In the spring of 1978 I was a senior in high school. I was getting seriously interested in pop music, purely as a listener. My friends and I - to this day - marvel at the serendipitous timing we enjoyed, having been prime age to be amazed and energized by LA radio weakling KROQ going for 2 months straight without a commercial, while all the while hosting a fascinating and motley bunch of DJs spinning insanely eclectic, stream-of-consciousness sets. They finally cratered and were bought-out by young marketeers who recognized the value of the rogue rep; they pulled a bril move by wedding it to a ‘new wave’ sound and that begat the template for a lot of 80s rock radio. Those who missed the miraculous fortnight(+/-) will simply never know...
Agreed 100%! If it were possible to make a company nonexistent with the sheer force of loathing, ClearChannel and all its foul ilk would instantaneously disappear, and the world would be a better place. I miss good radio so much.
We have a radio station in Raleigh (That Station 95.7] that promotes North Carolina artists (via the station and concerts) and allows the DJs to curate the songs they play. They obviously love the music and it makes the station the best thing on the radio around here.
I remember once there was an hour special around rush hour on Q101 Chicago where these new DJs were playing really good, obscure music. I was tuning in every day and within a month or so, they were fired.
I don't listen to music radio much anymore, but the music in my local diner and supermarket will prick up my ears. They both subscribe to Muzak or some similar service, which is no longer what my sister and I used to call "the Dripping Strings". One night I was in the supermarket and they played a whole sequence of incredible rockabilly recordings that I'd never even heard of. Another time, I swear the programmers had deliberately chosen the theme "1960s stars who died of heroin overdoses". Anyway, it's so much more interesting than the radio.
I find myself discovering music from TV, restaurants/breweries and stores. I just went on a cruise out of Miami and made a playlist of all the artists I discovered.
It is. It's called WFMU. Listener-sponsored freeform radio since 1958. A full education in radio programming and in musical discovery. It happens to be such a great radio station that I sometimes have to turn it off.
In St. Louis, we have a station - 88.1 KDHX. Listener supported, all volunteer DJs, allowed to spin what they love. That's how you end up with "Papa Ray" during the afternoon drive-time - record connoisseur and owner of the last real record store in the city, Vintage Vinyl - playing the most awesome out of print blues. There's a bluegrass show on Saturday morning and (God, do I miss it) they used to do 2 hours of the Grateful Dead from 10 to midnight on Saturday nights. Twice a year, the DJs do a pledge drive; support your favorites and they'll be back for another year. If they don't earn their keep? Well... KDHX is THE best station in the country and a harbinger of what could be, if only. Constantly on the verge of bankruptcy and making life a little more bearable in my city for many years. No, I don't work for them, but if you have a few extra bucks for local radio, go to kdhx.org. ;)
The recipe for engaging radio seems so easy to the individual listening. I think there is a tendency to overlook the importance of looking favourably on a radio station that is often right down your alley and then just as often not in line with your personal taste. The mediocrity of commercial radio is premised on the assumption that it must never challenge or repel the listener. If it is all for you all the time we end up with mediocrity soup for no one. I try my best to acknowledge my favorite station WFMU for being just as great when I have to turn it off (because I have had my aesthetic battles with musique concrete and I just don't like it).
The best music station near me is listener supported at a university. It uses that model. Jazz, blues, roots music, NPR and more. It's about the only station I ever listen to.
This would be a perfect model for radio if the corporate overlords would allow it.
You’re absolutely right.
In the spring of 1978 I was a senior in high school. I was getting seriously interested in pop music, purely as a listener. My friends and I - to this day - marvel at the serendipitous timing we enjoyed, having been prime age to be amazed and energized by LA radio weakling KROQ going for 2 months straight without a commercial, while all the while hosting a fascinating and motley bunch of DJs spinning insanely eclectic, stream-of-consciousness sets. They finally cratered and were bought-out by young marketeers who recognized the value of the rogue rep; they pulled a bril move by wedding it to a ‘new wave’ sound and that begat the template for a lot of 80s rock radio. Those who missed the miraculous fortnight(+/-) will simply never know...
Agreed 100%! If it were possible to make a company nonexistent with the sheer force of loathing, ClearChannel and all its foul ilk would instantaneously disappear, and the world would be a better place. I miss good radio so much.
We have a radio station in Raleigh (That Station 95.7] that promotes North Carolina artists (via the station and concerts) and allows the DJs to curate the songs they play. They obviously love the music and it makes the station the best thing on the radio around here.
The overlords are the ones who destroyed it. I watched them do it from close proximity. You can't wait or depend on the overlords. They do not care.
I remember once there was an hour special around rush hour on Q101 Chicago where these new DJs were playing really good, obscure music. I was tuning in every day and within a month or so, they were fired.
When I grew up and lived in Chicago WXRT lived by that mantra and had a devoted following. Wondering if that’s still the case?
I don't listen to music radio much anymore, but the music in my local diner and supermarket will prick up my ears. They both subscribe to Muzak or some similar service, which is no longer what my sister and I used to call "the Dripping Strings". One night I was in the supermarket and they played a whole sequence of incredible rockabilly recordings that I'd never even heard of. Another time, I swear the programmers had deliberately chosen the theme "1960s stars who died of heroin overdoses". Anyway, it's so much more interesting than the radio.
I find myself discovering music from TV, restaurants/breweries and stores. I just went on a cruise out of Miami and made a playlist of all the artists I discovered.
It is. It's called WFMU. Listener-sponsored freeform radio since 1958. A full education in radio programming and in musical discovery. It happens to be such a great radio station that I sometimes have to turn it off.
In St. Louis, we have a station - 88.1 KDHX. Listener supported, all volunteer DJs, allowed to spin what they love. That's how you end up with "Papa Ray" during the afternoon drive-time - record connoisseur and owner of the last real record store in the city, Vintage Vinyl - playing the most awesome out of print blues. There's a bluegrass show on Saturday morning and (God, do I miss it) they used to do 2 hours of the Grateful Dead from 10 to midnight on Saturday nights. Twice a year, the DJs do a pledge drive; support your favorites and they'll be back for another year. If they don't earn their keep? Well... KDHX is THE best station in the country and a harbinger of what could be, if only. Constantly on the verge of bankruptcy and making life a little more bearable in my city for many years. No, I don't work for them, but if you have a few extra bucks for local radio, go to kdhx.org. ;)
The recipe for engaging radio seems so easy to the individual listening. I think there is a tendency to overlook the importance of looking favourably on a radio station that is often right down your alley and then just as often not in line with your personal taste. The mediocrity of commercial radio is premised on the assumption that it must never challenge or repel the listener. If it is all for you all the time we end up with mediocrity soup for no one. I try my best to acknowledge my favorite station WFMU for being just as great when I have to turn it off (because I have had my aesthetic battles with musique concrete and I just don't like it).
Yes. I'd love to see this philosophy replicated in the news business.
Alberta's donor-supported CKUA is a prime example of this working. Each host is actually a DJ, choosing their playlist.
Will check it out. If you enjoy that sort of thing give WFMU a shot if you don't know it already.
The best music station near me is listener supported at a university. It uses that model. Jazz, blues, roots music, NPR and more. It's about the only station I ever listen to.
As a former radio host, I agree 100%