The Infinite Dial

It's interesting that 2008 is beginning in much the same way that 2004 did, with the launch of gold-based, adult-leaning Modern Rockers. This time four years ago, you'll remember, existing Alternative stations were rushing to cover their bases, lest somebody come into the market and siphon their upper-demos, as KBZT San Diego had done to heritage XETRA-FM (91X) at the time.

Few markets, as it turned out, had the Alternative heritage or shares that justified the move. Most of those Pixies songs that PDs were so excited about playing again came back at the bottom of the music test -- a lot of today's Alternative listeners had just never heard them. And many of the stations in question either crept back to Mainstream Alternative or somehow evolved.

But 2007 wasn't a bad year for some of the holdouts, such as KNRK (94/7 FM) Portland, Ore., or for new launches like WRFF (Radio 104.5) Philadelphia. Not every market is going to have the same conditions as Philly (no current-based Hot AC or Modern AC, no other Alternative, and a history of female-friendly Alternative in the market), but by year's end, the building boom was on again -- particularly within Clear Channel. But it has now jumped the border as well.

In Canada, CHUMRadio switched to a similar format in November on its CKLC (98.9 The Drive) Kingston, Ontario, billed as "essential alternative." And Newcap's CFUL (Fuel 90.3) Calgary, which launched with Alternative last year has evolved to "Classic Alternative," emphasizing the late '70s through the late '90s, under PD Murray Brookshaw, known to most American industryites as the former PD of CIMX (89X) Detroit.

Canada is going to be an interesting market for gold-based Alternative. Only Toronto had a dedicated Modern Rocker in CFNY. But Modern Rock was always a bigger part of early '80s AOR radio and even Top 40. (Acts like Split Enz and XTC were much bigger radio presences at both formats than they were here.) And Canada has always been good at furnishing homegrown rock for the 35-40% Cancon that most stations have to deal with (suffice it to say I've heard a lot of Tragically Hip so far).

Here's Fuel around 1 p.m. on Sunday (30):

Red Hot Chili Peppers,"The Zephyr Song"
Pearl Jam, "Black"
Tragically Hip, "Blow At High Dough" (Canadian)
Sum 41, "Still Waiting" (Canadian)
David Bowie, "Let's Dance"
Matthew Good Band, "Everything Is Automatic" (Canadian)
Gin Blossoms, "Hey Jealousy"
Alien Ant Farm, "Smooth Criminal"
Cowboy Junkies, "Sweet Jane" (Canadian)
Live, "All Over You"
Theory of a Deadman, "Hello, Lonely (Walk Away From This)" (Canadian)
Lit, "My Own Worst Enemy"
Clash, "Train In Vain (Stand By Me)"
Barenaked Ladies, "The Old Apartment" (Canadian)

We're going to kick off 2008 with as many "First Listens" of new stations as we can. Check back here daily for more.