R.I.P 97.7 WILD

Teddy K notes the passing of another local radio station: R.I.P 97.7 WILD: "For those living in the Boston area looking to hear some hip hop or RNB, Hot 97.7/WILD was one of the better options for the past 6 years. That option is no more; the station was sold and will now simulcast rock station WAAF.

Steadfast Correspondent hates the idea too:

I know everyone's upset that the Red Sox are out of the AL East race, but it's not as sad as what just happened to WILD-FM 97.7!!!

In case you haven't heard, the station ended its urban music format yesterday after its parent company, Radio One Inc., was bought out by Entercom Communications. Entercom also owns WAAF-FM 107.3, which, as you already know, is a hard rock station. WAAF says it's in Boston, but it's actually based in Worcester, supposedly making it a hard signal to receive in some parts of Eastern Massachusetts. As a result, Entercom decided to stop playing hip-hop on 97.7, instead, using the frequency to simulcast WAAF!!!!

There is only one word to describe this move: horrible.

In case you're looking for someone to blame for the total wasteland that is commercial radio today, you need look no further than our own Congresscritter, Ed Markey. Markey's Telecom Act of 1996 lifted ownership limitations on media companies, clearing the way for those juggernauts of bland Clear Channel and Infinity Radio, each of which now own hundreds of radio stations across the US, many of which have been converted to robo-programmed format stations with no live or local DJs. Oh, that bill was supposed to lower your phone and cable bill by introducing competition. Has yours gone down? No? That's funny, H2otown's hasn't gone down either...hmm...