The audience for "FM" is fairly limited. Richard Neer, former DJ and program director for WNEW-FM in New York City recounts his 28 years at the once-formidable rock powerhouse. Part autobiography, part commentary, "FM" follows the ascent and crash of FM radio in general and WNEW in particular. Be forewarned: this book will not appeal to most radio fans unless you grew up in the New York City metropolitan area during the 1970s and 1980s.
If you are one of those lucky few (like yours truly), "FM" will bring back a flood of nostalgia at the mention of Dave Herman, Carol Miller, Allison Steele, Vin Scelsa, Dennis Elsas, Pete Fornatele, and the legendary Scott Muni. In the early days of FM radio, the AM dial was still setting the pace, so FM was a place where it didn't matter much what you played or how you filled your timeslot. As a result, free-form FM became the mainstay and DJs established their own style, both personally and musically. (Think "WKRP in Cincinnati") Success ruined FM radio once the suits moved in with their focus groups and required play lists. The downward spiral of WNEW was wrenching for me, and moreso for Richard Neer; the early chapters, bulging with war stories from the glory days, turn sparse and palpably painful for Neer as the end approaches. WNEW, once the place "Where Rock Lives", is now a talk station.
Neer's writing can be wooden sometimes and he's prone to borrowing metaphors from popular songs. Almost all the chapters are named after rock songs, such that the good times are "Thunder Road" and the descent is "Highway to Hell." Some of the broadcast booth gossip gets tedious, but then Neer will detail the anguish at the station the night John Lennon was shot. Neer's recounting of his final set at WNEW is a touching coda. Tipped off about his pending termination, he throws out the play list, plays all the songs he wants to play, then signs off "WNEW – Where Rock Lived."
If you grew up listening, and loving, WNEW-FM, get this book. Otherwise, it's your call.
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