What's the biggest perk of running a radio station in
the Hamptons? It's when celebrities - such as actors Ed Burns and Alec Baldwin - drop by the studio every summer to plug their charity du jour.
Amagansett's WEHM, which broadcasts at 96.9 FM on the East End and 92.9 FM as far west as Huntington and Islip, appears to cash in on this starpower better than many rivals.
"Our location definitely helps us attract celebrities, but they're also fans of the station," says program director/ midday host Lauren Stone of East Hampton, who joined WEHM in 2001. "Ed stops by sometimes just to talk about music. He'll ask me, 'What do you think about the new Modest Mouse album?' He's a real music lover."
When Burns wanted to publicize a recent benefit concert for
WoundedWarriorProject.org, he hit the airwaves with WEHM morning host Harry Wareing. "I'm close enough to the station that I could literally ride my bicycle there," said the actor-director.
Rockin' for veterans
Burns' band, The Blue Jackets - founded in 2005 and named after Hewlett High School's mascot - performed at Stephen Talkhouse July 5 to raise money for severely injured military personnel.
Led by frontman P.T. Walkley of Cold Spring Harbor, bassist Chris Cereda of Woodmere, and drummer Nicky Kulund of Virginia, The Blue Jackets play "Straight-ahead American rock and roll," says rhythm guitarist Burns, a Valley Stream native. "It's like the Ramones meet Springsteen."
Another WEHM regular is Baldwin, whose first appearance came in the late 1990s on behalf of the STAR Foundation, a now-defunct radiation watchdog. He's since made about 10 visits, promoting groups such as the East Hampton Day Care Center, the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Bay Street Theater, and the Artists-Writers softball game.
During his guest shots alongside DJ Brian Cosgrove (who recently moved to WLIU 88.3 FM, Long Island University's station in Southampton) Baldwin displayed comedic chops that would put most morning "zookeepers" to shame.
"So, did you ever call your ['The Departed'] co-star Mark Wahlberg 'Marky Mark?'" Baldwin was asked one morning. "No, he's a thug from Boston," Baldwin joked. "He'd throw you over the fire escape."
Other WEHM guests have included Jon Bon Jovi (who also backed the Wounded Warriors), ex-"Saturday Night Live" bandleader G.E. Smith, and sportswriter Mike Lupica, who peddled Hoops 4 Hope, an organization that supports Zimbabwe's youth. If you exclude altruistic motives, WEHM also enjoys a remarkable flow of notable musicians who perform in-studio to drum up ticket sales for gigs at Stephen Talkhouse.
Charting up
WEHM, owned by Long Island Radio Broadcasting LLC, has steadily grown since its 1993 launch. It's now the top-ranked station in the Hamptons-Riverhead market, according to Arbitron ratings.
The station has an adult alternative format, airing edgy rockers such as Beck, '80s hipsters such as the Replacements, emo darlings Death Cab for Cutie, and baby boomer icons such as Paul Simon and Bob Dylan.
A boomer act you won't hear on WEHM, however, is Billy Joel. The Sag Harbor pianist was part-owner of the station until 1997, but he's better suited to the playlist of sister station WBAZ 102.5 FM. "We're not classic rock or progressive rock," Stone of WEHM gently reiterates. "It's progressive radio."
As for Burns, he'll return to WEHM in two weeks, but on top of his charity interests, he'll be spinning his favorite bands.
"I'm a big indie rock fan," Burns said. "I'm planning to play Kings of Leon, White Stripes, Queens of the Stone Age, Ryan Adams. The great thing about the station is that they're pretty informal. And they turned me on to progressive radio.
