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Geoff Muldaur & Jim Kweskin at the Prallsville Mill; May 22, 2010
July, 2010 - The Future of Music on the Radio
I am taking the summer off from the radio as I have each year since 1990 (Click here for Summer Schedule). While I plan to return September 12th to start another season, I find myself for the first time wondering about whether the audience for music on the radio - and my show in particular - is becoming an endangered species. Most people I know seem to listen to the radio primarily when driving, and primarily for news or other talk shows. When they want music, they turn to CDs, songs and albums downloaded to their iPods, or perhaps satellite radio.
Over the past year or two, the most frequent question I am asked about my show has become why it is not available by podcast. The answer is that law seems to prohibit radio stations from podcasting recording music. As a result, almost all current podcasts contain talk or in-studio or concert recordings. There are only a few stations that interpret the law otherwise and apparently don't worry that they may be jeopardizing their FCC license by playing music from CDs and LPs. WPRB definitely is not one of them.
I continue to love turning people on to music that I find wonderful and to plotting out a show each week and then seeing how it evolves and sounds as I reframe it on the air, but that is really only fun if I have confidence that folks are listening and finding it entertaining. And, as the number of emails, calls and stray comments directed my way shrinks, my confidence is decreasing.
What to do? I know people still listen and I am appreciative of each one, but I can no longer assume or pretend, as I once did, that each listener I know about represents hundreds I never encounter.
Now, I see myself as broadcasting to a small coffeehouse or storefront church. That is a path well-trod by generations of musicians I admire and, as long as WPRB remains willing to have me, is fine for the time being. But, if those listeners too start to drift away, then I'm not so sure.
I would welcome your thoughts and suggestions.
- John Weingart (send me an email)
(Click for an archive of previous blog entries)
SUMMER SUNDAYS - During my summer vacation from the radio, two new guest hosts, Andy Blue and Frank Todd, will be joining veteran voices Pete Labriola and Bob Schremser. I hope you enjoy their tastes in music and radio.
John Weingart (September 12)
Andy Blue (July 4, August 22, and September 5)
- Andy is an eclectic folksinger specializing in Blues with an encyclopedic knowledge of all branches of folk music.
Pete Labriola (July 11 and 25, August 8 and 29)
- Whenever things look bleakest in the war of good against evil, Pete will saddle up his trusty steed and ride into town - risking life and limb to vanquish yet another foe from the dark side. When not fighting evil with music, Pete can be found around the greater Princeton area running a real estate company, teaching math to college students, or directing theatrical productions, among other things.
Bob Schremser (August 1)
- Bob is a member of the Raven Rock Ramblers String Band and, for 51 Sundays a year, the host of 60s Psychedelia from 6:00-9:00 pm on WTSR radio at 91.3 FM.
Frank Todd (July 18 and August 15)
- Frank spent eight years in professional broadcasting in the 70s. For the last four years he has been hosting syndicated internet radio programs.
His site is www.franktoddradio.com.
THE RADIO SHOW
| "the best radio program in the universe..." - (George and Linda Griffin, Golden, Colorado, listeners on WPRB.com) "...always very wide-ranging, unpredictable and fun." - (Princeton Folk Music Society News) "among Philly's best and most unusual radio programs" - (RJforever.com/radiostars1.htm) |
WPRB is heard within a 45-mile radius from Princeton, New Jersey at 103.3 FM and worldwide at WPRB.com.
Music You Can't Hear On The Radio was begun by John Weingart in February 1974 to weave folk music, string band music, bluegrass blues, humor, the Grateful Dead and occasional news clippings and readings into a whole that aims to be, as often as possible, bigger than the sum of its parts. The program usually includes a mix of CDs and LPs each often linked to the ones that came before and follow after in a way intended to evoke interest, amusement, surprise, profound educational experiences, bewilderment, or other forms of active engagement. The opening song and other parts of the program may refer to particularly current news or seasonal events.
Every Sunday evening, for a few minutes usually sometime between 8:45 and 9:15 pm, the program includes a reading of selected concerts in the central New Jersey, Bucks County and Philadelphia area. These events and many more are maintained on a list available at the Concert Calendar page. To have other events noted on the list, please e-mail a barebones version of the relevant information.
Emailed comments from listeners are encouraged and always welcome. Listeners with a quick question or comment may call WPRB during the show at 609-258-1033 but be warned that the DJ is often too distracted to talk or listen coherently.
