The Mighty WMMR: An Oral History of Philadelphia's Rock Radio Revolution

Author:   Erin Riley
Publisher:   Temple University Press,U.S.
ISBN:  

9781439926598


Pages:   296
Publication Date:   12 June 2026
Format:   Paperback
Availability:   Not yet available   Availability explained
This item is yet to be released. You can pre-order this item and we will dispatch it to you upon its release.

Our Price $79.20 Quantity:  
Pre-Order

Share |

The Mighty WMMR: An Oral History of Philadelphia's Rock Radio Revolution


Overview

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.

Full Product Details

Author:   Erin Riley
Publisher:   Temple University Press,U.S.
Imprint:   Temple University Press,U.S.
Weight:   0.454kg
ISBN:  

9781439926598


ISBN 10:   143992659
Pages:   296
Publication Date:   12 June 2026
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming
Availability:   Not yet available   Availability explained
This item is yet to be released. You can pre-order this item and we will dispatch it to you upon its release.

Table of Contents

Reviews

Author Information

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.

Tab Content 6

Author Website:  

Countries Available

All regions
Latest Reading Guide

RGJ26

 

Shopping Cart
Your cart is empty
Shopping cart
Mailing List