the middle of Boston. We envisioned quick bullet cross references to major local happenings and cross promotion to that content at Boston.com. Granted we only gave the station one hour and Henry Santoro is likely doing some of this in his morning show (sorry, couldn’t wake up that early on the West Coast), but we see this as the next evolution of radio as media, the hyperlocal approach. We can see every small town in America having its own hyperlocal programming, sales, events and community all through a smart phone app (and maybe via an lpfm or HD3 signal). Who needs cume when your only market is the little town or village you live in (the town I live in has 25,000 people and, while convenient to all Phoenix has to offer is still rather isolated unto itself geographically).
What are your thoughts and expectations on RadioBDC.com? Join the conversation here
Next Week’s ’60 Minutes With’ will feature San Francisco’s Live 105.
