Philly Radio: WMMR To Observe 50-Years Of Rock

Beasley Media Group announces legendary rock radio station WMMR 93.3 FM will celebrate 50 years of broadcasting in Philadelphia on Sunday, April 29th, 2018.

WMMR’s Birthday week will officially kick off on Monday, April 23rd, 2018. Legendary Host Pierre Robert, who has been a fixture at the station for all but 13 of its 50 years, will host a daily 90-minute feature focusing on the 5 decades of music and Philadelphia events beginning each day at 12 noon.

Schedule:

• Monday: 2018 to 2008
• Tuesday: 2008-1998
• Wednesday: 1998-1988
• Thursday: 1988-1978
• Friday: 1978-1968

On Saturday, April 28th, the station will be dedicated to playing the top 50 live performances culled from the MMaRchives. It will feature literally hundreds of live performances recorded at WMMR studios, as well as local venues and venerable Sigma Sound recording Studio. These will include early performances from Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, Warren Zevon, America, Billy Joel, The Go-Gos and Robin Trower to recent private performances from Chris Cornell, Bon Jovi, Cage the Elephant, Smashing Pumpkins and many more.

Pierre Robert

Pierre Robert will celebrate WMMR’s 50th Birthday on Sunday, April 29th by doing a rare weekend show to count down the top 50 rock songs played on WMMR, one from each year 2018 to 1968. In addition, the station will present a 50th Birthday concert featuring 2018 Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Bon Jovi at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center. The event will be hosted by MMR’s Afternoon Drive Host Jaxon, Pierre Robert and Nighttime Air Talent, Jacky Bam Bam. The station has chosen local band, Foxtrot & The Getdown to open the show

WMMR will continue to celebrate 50 years rocking Philly with additional music events, along with special programming and themed weekends, which will highlight specific years in music and events. These include a new daily feature at 1:30pm, Live From The MMaRchives and a planned summer reunion with station alumni. There is a line of “throw-back” t-shirts and merchandise from the many station designs created over the years available for listeners to purchase at www.wmmr.com, where fans can also find details on the birthday edition of the annual MMR*B*Q Music Festival, which takes place May 19th at BB&T Pavilion in Camden, NJ.

“To have a radio station go 50 years without changing format is remarkable … for a rock station, it is unprecedented,” said Program Director Bill Weston. “I’m humbled by the talent and hard work of WMMR’s current staff, plus all the alumni who have walked these hallways and the listeners who have supported this amazing rock station for over the past five decades.  Thank you!

WMMR is regarded by the industry as the longest running rock station in the country. It continues to expose new artists as well as play a familiar mix of ‘Everything that Rocks’ since its inception on April 29, 1968, when the very first record played on the air, ‘Flying’, came from a new album called Magical Mystery Tour.

WMMR 93.3 FM (16.5 Kw) Red+local Coverage Area

Formerly known as WIP-FM, the station's call sign was changed to WMMR on July 1, 1966.  The call sign reflected the name of the station's owner, "Metromedia" (Radio).  Beginning in 1968, WMMR began adopting a progressive rock format, similar to that of several Metromedia-owned stations including WNEW-FM in New York City. WNEW-FM and WMMR had a close relationship, ran similar promotions, and sometimes featured each other's disc jockeys on the air. WMMS in Cleveland, KMET in Los Angeles and KSAN in San Francisco were also part of the Metromedia chain and also helped pioneer the progressive rock format in the 1960s.