Author Talk with Erin Riley, Rock Radio Programmer for WWMR and KROQ
About this Event
An insider oral history of the voices that built Philadelphia's most iconic rock radio station
In the early 1980s, the scrappy radio station 93.3 WMMR was on the verge of a major takeover of the Philadelphia airwaves. Erin Riley, who had her finger on the pulse of new artists like Bon Jovi, whose music would define a generation, was hired as the station’s Music Director in 1983.
The Mighty WMMR is Riley’s affectionate and nostalgic oral history of the station’s early years, especially its 1980s heyday, covering everything from the pioneering influence of The Marconi Experiment and the success of The Morning Zoo to how WMMR broke artists like Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, and local favorites The Hooters onto the national scene. Featuring anecdotes and memories by beloved on-air personalities including John DeBella, Pierre Robert, and Michael Tearson, Riley chronicles the memorable songs and musicians; concerts, contests, and clubs; and the live broadcasts that marked the height of an unforgettable era in Philadelphia radio.
Riley breezily captures the station’s impact on listeners, which made WMMR a perfect storm of the times, the culture, and the counterculture. The Mighty WMMR is a captivating look back at Philadelphia’s rock history and the station that shaped a city and a generation.
Reviews
“My introduction to WMMR happened in 1984 when ‘Runaway’ was added to their playlist. Erin Riley was a frequent studio guest while we recorded our second album in Philly. What made ’MMR memorable were the people—especially my 40-year friendship with the legendary Pierre Robert. Pierre lived and loved music and truly embodied the spirit of brotherly love in the city he called home. Erin Riley has captured an era when radio was more than just spinning records; it was about community.”
—Jon Bon Jovi
“Radio and artists have always fueled each other. WMMR has been at the heart of that energy for decades, keeping rock and roll alive—old and new. ’MMR is a key radio station in a group we call Blackheart Stations. These are the courageous major stations that played my music when I was a tiny artist at a tiny label, Blackheart. They were leaders of musical movements that changed the world of music. The Mighty WMMR is the compelling story of the unique voice of musical independence that is ’MMR.”
—Joan Jett
About the Author:
Erin Riley built a 40-year career in the music business, programming hit songs for major-market stations including KROQ-FM Los Angeles and WMMR-FM Philadelphia. She led the Philadelphia GRAMMY Chapter and founded Rock & Roll After School, where kids wrote and performed original songs. Riley is the author of A Dark Force: 20 Years with a Covert Narcissist. She lives in Lambertville, NJ and serves as Music Supervisor for the hit series The Recording Artist.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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