WNEW: Where Rock Lived… & Worked
• We were happy to hear that our longtime friend, label veteran Tony Monte is knee-deep in production of an awesome new feature documentary, Where Rock Lived, which tells the story of the legendary 102.7 WNEW/New York, which defined Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) and was the gold standard for personality-driven radio.
The first teaser trailer has been released for the film, currently in production, and which chronicles the rise and legacy of WNEW through the voices of the rock stars who revered it, the on-air personalities who made it legendary, the listeners it touched, and the sociocultural impact it made on a generation
Where Rock Lived tells the story of how a team of passionate, knowledgeable DJs like Rosko, Scott Muni, Alison Steele, Jonathan Schwartz, Vin Scelsa and Pete Fornatale were given the freedom to go beyond the hits, dive deep into albums, and champion new music, helping to launch the careers of artists like The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, The Who, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Elton John, Joan Jett, and many who found their first U.S. airplay on the station.
“WNEW-FM was a reflection of America’s young generation who came of age through its DJs, bands and music, celebrating a counterculture that impacted millions of disillusioned youth,” said Monte, who serves as Creator and Executive Producer of Where Rock Lived. “The result of how a rebellious few and the music it produced shaped a way of life, validates that 102.7 made a difference.” Monte added, “In an era focused on PPM and centralized programming, we explore a time when relationships between the DJ, artist and listener, was the most important algorithm. This film is not just nostalgia; it’s a case study in how the power of live, local, and personality-focused broadcasting, can affect a nation.”
For more information, and to follow the film’s progress, please visit whererocklived.com.
