growing up in toronto and being a fan of rock music, edge 102/cfny was a staple to hear new music, follow the 'alternative' scene and even anticipate the album premiers long before internet leaks were the norm.

highlights included having pearl jam's no code dubbed on a cassette tape (well most of it) two weeks before the album release date. tape recording of dave grohl being interviewed about the making of the colour and the shape.

but as the technology changed, so did the reliance on radio. online sources like the groundbreaking Napster to current sites like pitchfork, hype'em and last.fm really allow audiences to seek out their niche sound in real time pretty much doing away radio among today's 20 somethings.

and with the advent of the ipod and ability to transport music--car included--radio became a last refuge source to find new music. mind you, the medium was not helping itself with a standard play list of the same 10-12 songs on a daily basis.

nonetheless, there is something familiar about radio that modern technology cannot duplicate; the personality behind the music.

the death of martin streek is doubly saddening as it marks an end--at least in toronto--to a particular brand of radio that seems to be fading. mr. streek represented the old guard of authoritative music figures that were passionate about it and disseminating it to the biggest possible audiences. today's DJs lack the same breadth of knowledge (or at least withhold it in the face of corporate pressure) that is unlikely to see radio make a successful transition parallel to the internet's ways of spreading new sounds. instead there is a reliance on lazy playlists that get stale quickly unless you enjoy hearing the same music day in and day out. sadly, the station's management chose to continue on that path when martin streek was laid off--along with barry taylor--as a part of the company's restructuring plan.

reading the out pour of support on facebook, twitter and the edge's site, martin was a respected, loved and cared for being beyond his radio personality.

keep it locked, cranked and full tilt martin.