With departure of program director, change is in the air at WBCN

Dave Wellington, former 'BCN program director. (George Rizer/Globe Staff/file 2004)

Big changes at WBCN-FM (104.1), the "rock of Boston." As of Wednesday, program director Dave Wellington is out at the CBS-owned station.

"We're parting ways, but wish Dave the very best in everything he does in the future," said the brief statement issued by Mark Hannon, senior vice president and general manager of the heritage rock station. Reached by phone, Hannon would not elaborate on Wellington's departure, beyond adding that the search for a replacement program director would commence "immediately."

Wellington did not return phone calls, but he responded via e-mail with the following statement: "I have thoroughly enjoyed the last 10 years at CBS Radio, and I'm grateful to have worked with some of the most talented people in this exciting business. I wish WBCN much success in the future."

To some radio observers, this change is part of the fallout from the 2005 departure of Howard Stern, whose talk show changed what had been an all-music station. "I think what it means in this case is a sign that WBCN is still trying to figure out what it wants to be," says Scott Fybush, editor of the industry website NorthEast Radio Watch. "It's an indication that the station still hasn't found the kind of stability that it wants."

Hannon denied reports that a change of program director foretold changes in the station's format. "We're very happy with the lineup and the sound right now," said Hannon. He added that he wants the station to "continue to return to its roots as a very aggressive, irreverent rock station."

Wellington had been at WBCN since 2004, having come from CBS-owned KXTE in Las Vegas. He replaced Oedipus, who had served as program director of WBCN for 23 years.

Dance for a good cause

"Disco" Vinnie Peruzzi loved his floating dance parties. So it makes sense that to launch a scholarship fund in memory of the longtime Boston DJ, his friends and former colleagues would host a harbor cruise, featuring the dance music he adored.

"We wanted to keep the music alive," says Fred Balboni, concert producer and longtime friend of Peruzzi, who died in 2004. "We figured the best way was to keep doing the cruises."

Balboni, along with Rick Poccio, Peruzzi's longtime producer, has organized the June 20 event, which will feature DJ Ricky P and a live performance by Stevie B. The money raised will fund a scholarship for a high school graduate pursuing a degree in either communications or the performing arts at Emerson College.

This follows the establishment of the Vinnie Peruzzi foundation at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Future events to fund the scholarship, including a disco night at a land-based club, will be announced this summer. "He used to do these cruises at least four times a year," says Balboni. "He loved them, loved being on the water."

Peruzzi worked at a variety of Boston stations, including "Jam'n" WJMN-FM (94.5) and the defunct "Star," which now broadcasts as "Mike" WMKK-FM (93.7). But Peruzzi was probably best known as the host of live dance-club broadcasts on Saturday nights on "Kiss" WXKS-FM (107.9), a time slot he hosted through the 1990s.

A graduate of University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Peruzzi got his start on the UMass college station. The decision to endow a scholarship at Emerson reflected Peruzzi's professional career in Boston. "Emerson is the school in the market that you turn to for performing arts and communications," says Balboni.

For tickets or more information, call 617-748-1428 or go to vinnieperuzzi.com.