As part of KEXP’s National Radio Week coverage, on the KEXP Blog we will be spotlighting some of the stories and personal testimonials given by a variety of radio luminaries in interviews done with KEXP DJs John Richards, Kevin Cole, and Morning Show producer Owen Murphy. These interviews articulately explain the enduring legacy of early independent radio stations, as well as the importance of radio to shape and create a community through shared love of music. In the words of WFNX DJ Kurt St. Thomas, “if you pay enough attention, radio will probably change your life.”
You might recognize his name from the influential MTV show 120 Minutes, but before that, Matt Pinfield ruled the airwaves on WHTG-FM 106.3 in New Jersey. Originally an easy listening format, the station made the alt-rock switch in 1984, with Pinfield taking over as Program Director by the early ’90s. WHTG went on to score some of its highest ratings, landing “Favorite Radio Station” in a Rolling Stone annual readers’ poll. Sadly, the station was sold in 2000, and currently operates as Thunder 106, a country music station. We asked Pinfield to craft us a playlist reflective of the station in its prime, and here’s a sampling of his selections below:
KEXP is celebrating National Radio Day all week long both online and on the air; click here to see all our coverage on the KEXP Blog.
