I’m listening to commercial radio
I’m listening to commercial radio again, for the first time in a really long time, maybe 8 years? Clear Channel, widely recognized as spawn of the devil for consolidating and ruining radio, has started a new station in LA with a new format. Indie 103.1 (a funny name for a station from Clear Channel, right?) has been amazing in the first couple weeks. They’ve been playing a lot of Pixies, Sugar, Replacements, all the rock of that era as well as some pretty good new stuff. This is the first time i’ve ever heard Black Flag on the radio. Andy had written about it when it launched and he’s got some interesting information about who owns the station and what Clear Channel’s plans could be.
I’m worried that the station is going to turn to crap, but for now, i’m ecstatic. I can’t remember the last time I stayed in the car waiting for a song to finish, but it’s been a long time. They’re streaming online, give it a listen and see what you think.
4 Comments, Comment or Ping
Bianca
Supposedly that radio station is supposed to stay the way it is… with no djs, and very few commercials. I guess the point is to bring back true “alternative” music to los angeles, something KROQ abandoned long ago.
I hope it stays great too, but they play far too much radiohead and the faint on there, and thats saying a lot coming from me cause i love the faint.
Jan 18th, 2004
lazy
got one of those in san diego too. i think it is 94.9 or something. my lcd is hosed so i divine radio stations by touch and kismet.
it plays a lot of pre-recorded messages about how indie it is and how it keeps it real. play a lot of obscure* music: dead kennedys, pixies, et. al.
it has a strange vibe though, as if they are almost trying to sell edgy, non-mainstream music on the radio as a mainstream flavor. not really sure if it is CC or not, but i am suspicious. i suppose i could look it up somewhere if i were so inclined. so, i guess the music is OK for now and if i wake up in 5 years and find out i am a corporate mope, then i will blame them.
*obscure for mainstream radio , i.e. above 91.9 on the dial
Apr 1st, 2004
perisoft
I certainly hope you don’t buy products from companies advertising on that station.
Sadly, the vast majority of the ‘indie’ bands - and all of the ones you mention - are on RIAA labels.
What does that mean? Every time you buy one of their albums, you’re feeding money to an organization that is attempting to legalize their hacking into your computer and deleting your MP3s sans due process, eliminating fair use so you can’t copy a CD to your MP3 player or another CD for the car, and establishing DRM-locked computing systems that would make production of independent music basically illegal - any CD burner would check with the RIAA before writing a CD. If you’re not on a RIAA label with the appropriate licenses, you can’t even make a CD of your own music!
Whether or not these things happen - and some of them have, like how when I buy a CDR to burn my music to, I pay the RIAA labels 8% - you have to question whether you want to support, in even the slightest sense (and especially in a monetary sense) an organization that will completely destroy independent music if given a chance.
Take a look and see how many of your favorite bands are sleeping with the enemy.
Apr 14th, 2004
leonard
perisoft, I don’t disagree with the thrust of what you say (I count up RIAA and MPAA media I consume at the end of the year and send a matching contribution to the EFF) but I’m not sure where you’re getting the 8% on CD-Rs from. (sources please)
If you’re referring the the “DAT Tax” from the Home Recording Act of 1992, that’s specified as 3% for media, and only for “Audio only” CD-Rs (not the stuff most people buy).
Oh, I don’t think that the hyperbole helps. Two wrongs don’t make a right.
Apr 17th, 2004
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