I've personally been listening to 97X online for over 5 years. 97X is a pioneer of this format, and this is such a huge loss I can't even put it in words. There will now be NO commercial stations in the country broadcasting the original modern rock format.

Sincerly, best wishes to the Balogh's and all the 97X staffers. Thanks so much for the last 5 years. I'm still in shock.

-Chaos
Radio XY

Update - 5.4.04:
97X has now announced that they will be going away completely... (they had originally announced that they would be going internet-only)!! That really sucks. :-(

5.14.04 - A Sad Day Indeed
Thousands of modern rock fans are mourning the loss of the world's best radio station, WOXY. 97X signed off at about 12:05 EDT this morning, with the immortal words of the Baker Man, "and finally, goodbye to the future of rock and roll."

5.21.04
The 97X Tribute Show aired last night on Radio XY. Thanks to everyone at 97X for keeping the spirit of alternative music alive for so many years.

Update - 6.17.04:
97X is coming back!! (See for yourself!)

Welcome Back, 97X! :-)

2.9.06

This year continues to bring shocking surprises in the world of modern rock radio...

Joining the ranks of terrestrial college and community stations, 97X will now be listener supported. Unlike their FM counterparts however, you'll have to pony up $10/month to listen to their medium and high-quality streams.

The difference between 97X and a community-supported FM station, is that it costs substantially more per listener to run an internet radio station... So I guess the jury is out as to whether they are going to be able to recoup enough from donations in order to run the station... (I know from a past campaign that Radio XY would not currently be able to support itself solely on donations...)

The new listener options are very similar to a station like 3wk, which has been internet-only since 1997. Some free low-bandwidth streams, and a monthly fee for the better streams. Some other internet stations kindly ask for donations, but continue to offer all their streams for free (Radio Paradise comes to mind).

Radio XY is one of yet another category of internet stations that are fully funded by their owners. For the moment* I'm lucky enough to have a full-time job and am able to pay the roughly $300/month costs for the amount of listeners Radio XY has. (Note that 97X's costs are MUCH higher because they have more listeners, full-time dj's that need to pay their bills, studios, etc.!)

Just as when 97X announced their FM frequency had been sold, I'd like to take this opportunity to wish them the very best of luck with their new business model, and I hope they will be able to keep doing their thing for many years to come. We're keeping our fingers crossed for you here in California.

With Valentines Day love,

Chaos

* I may have to ask for donations again in the future. It is an expensive hobby after all... :->

9.2.06

To quote the woxy.com staff, "This sucks." :(

9.5.06

97X ... WOXY, Oxford Cincinnati Dayton,

It took me several minutes to realize, hey wait a minute, I think there's something special about this station. I started poking around in their playlist and saw much good stuff, as well as a bunch of stuff I hadn't heard before. Hmmm.. worth a try..

Through that year 'BER was still my favorite station, but by '99 I was totally hooked on 97X. How was it possible that such a cool commerical station could exist!?! After all the turmoil of the late 90's and the loss of every other true alternative FM, this was really amazing. And I loved the DJ's, especially Sledge and Shiv. (They were typically on when I was listening, due to my time zone.)

I was especially worried at the end of '99, when there seemed to be almost no commercials... I thought that was signalling the end. I emailed the DJ, I think was Sledge, and he forwarded it to the GM. (I forget who the GM was at the time...) But he replied saying not to worry, it was routine to have the slump after Christmas. And he went into the Balough's philosophy that 97X is obligated to be profitable, not but greedy. Incredible, they were just the most remarkable owners of the late 20th/early 21st century. Truly good people from all I've heard.

I felt reassured then, and we did have many more good years to come.

Reeling in the emotional shock of 2004, I hosted the 97X tribute show. Combined with another personal incident, it made for the worst month of my adult life. :(

Now in 2006, I humbly salute The Future of R & R and all the staff there that have provided such a great service for so many years. To Barb, Mike, Shiv, Bryan J, and the 2 angel investors, good luck with wherever your path takes you next, and godspeed.

Chaos

9.13.06

9.15.06

This woxy's gone to heaven. 83-06

9.25.06

97X to Return!

It's the real deal! Although it's not clear what form woxy 3.0 will take...

Maybe Sledge will come back!! (Wishful thinking?) :)

This is amazing!

9.29.06

10.9.06

7.17.09

woxy is moving to austin, and sledge is staying behind, already having had his last show. sniff.

3.23.10

The fact that the fate of the legendary modern rocker is not in the hands of those that produce the on-air content every day is eerily reminiscent of a traditional FM format change. Something that we've seen with many great alternative stations from years past.

Whether or not this is truly the end... I wish to salute the future of rock 'n roll for its awesome 27-year contribution to the world of new wave/alternative/indie music radio. You will be missed.

5.23.10

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