Episode 444: Billboard Airplay Monitor

On today's all new cast to kick off 2026, we talk about the history of Billboard Airplay Monitor and this short lived offshoot from Billboard magazine that was critical in determining how the Modern Rock Charts was formed based on audience impressions from modern rock & alternative stations across the country. We talk about its history and how the impressions were calculated, and how it illustrates the changing musical tastes of alternative listeners, and also showing how the current Alternative Airplay chart is formed today and further shows the growing disconnect of what alternative music actually is. We examine the year end playlists from WFNX from the early 00's, and the individual audience impressions from some songs showing the musical diversity present on the chart from well known national artists to upstart local Boston acts that defined FNX's aesthetic throughout much of their existence.