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“Despite its celebrated history, its cutting edge programming , its tradition of breaking new music, its ardent fans among listeners and advertisers, for some time it has been difficult to sustain the station—especially since the start of the Great Recession.”
——Phoenix Media's Stephen Mindich

ALL APOLOGIES: WFNX SOLD TO CLEAR CHANNEL

The Iconic, Beloved PoMo Station Becomes the Latest Acquisition of the Corporate Colossus
Boston’s WFNX—one of the most groundbreaking radio stations in the country— has been sold to Clear Channel.
This is a very big deal in the alt-rock community and beyond. FNX was the very first station to play Arcade Fire and Mumford & Sons, among other core bands of the Modern Rock format. The only radio show Nirvana ever played was for them. Despite a week signal, the station’s impact on sales in the market has long been and remains significant.

The news came by way of a memo from owner Phoenix Media/Communications Group published by The Boston Phoenix, which is owned by the company.

Here’s the complete text of the memo, from Phoenix Media Chairman/CEO Stephen M. Mindich:

"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. Together with the Boston Phoenix, we staged the notorious Green Day concert at the Hatch Shell in 1994. Three years later, FNX and the Phoenix organized a group reading and broadcast of Allen Ginsberg’s controversial poem ‘Howl,’ featuring talents as varied as rocker Peter Wolf and Poet Lauriat Robert Pinsky, along with civil liberties attorney Harvey Silverglate and me. We’ve formed creative partnerships with local museums and many other important not-for-profit organizations such as the AIDS Action Committee. In addition, for years we broadcast One in Ten, the only program on a commercial radio station in the nation dedicated to the issues and lifestyles of the GLBT community. And throughout it all, FNX has continued to break new music, most recently the work of Foster the People, Fun., and Gotye—to name just three.

“Here comes the catch...

“Despite its celebrated history, its cutting edge programming , its tradition of breaking new music, its ardent fans among listeners and advertisers, for some time it has been difficult to sustain the station—especially since the start of the Great Recession.

“And that is why the station is being sold.

“The mechanics of the situation are this:

“WFNX will the file the paperwork necessary to trigger the license transfer with the Federal Communication Commission later today.

“WFNX will remain on the air during the time it takes to complete the FCC process.

“Events and concerts—such as the Best Music Poll (June 13th) and the Seaport Six (June 14th)—will take place as scheduled.

“The best place to get news about the last round of FNX happenings will be to stay tuned to the station itself.

“In closing, let me salute the scores of immensely talented and dedicated staff who sold the ads, promoted the events, programmed and played the music, and did so many other things that made WFNX a national force in modern rock and -- most important of all -- a force, an outlet, and a sponsor for the music that defined Boston for nearly 30 years. It was a great run and I will miss the station."

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