MusicBoxPete Podcast

Peter Amara
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The official podcast of MusicBoxPete! Devoted to all things related to the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks charts highlighting the history, trends, and most importantly the music that shaped the sound of alternative, punk, indie throughout the 90's and 00's. Learn about how the chart started, its evolution, artists that dominated throughout the entire history of the charts, trends and analysis, and how the chart has evolved to where it's now known as Alternative Airplay.

  1. JAN 12

    Billboard Airplay Monitor

    On today's all new cast to kick off 2026, we talk about the history of Billboard Airplay Monitor and this short lived offshoot from Billboard magazine that was critical in determining how the Modern Rock Charts was formed based on audience impressions from modern rock & alternative stations across the country. We talk about its history and how the impressions were calculated, and how it illustrates the changing musical tastes of alternative listeners, and also showing how the current Alternative Airplay chart is formed today and further shows the growing disconnect of what alternative music actually is. We examine the year end playlists from WFNX from the early 00's, and the individual audience impressions from some songs showing the musical diversity present on the chart from well known national artists to upstart local Boston acts that defined FNX's aesthetic throughout much of their existence.

    14 min

  2. 12/11/2025

    2025 Year End Music Roundup

    On today's special year-end edition of the cast, we wrap up 2025 with a pretty bow and give you my picks for the top songs of the past year, and also compare them with Billboard's Top Alternative Airplay year-end chart, comparing and contrasting the two charts seeing which songs are on both charts, and how they differ and are unique in their own way. I talk about some of my favorite albums of the past year, including my #1 pick The Starting Line's "Eternal Youth", sombr's "I Barely Know Her", Finn Wolfhard's "Happy Birthday", and Benson Boone's "American Heart". I also offer up some closing thoughts on how retooling this podcast was the best decision I ever made, and reaffirmed my focus and commitment to geeking out about all things related to music charts and just music in general. I also play some of my favorite songs from the past year from Henry Merit, Ace Enders, and Djo with my top song of the year, "Basic Being Basic".

    27 min

  3. 11/10/2025

    Billboard Recurrent Rules

    On today's edition of the cast, we talk about Billboard's recent announcement that they're altering the recurrent rules for songs that have overstayed their welcome on the Hot 100 charts, changes that were largely made due to the current stagnation on the chart from tracks that have overstayed their welcome, and songs that were played relentlessly by FM radio and streaming algorithms. We talk about the nitty gritty of the rules, and how it's a breath of fresh air that will allow an influx of new songs to gain traction, and keep a level of continuity while allowing some newcomers to sniff their first taste of chart success. We also talk about how this rule correlates to the Modern Rock Charts and how they've been largely immune to the recurrent rule, and has in recent years improved somewhat in terms of the quality of the artists that are populating the chart. I also play you the latest tune from Yellowcard "Better Days" that became their first chart topper on the Alternative Airplay chart spending 3 weeks at #1 on the Alternative Airplay chart.

    18 min

  4. 10/29/2025

    A Look Back At The Billboard Modern Rock Chart For October 31, 1998

    On today's all new episode of the cast, we take a look back at the Billboard Modern Rock Chart for the week ending October 31, 1998 and see what was popular on the chart around the time as we were getting ready for Halloween that year, and what artists and songs really mattered to use the most. We take a look at songs from the likes of Goo Goo Dolls, Eagle Eye Cherry, Hole, Barenaked Ladies, The Offspring, and so much more to provide an ultimate snapshot into such a eclectic and musically diverse lineup that checked all the boxes for me. We also talk about how the Billboard Hot 100 chart is aiming to prevent songs from overstaying their welcome on the charts and instituting a more tiered recurrent rule system that allows the chart to remain fresh and prevent songs from being oversaturated or overplayed, and keep the chart as current as possible.

