Internet Radio Day of Silence

I wanted to post about how I was dubious of the effectiveness of the internet radio day of silence, but ironically, my computer decided to get stuck in an update loop as soon as I docked it at work. And now I only have 15 minutes to prepare an agenda for a meeting. So I'm going to slip on my headphones and crank up LaunchCast Plus and leave the commentary to whoever wants to post a comment.

Where Did The Music Industry Go Wrong?

NEWS.COM -- An interesting piece on where the music industry went wrong, how it needs to reshape itself and how artists should respond. Interesting, but I think it puts too much back on the artist to be entrepreneur and artist. More...

I wonder if broadcast television holds a useful parallel. They say that The Cosby Show was one of the last times that America all watched television together. There's actually one later show and I can't remember which one it was, know that it was embarrassing to all of us humans. But up until that point, there was a general consciousness and pulse and you could bet that if there was something on the night before, there was a very good chance that nearly everyone saw the same thing. But as cable became available and grew and started offering watchable alternatives, the audience fragmented. But there were fewer eyes for each thing. And it became much harder to find quality, harder to get your product into people's minds.

And now radio/music's heading down the same path. We don't just have the three AM stations in town to listen to, we have CDs, satellite radio, HD Radio, lots of regular radio stations, iTunes / Napster / Wal*Mart / Rhapsody, LaunchCast and so on and so on. How's an artist to get noticed and gain a following? It's gotta be even harder, since you can't say "Tune in every Thursday at 8 pm to hear a new song from me."

To be sure, the bigger artists backed by the studios will continue to thrive, but as choice becomes more ingrained, the masses will be less and less receptive to the same regurgitated and force-fed tripe that the studios put all their weight behind.

At What Cost

I don't know whether to cheer or be sad. Country returns to Los Angeles, but at the expense of KMZT, a classical station. Not only did it have killer call letters, it was a really great station that played a lot of good music, including music from movies. Movies like Star Wars and Indiana Jones. Welcome KKGO, farewell Mozart. Of course, with my iPod car adapter, I haven't listened to the radio up here since Dec. 23, 2006. (MSNBC.COM)

FWD: Lord Have Mercy: KLOS streaming live on the net

After years of negotiating with the radio engineer unions, KLOS 95.5 FM can now be heard and enjoyed outside of Southern California. KLOS is everything that Jack isn't. It is a community station staffed with people who know about the music they play. The DJs (yes... they have actual DJs) are veterans of Rock FM.
For those who live in an area where morning show hosts Mark Thompson & Brian Phelps are not yet syndicated, check out their show 5am-10am (all times PST). M&B are at their best when they are spontaneous... their prepared bits are perhaps the least entertaining parts of the show, but still better than any other area morning duo. Also, from midnight Sunday until 5am Monday morning, M&B's sidekick Frank Sontag hosts a weekly talk show called Impact which is serious, insightful, and socially relevant. There is no one on the planet with a more comprehensive, encyclopedic knowledge of rock music than Joe Benson. Uncle Joe has written volumes on every aspect of the industry. With a deep, resonating voice that put James Earl Jones to shame, Joe actually knows about the music he's playing... a rare quality in a modern rock jock. The pinnacle... the top of the heap of rock radio is none other than the legendary Jim Ladd. He continues the spirit of the free-form FM revolution that began in the era of peace, love, & long legged ponies. Ladd has been behind the microphone longer than I've been alive and is better than any modern contemporary. You might have heard him as himself in the film "Say Anything" or on the Roger Waters album "Radio K.A.O.S." If you feel you've heard all there is to hear on the radio, I urge you to give Ladd's show a try. One taste and you will be hooked. There is no one on radio today more in-sync with his listening audience. Songs are themed and used to weave a nightly story... musical theater at its finest.

No, I don't get a dime for promoting KLOS, but support of this station will benefit me in-as-much as I am a longtime listener who dreads the day the format changes, the DJs fade away, and the tribal drum that keeps the beat of Southern California stops. Jim Ladd and the rest are the mavericks who refuse to let quality rock radio go the way of the dodo. And that is worth supporting. It is officially streaming live on their website ( http://www.955klos.com ). So, when you get a chance, check out what remains of a little bit of radio heaven.
--
Kevin M.