OFF: Re: Hi again

[Stephen Swann]

On Tue, Aug 17, 2004 at 12:19:46PM -0400, Paul Mather wrote:
>
> The PBS Frontline documentary "The Way the Music Died" pretty much
> confirmed my thinking that if you are looking to radio to introduce you
> to novel or interesting music then you are on a hiding to nothing.
> (See http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/music/ and watch the
> show.)

http://dir.salon.com/topics/clear_channel/

I'm not so delusional as to think that commercial radio was
ever quite the thing, but at least the old AOR (album
oriented radio) format that I grew up with certainly didn't
suck nearly so much as what we have now.  And DJs used to
have a large amount of autonomy.  And personalities, too. ;-)

> I don't have any personal experience with these, but I keep coming
> across people all the time who became total converts after renting cars
> with XM or Sirius in them.  (I don't know which one: the one that is
> commercial free seems to be the most popular in my experience.)  It
> seems to be largely a factor of the increased choice and themed channels
> that attracts most people I hear sing its praises.

Also, unlike Clear Channel, I believe that those satellite
services use enthusiasts of the various types of music that
they broadcast to do the programming for those channels.
Clear Channekl basically has about 4 people who program all
types of formats that they broadcast.  So the guy who does
jazz and country also does alternative and adult
contemporary.  Think he's a big alternative fan?  Or that
he even likes music, for that matter?

> Good music is unlikely to land on your doorstep (e.g., via radio or TV);
> you'll have to seek it out.

I know, I'm just hard pressed to make the time to do it like
I used to, and the channels of information that I used to
use have either dried up, or take a lot of time and effort
to pursue.

Yes I'm being a big whiner, instead of just knuckling down
and putting in the effort like I used to.  :-P

--
Steve Swann    | Speak to me in many voices, make
swann at cugc.org |     them all sound like one