Thursday, August 28, 2008
Cream Dead Air: Nashville Radio Sucks
Posted by Steve Haruch on Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 10:31 AM
I have a couple friends who recently moved here from Chicago, and one of the first things they noticed about their new hometown was that the choice of radio stations here seemed rather bad. Well, Dr. Dwayne (whose blog I have never read before today) shares their sentiments, though I don't know about his proposed solution:
Having worked in radio here in Nashville since 1999 I have noticed over the years that there is not a great radio station here. All of the radio stations seem to be cut from the same bolt of cloth. Always afraid to get far from the middle of the pack. What we really need is a good Americana Music station, that genre of music is what I normally have in my CD player and is what I would tune into if we had that kind of a radio station here. When I go to a concert it is one from this breed of musician.
OK. Not what I would have said, but fine. Then we get to this part:
What I really like is the fact that Americana music covers all genres of music available today except rap, but then again who would listen to that crap if they had any choice what so ever.
Even forgetting for the moment the statement that rap is crap—that's just plain dumb, and maybe even a little...ah, nevermind—"Americana music covers all genres of music"? Really? Then I guess we already have an Americana station: Jack FM.
Comments (34)
Showing 1-34 of 34
"and maybe even a little...ah, nevermind"
You can say it, Steve. Narrow-minded? Idiotic? If someone's going to reduce an entire genre of music to a dopey, flaccid insult, they deserve to be called on it.
"Rap is crap." Shit...my dad hasn't even made that joke in the past ten years.
like
dislike
I believe he meant to almost say 'rascist.'
Perhaps Cowboy Troy could be appropriated into the Americana Rap classification...
The state of radio in Nashville could be an interesting discussion, but it's a shame this post was focused on Dr. Dwayne's blog. I mean, the guy bought Kid Rock's new album.
Who cares about Dr. Dwayne? Why not expound on your first sentence? What do you / your friends from Chicago think about Nashville radio? What would make it better?
well. considering dude's blog consists entirely of random poorly written 50 word blurbs, and that his idea of new music is "Kid Rocks", the new Eagles album, and Mud Crutch (pre-Heartbreakers Tom Petty)... i'd say this guy is nothing short of an expert and you guys are fools for not listening to what he has to say. Dr. Dwayne should be running this show - not you, Haruch.
Yes, it's pretty clear "racist" was what he was thinking about saying. It's also a risky label to toss around these days, so I thought his way of wording it was appropriately inexact.
If only Lightning 100 got a new and adventurous music director, at least that station would be on the right track.
My friends, for their part, were shocked that right-wing radio gets so much of the FM dial here.
Something resembling KEXP or WFMU would be nice. Not having to go over to 1430 AM for NPR during the day.
I listen mostly to Lightning 100 / NPR.
I have a serious question about Lightning 100: Why do they insist on playing Lenny Kravitz? More specifically, why is "Fly Away" consistently on their playlist??
other good americana shows on WRVU:
penguin parade
new wave smackdown
antennas to heaven
sacred hymns
out ov the coffin
91 dance
the curse of the drinking class
the mixdown
and, of course, the persian show
WRLT has definitely gone downhill over the past few years as far as the variety of stuff it plays, but it's still hands down the best commercial station in town.
Good call; The Curse of the Drinking Class is Americana as fuck. Best of Bread rules.
Why post a blog article about someone's opinions that you don't consider credible.Why not talk about what your friends from Chicago think is the problem with radio in Nashville....oh wait someone already said that.Sorry Steve H.
I love 89.5 and 650. Dig 90.3. Enjoy 91, especially since they'll play my shit. Even 98.9 is alright.
Other than that, its XM all the way. What you guys want an indie rock station or something?
Billy Joel wrote his greatest hits here in Nashville and he raps too. We Didn't Start the Fire! Hello?!! Don't hate on one of the great Americana rappers.
There's nothin' better than 92q on a Sunday afternoon, except maybe Doyle's Friday night show on RVU...oh, and 98% of the bands that can be labeled "Americana" are yawn-inducing, MOR bullshit. The other 2% are pretty frickin' rad though, and that makes me feel bad that tehy lumped into such a crappy genre...
