DWXB

Infobox_Radio_station | name = WXB 102


city = Pasay City (1982-1987)
area = Worldwide through Live365
branding = WXB 102
slogan = "The Station That Dares To Be Different"
format = new wave, punk rock, dancepunk, synth pop, classic alternative, reggae, indie, and ska
call sign = DWXB (1982 - 1987)
owner = Sutton Records
website = [http://www.wxb102forever.com WXB 102 Forever]

WXB 102 (formerly under the call sign and frequency DWXB-FM at 102.7 MHz, a frequency now used by Star FM) is a former Metro Manila FM radio station and current Internet radio station that plays New Wave, punk rock, dancepunk, synth pop and classic alternative from the UK, Philippines, and the rest of the world, available through Live365. Re-opened in 2005, WXB 102 is now owned and operated by a U.S. independent record label Sutton Records.

History

Nicknamed "The Station That Dares To Be Different", DWXB-FM was the first all-New Wave music radio station in the Philippines. Broadcasting at 102.7 MHz (initially at 102.5 MHz) on the FM dial and from inside a house in Pasay City, Philippines, DWXB-FM, also referred to as WXB-102, acquired legendary status since it vanished from the airwaves on June 9, 1987. DWXB-FM targeted the youth demographic, bringing New Wave music to the Philippine mainstream and inspiring regional rock artists such as The Dawn, The Identity Crisis, and Violent Playground, all of whom were championed by the station at a time when guitar-based OPM was ignored by the other local outlets with the exception of a weekly show on DZRJ-AM in the early 1980s.

Prior to switching to New Wave, the DWXB-FM management flirted with disco in the late 1970s and then adopted the American Top Forty format in 1982, dubbing itself as Cute 102. By 1983, WXB 102 started including New Wave acts from the UK into the Top Forty mix, due to the influence of the late DJ Mark Fournier. In 1984, New Wave began erupting in Manila's dance clubs thanks to the city's mobile discos, who often spun records imported from Europe, and the proliferation of New Wave music videos on Philippine TV. WXB 102 gradually evolved into a New Wave radio station with the Fournier; The Unbeatable, the alias of Dave Ryan; and Rico Severino, known as J.J.Michaels. WXB 102 briefly competed with another New Wave and disco radio station in Manila, DWBM-FM 105.1 MHz which then dubbed as Power 105 FM in 1985.

It was only in 1986 when the station went full-blown "new music" in format with the line-up of The Morning Man or Inggo & his Request Round-Up at sign-on; Cool Carla; Julius Caesar; George Frederick, who was also the Program Director; Fat Albert & his program Rock Wave; and The Ghost. A pair of blocktime shows that caught the youth market by the neck back then were Radio Manila and Capital Radio, specializing in local underground punk scene and U.K. and U.S. imports that characterized a harsher or more avant-garde side to alternative music. At this point, "The Station That Dares to be Different" became station's the official slogan.

Despite its relatively low power of roughly 1 kilowatt, WXB 102 developed a huge following in places where its signal could be picked up.

In 1986, WXB 102 was the Philippines' most influential music station, its popularity putting pressure on regional labels to belatedly release the entire discographies of several new wave artists. On the surface, their New Wave format could be compared to overseas stations like KROQ-FM and CFNY-FM, but WXB 102 probed the genre for deeper cuts and more obscure acts, giving massive exposure to little-known or forgotten New Wave artists from the UK. Unable to compete with the ratings, Power 105 FM switched to mainstream pop in 1986. WXB 102, with the New Wave market to itself and surprising Top Ten ratings, concentrated on pleasing its followers and instead of trying to the masses.

While the New Wave era was already pronounced dead in America in 1987, the genre had not even yet peaked in Manila. Albums once unavailable were continuing to be licensed to Philippine labels, which credited to WXB 102. However, 1987 would be its final year. The new Corazon C. Aquino-led government began sequestering properties owned by her predecessor Ferdinand Marcos and his cronies, including the home studio that WXB FM beamed from.

On June 9 1987, despite attempts to keep it on the air, WXB 102 signed-off.

Legacy

In November 1987, seeing that the absence of WXB 102 left a void on Manila radio that could be capitalized upon, NU 107 debuted at 107.5 MHz with a series of test broadcasts that resurrected the old WXB 102 format in what was termed a "New Rock" format. It essentially picked up where WXB 102 left off, debuting several late 1980s New Wave acts. In 1988, Power 105 FM had returned to its short-lived New Wave format which lasted until the station went off-the-air in 1990.

In 1988, Mickey the Clown from WXB 102 reappeared on DWBC-AM as Mick Flame and hosted a 102-styled show often featuring former WXB 102 DJs as guests.

In 1995, 102.7 Star FM was launched by the Bombo Radyo Network.

Rebirth

On 10 September 2005, lifelong fan and New Wave historian Michael Sutton, CEO of the independent label Sutton Records, revived WXB 102 in cyberspace, fulfilling a decades-old fantasy that had its online roots in the no-budget taped broadcasts he and Magic recorded for the original WXB 102 tribute site (maintained with Luis Reyes, Jr.) in 1998. With Seattle-based DJ Brent Sanders as engineer and Los Angeles-based Filipino DJ Klyde using his WXB102 Forever website for as the station's HQ, Sutton brought WXB 102 back on the air. Sutton proceeded to recruit some of WXB's original staff, including Mick Flame, The Morning Man, and Cool Carla, to record their first WXB shows in 18 years.

Listeners can now hear WXB 102 through webstreaming powered by Live365. In 2006, WXB 102 started playing the most recent songs from New Wave legends, current indie and alternative acts such as Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Chiefs and The Killers, as well as reggae and ska.

On October 23, 2006, WXB 102 became the first online music station to have a countdown hosted by DJs in various countries.

On January 15, 2007, WXB 102 began broadcasting live for the first time since going off the air nearly 20 years before. WXB 102's legendary Program Director/DJ George Frederick returned to the airwaves along with The Ghost, Mick Flame, and Naughty Natty, one of the station's original volunteers. Two days later, Julius Caesar came back to the station, also broadcasting live from Manila. WXB 102 is the only Internet-based New Wave radio station with live DJs broadcasting daily.

On July 26, 2007, WXB 102 became the highest rating Internet radio station in the dancepunk, 80s, and new wave category on Live365.

Current WXB 102 Staff

*George Frederick, DJ/Programme Director
*Cool Carla, DJ
*Fat Albert, DJ
*The Ghost, DJ
*The Morning Man, DJ
*Allan K., DJ
*Julius Caesar, DJ
*Mick Flame, DJ
*Naughty Natty, DJ
*DJ Hilary, DJ
*Michael Sutton, General Manager/Assistant Programme Director/Current Owner

External links

* [http://wxb102forever.com DWXB-FM: WXB 102 Forever]
* [http://www.live365.com/stations/xb_102 WXB 102 on Live365]
* [http://www.suttonrecords.com Sutton Records]