Just months after Clear Channel flipped 101.7 in Boston, the former home of longtime Modern Rock WFNX, to Adult Hits as WHBA (The Harbor), the frequency has a new format again. On Thursday (12/20), CCM+E launched Electronic Dance Music (EDM) station "Evolution 101.7." The new format kicked off at 6 p.m. yesterday with an hour-long, Boston-dedicated specialty program hosted by Pete Tong, the British DJ behind BBC Radio 1’s "Essential Mix" radio show. 

Evolution 101.7 is an extension of Clear Channel's EDM "Evolution" station on iHeartRadio, also hosted by Tong. The station’s programming will include "All Gone Pete Tong," an exclusive, two-hour daily show featuring Pete’s Essential New Tune of the Week, as well as tracks from the global Top 100 chart on Beatport.com. The show will broadcast Monday through Friday from 7-9 p.m. EST, and will join a lineup of shows hosted by a rotation of DJs including Diplo; Wolfgang Gartner; Fatboy Slim; Dim Mak; Yung Skeeter; Manufactured Superstars; Paul van Dyk; Roger Sanchez; Congorock; Dillon Francis; Doorly; Eats Everything; Jaymo & Andy George; The 2 Bears; Tom Staar; Hot Since 82; John Dhalback; Jet Set USA; Moguai; and Nu Disco. Evolution 101.7’s programming will feature special mixes, on-air interviews and guest-hosted radio shows with world-class, progressive DJs and EDM producers. The station will also air exclusive content from Swedish House Mafia’s final tour in addition to their featured show with all-new mixes.

"We've seen the impact of EDM in Boston through music downloads, sold-out concerts and passion for iHeartRadio’s new Evolution channel," said Dylan Sprague, VP of Programming for CCM+E-Boston. "We’re proud to bring Evolution 101.7, the company’s first EDM broadcast station, to Boston, and to team up with format-leading artists like Pete Tong. The music scene in Boston has a vibrant EDM community as well as a rich history of bringing new music to audiences in the area and around the country. We’re excited to continue the tradition by giving dance music a home on Boston's airwaves." 

"Like the early days of FM, iHeartRadio is the new playground for programming experimentation," said Tom Poleman, President of National Programming Platforms for CCM+E. "Evolution’s innovative programming resonated with our iHeartRadio consumers so well that extending the station to a broadcast radio platform was the next step to connect our listeners with great music. Evolution 101.7 is a great example of iHeartRadio’s ability to drive new innovation in radio programming, and will bring even more variety to Clear Channel’s impressive roster of stations."