McGuinn had just sent out interoffice memos about the current growth of alternative rock radio in other markets, how other "classic" rock andAOR (album-oriented rock) stations were "borrowing" from the alternative format, and his station's leap in Arbitron ratings over rival modern rock station WPLY, especially among men 18 and older.

As of Monday afternoon, Jarad Broadcasting, the parent company of WDRE-FM, sold the modern rock station to Radio One, the country's largest African-American radio group, for more than $20 million.

"We're not gonna be here and not positive what is," said McGuinn sadly about the loss of a modern rock station just recently rounding the bend.

The Radio One group owns seven stations along the East Coast, mostly throughout Atlanta, Baltimore and Washington. The formats under their belt are everything from urban talk, urban light/"quiet storm," dance, hip-hop, gospel and religious programming — ironic in light of the fact that Jarad Broadcasting bought WDREfrom a religious organization in Jenkintown in 1992.

McGuinn, who has been with WDRE since November 1995, said there was much he couldn't say, since he didn't expect his tenure (and that of modern rock) to end till around March 1997.

"I gotta protect the interest of the station. Over the next several months we have to sell advertising as a modern rock station," McGuinn said.

WDRE has been almost at the bottom of this area's Arbitron quarterly ratings and their Arbitrend in-between barometer since its inception. But in the last two quarters the station has seen their numbers rise. Also, as one out of three modern rock stations (Y100 and WPLY), WDRE is the only one on the upswing; WPLY (which has been slowly building a female pop-singer base) is below them while Y100's numbers have dropped consistently.

"This was the worst time to have this ripped out from under us," said McGuinn. Oddly enough, there has been much speculation about the future of modern rock, McGuinn and rival rock station WMMR over the last several weeks.

The as-of-lately-limping rock giant that is WMMR (currently playing classic rock) may soon undergo major surgery. The conglomerate CBS/Westinghouse/Infiniti that owns both WMMR and winning rival rock station WYSP may be preparing to sell or trade WMMR. Speculation has it that:

—if Greater Media Communications — the owner of lite rock oldies FM station WMGK — takes over WMMR, they will stop them from playing classic rock and turn it into the "active" rock mix of classic, modern and AOR currently keeping WYSP in the black.

—if Evergreen Broadcasting — the owner of WIOQ and WOGL — buys WMMR, they are prepared to simulcast Chicago big-mouthed sensation ManCow. ManCow is currently seen as a rival to the mighty morning mouth Howard Stern, who is heard in Philadelphia on WYSP.

—if CBS/Westinghouse/Infiniti keeps the station, they'll bring in major radio consultant Jeff Pollock, the WMMR program director who led WMMR through its highest ratings and finest years, up until he left to start a consulting firm. The possibility exists that talks have already been underway — with McGuinn and WDRE jock Marilyn Russell — about making WMMR stand for "more modern rock."

While McGuinn wouldn't confirm or deny reports that he's already talked to WMMR, he did say that he will be here for mod-rock Philly anytime, anywhere he is needed.

"On the record, I think it'll suck if there's no one locally who's gonna play Beck. Off the record, I think it'll suck if there's no one locally who's gonna play Beck. If someone does wanna play Beck in Philadelphia, I hope they call me because I love Philadelphia."