The Day the Music Died, a Second Time…

by Dan Lentz

Lacrosse practice had just let out. It was about 5:30 PM. I looked at my phone; I had a text message from teammate Austin Galloway: “Oh no you’re right, what has happened?” Dismay was about to ensue for many. It was an event that had happened before about three years ago. 92.3 K-Rock, beloved by many, had once again changed its format; this time to Top 40…

On March 11, 2009 at precisely 5:00 PM, K-Rock made yet another switch in its tumultuous identity crisis that begin when radio personality Howard Stern left the station for Satellite Radio. When Stern, the station’s (maybe even the radio’s) best talk show host, left about three years ago, 92.3 switched to talk radio. Interesting strategy. When your best talk show host leaves why not go all talk. Stern would be replaced with David Lee Roth, but Reality does not work on the radio and needless to say another change was needed.

Many rejoiced when a little over a year ago 92.3 switched back to K-Rock and started playing rock again and added talk show hosts Opie and Anthony to the station. But that’s the end to this happy story. In search of “a more youthful audience” 92.3 has now switched to mainstream artists. Instead of K-Rock, the station is now known as “Now.” Not surprisingly Opie and Anthony are not a part of “Now” nor is about half the station’s staff, which went over to 101.9 after the switch.

My only question is, what is CBS (who owns the station) thinking? Just as replacing Stern with Roth was a wonderful idea, so is trying to start up a top 40 station with stations like 100.3 already entrenched in that genre

I have already switched the pre-sets in my car. I refuse to have 92.3 play in any car I am in. Brad Taylor has switched his presets to 92.3 “Now”, a clear sign that 92.3 is now devoid of any and all coherent music. Years ago I was dismayed and saddened that I no longer could listen to K-Rock, now I am just confused and angry.

Music enthusiast Michael Sargent has similar sentiments, “I loved 92.3 when it truly was K-Rock. Not only did it play the classic rock staples which I know and love, but the DJs dug deeper and played album cuts that you dont hear too often on the radio. I am outraged at the change and am thoroughly disappointed by how commercial the radio industry has become.”

The last hour before K-Rock ceased to be, they played classics like ACDC’s, “Rock and Roll Will Never Die.” 92.3 once believed in these words. 92.3 once made us all believe in these words. But what is played now is certainly not rock and roll, nor is it truly music. March 11: the day the music died.