Ongoing History of New Music, the long-running music documentary series hosted by Alan Cross, will celebrate its 30-year anniversary on Toronto’s 102.1 the Edge (CFNY-FM) on Sunday.
Since its debut on the station on Feb. 28, 1993, the show has explored everything from the roots of Alt-Rock, New Wave, and Christian Rock over the years to artist profiles of musicians like Joe Strummer, Sid Vicious, and John Frusciante, and Canadian acts like Billy Talent and The Trews.
After gaining popularity on 102.1 the Edge, Corus Radio started airing the show nationally across its rock stations on Sunday evenings. A podcast version followed in 2017, which consistently remains in the Top 5 on Apple Podcasts’ Canada Music and Music History charts, in addition to charting in more than a dozen other countries. The show has produced 976 original radio episodes and 280 podcast episodes to date, with a landmark 1000th episode to air this fall.
To mark its 30-year milestone, a special podcast version of the very first episode of Ongoing History of New Music will drop on Feb. 28. Marking 30 years to the day it was first broadcast, it will be the first time the episode will be available as a podcast.
An introduction and overview of what the show was going to be about, the episode tracks the moment from when the Sex Pistols played two songs at a gig in November 1975 to redefining what alternative music was to become. Encompassing band profiles, integrated artist interviews, and music genres beyond punk, songs played in the episode included Elvis Costello, New Order, Depeche Mode, REM, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and The Jam.
“I have always been obsessed with music and am honoured to be able to share my passion with everyone,” said Cross, in a Corus release. “I’m so proud of the success of the show and that it continues to excite and resonate with listeners. I want to thank everyone who has supported the show over the years. There is no shortage of stories to tell and I’m glad people are staying along for the ride.”
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