WBCN (FM)
WBCN is a digital-only radio station airing on WBZ-FM HD-2 and on WZLX HD-3 in Boston, Massachusetts and owned by CBS Radio. Before switching to 98.5 HD-2 on August 12, 2009, WBCN featured its rock format for 41 years as an analog radio station on 104.1 MHz (now WBMX). WBCN became a legend in the rock music industry for breaking many bands, most notably U2. WBCN was a modern rock/active rock station that mixed music that has been popular in the modern rock, alternative rock and classic rock genres. Known as "The Rock of Boston", its three main Boston-area competitors as of 2009 were Album Oriented Rock/active rock WAAF and alternative music stations WBOS and WFNX.
The station went off the FM airwaves on August 12, 2009, with two digital-only automated streams, one continuing the modern rock format, the other Free Form BCN, airing an eclectic mix of rock, related genres, and a lot of new music - essentially the WBCN of 1968 to 1988, brought into the 21st Century. "Free Form BCN" began airing live freeform shows in September 2009 on 100.7 HD-3 and at wbcn.com. While still digital and largely automated, the station is live 10am–4pm Monday through Thursday and till 6pm on Friday. WBCN's first Rock program director, Sam Kopper is PD of WBCN Free Form Rock and he does the 10-1 air-shift M-F. All but one of the live DJ shifts originate from the DJs' homes, Sam from East Greenwich, RI; David Wohlman from Hamilton, MA; Destiny Curtis from Exeter, NH; and Nancy Walton from Missoula, MT. The Friday 4-6 shift, usually DJed by Adam Luciano originates from CBS FM headquarters in Boston. "Free Form BCN" was discontinued on January 29, 2016, leaving WBZ-FM-HD2ms format as the last remaining tie to WBCN.
