For nearly three decades, alternative music had a home in Dallas-Fort Worth at 102.1 The Edge.
"The Edge broke Dallas as a music scene in a huge way," said Dale Brock, who has managed local artists, including the Toadies. "There's lots of people, including myself, that might not be making a living in the music industry if it wasn't for The Edge here in Dallas."
The Edge started its alternative format in 1989. It helped span careers like Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians and The Toadies.
"I feel like it influenced a lot of musicians," said Gavin Mulloy, creative director for The Bomb Factory and Trees in Deep Ellum. "It's what they all listened to back in the day."
It could be argued that The Edge and Deep Ellum evolved together.
"A scene started to develop in Deep Ellum because all these bands are playing the clubs, and they're packing the clubs because people are hearing them on the radio," Brock explained. "It's just all that synergy because you had this station stepping up in Dallas."
"It's sad," remarked Karen Cunningham, a former Clear Channel employee and The Edge listener. "Everybody was talking about what's going on. Semisonic Closing Time was playing for the last five songs in a row."
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
102.1 played Closing Time over and over again on Thursday before closing the door on alternative and opening a window to ... Christmas music. Wham's Last Christmas was the first song played at 5 p.m. Thursday. It's a temporary format change. iHeartRadio plans to announce the new format after the holidays.
In a statement released to NBC 5, iHeartRadio's marketing president, Kelly Kibler said, "We have had an amazing run with 102-1 The Edge ... I grew up to The Edge and no doubt the station has been very close to all of our hearts."
The statement goes on to explain, "...Over the past decade, despite our best efforts, the audience has steadily declined so we decided it was time to make a change."
"It's going to leave a big void," said Brock.
