2009
So I noticed something was up when I tried to listen to G Rock online and I heard absolute crap. After a few readers emailed/commented, I knew that it was true. It was over. WHTG 106.3 G Rock has changed formats to a Top 40 Station. We will no longer post anymore playlists from WHTG. RIP G Rock. You sponsored a lot of awesome shows that we’ve gone to and played excellent alternative rock that you can’t hear really hear anymore. This is why commercial radio sucks. You can’t hear any good alternative rock music anymore. Few stations take chances. Though it won’t help you fully get over the loss of WHTG, I’d suggest checking out www.1019rxp.com (WRXP in NY), 1.FM on Shoutcast Radio, www.indie1031.com (Indie 103.1 in Cali) and www.kroq.com (KROQ LA). I’d also say check out this site and its comments that talks about Brian and Jen being fired before Matt Murray and Erin Vogt took over the morning show(It seems like WHTG has had bad management for quite a while). I also was contacted by Gary over at The Penguin Rocks and they play a lot of cool indie music online. For more info on the history of G Rock and confirmation on the format change, go to its wiki here.
Update 2:20pm 11/20/09Here’s a petition that I’ve been emailed set up to save G Rock. http://www.petitiononline.com/grock/petition.html.
Update 2:00pm 11/20/09I received a reply back from Matt Murray on Myspace.
“hey thanks for hitting me up and its nice to see on your site the support the station was getting. I was called in off vacation to get fired. I was offerd no posistion at the new station so I am looking for work. Do I think press comm made a mistake? absolutly yes but its there station to do what they want with. Hopefully I can try to find something local.
As for those listners from my time doing “Murray Til Midnight” to the “Morning G” I had a great time doing radio for everybody. I feel we had built a station like no other. but unfortunatly the sales staff there didnt feel they could sell it to advertisers, so the change happend.”
Update 12:00pm 11/20/09:Former 106.3 FM DJ Sean Carolan is setting up a G Rock substitute by Saturday on Altrok Radio. You can tune in online at http://altrokradio.com. He intends on keeping the vibe of the old station going by playing great new music. If you have any suggestions, you can hit him up at sean@altrok.com
Update 2:00am 11/20/09:Hey guys, so I contacted Matt Knight on Myspace and he was kind enough to write back to me tonight. He’s post a blog about it on his page but I think that his Myspace is private so you’ll have to ask to add him or find it elsewhere. Here’s what he had to say below:
“Without getting into any specific details, I was called into a meeting at 10am today in which they told me at 12 noon they were flipping G Rock into a Mainstream top 40 station. Take your disappointment, multiply it by 1000, and that’s not even
close to how I feel right now.
I will remain with the new station in a capacity on the air to be determined soon.
That’s pretty much all I know at this point.”
In a second message, Matt said:
“I did get to read the comments posted on your story, and needless to say, it absolutely breaks my heart to see how many people are disappointed. I’ve been up since 4:30am and I’m exhausted but I can’t sleep. It’s gutwrenching.
All I can say is that I found out about this 2 hours before it happened. I was even on the air this morning for the Morning G while Murray was on vacation with all expectations to be continuing filling the remainder of the week.”