    22 min

  5. 10/13/2025

    CMJ Top 250 Alternative Songs 1979-1988

    On today's all new edition of the cast, we take a gander at the CMJ Top 250 Alternative Songs list from 1979-1988, and use that list to imagine what the Billboard Modern Rock Chart would look had it started way earlier back in the 1980's. We plug the gap with songs from the early 80's that defined the era such as Duran Duran's "Hungry Like The Wolf", Talking Heads "Burning Down The House", The Clash's "Rock The Casbah", The Smith's "How Soon Is Now" and so many others to create what is in my opinion the ultimate dream 80's alt-rock playlist. We talk about how these songs defined the era in which we grew up in, and also laid the seeds for what would become alternative music and further solidified and cemented what it meant to be an alt rock artist back in its early embryonic era, and how alternative music sets itself apart from rock music as a whole. I also play you a local tune from Worcester's own J. Geils Band and their mega hit "Centerfold".

    15 min

  6. 09/29/2025

    Billboard Modern Rock Tracks - Metal Mania

    On today's all new edition of the cast, we go over some of the hard-rock/metal acts that made an appearance on the Modern Rock Tracks chat over the years, and how their little foray into that world filled in the gap and found their niche among listeners who don't casually listen to their music in the first place. We talk about Metallica's reign on the chart, and how they found most of their success so late into their careers with "I Disappear" amidst the whole Napster controversy surrounding it. We also talk about bands such as Buckcherry who charted late into their careers with "Crazy Bitch", and it how showed the musical diversity of the chart, and the ability of bands from all different musical backgrounds to find a commonplace amongst all the different alternative acts of the era. We also look at how even AC/DC was able to chart late into their careers with "Rock N Roll Train" from their Walmart exclusive "Black Ice" album, and at the end of the cast talk about Worcester's own Godsmack and their chart history, along with playing you their Top 10 charted hit from 2001 "Voodoo".

    22 min

  7. 09/15/2025

    Billboard Modern Rock Tracks - Hip-Hop Crossover

    On today's all new episode of the cast, we take a look at some hip-hop songs that crossed over and appeared on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart. We take a look at how the Beastie Boys, Cypress Hill, and Eminem enjoyed some crossover success on the chart and how it helped expose their sound to listeners from different musical backgrounds and increased their audience exposure in the process as well. We also take a deep dive into the Beasties and how they were able to merge the worlds of rap and rock to create a long and storied career, and were able to garner their first chart topper on the charts in 2004 with "Ch-Check It Out" that shows the massive longevity that they've had over their careers. We also take a look at Eminem and the huge impact he had on the chart with his songs "My Name Is", "The Real Slim Shady", and his biggest hit and highest chart topper "Lose Yourself" which I play for you at the end of the cast.

    19 min

  8. 09/08/2025

    9/11 Banned Songs List

    On today's brand new episode of the cast to kick off the new season, we take a look at the 9/11 Banned Songs list that was issued by Clear Channel in the aftermath of the Sept. 11th attacks that wasn't an outright order, but as a request to not play songs that were deemed insensitive and questionable that contained references with anything that was associated with 9/11. We take a look at the hundred or so songs on the list, and I give you my reaction to the songs that were included on the list, some that were obvious calls and some that were ridiculous that were total overreach and censorship, proving that Clear Channel was completely overreacting and not knowing what to do with itself. I also look at the Billboard Modern Rock Charts on the week before and after 9/11 to show the songs that were on the chart at that time, and how the tone and nature of music changed as a whole and how we all gravitated towards music to provide for some comfort and joy in the aftermath of an awful time in American history. I also play you P.O.D.'s "Alive", a song that became an anthem for many people in the months that followed after the attacks.

    25 min
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About

The official podcast of MusicBoxPete! Devoted to all things related to the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks charts highlighting the history, trends, and most importantly the music that shaped the sound of alternative, punk, indie throughout the 90's and 00's. Learn about how the chart started, its evolution, artists that dominated throughout the entire history of the charts, trends and analysis, and how the chart has evolved to where it's now known as Alternative Airplay.

Information

  • Creator
    Peter Amara
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Peter Amara
  • Show Website
    MusicBoxPete Podcast