What about the great Americana artist Blondie, who as everyone knows invented rap with their song "Rapture"? Why aren't they getting mainstream radio play?
Emily H., did you not listen to the radio in the late 70's, early 80's?? Blondie was a mainstream artist of the highest order. You couldn't turn on the radio without hearing Blondie. Surely, you must know this. Either that or you're too young to have heard it...which is fine, of course.
re: best of bread. it's a good show, if you want to hear the melvins, the jesus lizard, or 70's am soft rock. But i wouldn't accuse it breaking any great, new bands. But, since i'm of the opinion that the the last great songwriters were those guys from the 70's and before (you know, songs with some real structure, not just hooks), BOB can be really entertaining. Christ crofton, play more Ambrosia and 10CC!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm a 50 yr old male. I was a top 40 DJ from 1975 to 1992. Today I mostly listen to internet streams playing Club, House and Dance music, some are based in the U.S. and some come from other countries. On Nashville radio I sometimes listen to Blair Garner, Gerry House, Big D & Bubba, Proud Mary, Little Steven's Underground Garage and WRVU.
Lenny Kravitz and Tom Petty are part owners of WRLT, which is why they play their songs EVERY HOUR. I love WRLT, but I could do without the Lenny and Tom. And last time I checked, lots of AMA artists get regular airplay on WRLT. This is a good thing. If you want a customized radio station, go buy an iPod.
Emily H. I really hope your being sarcastic about Blondie inventing rap with "rapture.
Anyone remember RLT's sister station The Phoenix? I would have classified that as an Americana station. Low-power and down the dial in the low 90s, maybe 93.7 if I recall. But it was great. Couldn't sustain itself though, I guess, and went way in 2000? 2001?
Dr. Dwayne,if your reading this you should go check out three-six mafia at the Wildhorse tonight.Thats some good ol Americana music!
Radio, nationally is bad. The stations throughout the US have a money problem so they do not play NEW artists but play tunes that are 30 - 60 years old. Start a station that spins a few tunes of new artists and local talent.
"the curse of the drinking class" : americana :: blondie : the invention of rap.
which is to say: sarcasm is hard to convey on the internet. so are analogies.
if you really support WRVU, may i suggest coming out to the end tonight? a $5 donation will get you in the door and you'll be able to hear some of your favorite DJs spinning some great tunes. even ones that have been written after 1979.
91.1, 92Q is where it's at on the FM.
If you REALLY want something weird and mixed up, turn over to the AM on 1470, the vol. They play the craziest mix of rnb and when it's 3 in the morning and you REALLY need to hear the time's "the bird", it magically appears.
i agree with other posters, wrlt's playlist has way too much "safe" programming. i'll take the tom but could do without the lenny. there was a time when all i ever heard on there was that band, "train", with the song that had the noxema girl in the video as a waitress. i pretty much haven't listened to this station since that was in rotation. i DO however remember a time when i'd hear singles off london calling or armed forces. i also remember thunder 94.
oh yeah... and i forgot... the rev is also on 1470 in the daytime:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=371624100
I assume you guys are referring to the well-known counterargument that it was actually Malcolm McLaren who invented rap, with his hit single "Buffalo Gals." Okay, fair enough. I wasn't gonna mention him, because I don't really think of him as "Americana."
you're forgetting wild style subway theme music by chris stein (guitarist for blondie) with dj grand wizard theodore sampled by nas and many more:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aO-pjJDTndY
Radio stations exist solely to make a profit for their owners. Period. They're going to serve the market segment that responds to their advertisers. End of story.
The radio industry isn't obligated to cater to every fringe genre that comes along. If you can't find your favorite style on the radio, then maybe you could start your own radio station. Maybe you'll be successful, but odds are you won't; and for very logical reasons.
Even back in Chicago, your friends' radio station wouldn't be on the air if there wasn't a market for their programming.
Quit whining. Quit asking for freebies. Get over yourselves.
Vote here for best Band of the Week
Slideshows
Top Commenters
