some clarification. no, npr (national public radio) nor the cpb (corporation
for publci broadcasting) directly control which content local affiliates
choose to program. the shows are widely similar across the nation but not
exactly. KCRW is certainly the exception to the rule - it being the only US
station carrying gilles testifies to that point. Almost all stations however
have in-house jazz programmers (can't call em djs) that are really limited by
songs that are on the station's designated playlist - there is a more precise
name for this list. It is controlled (at least in chicago) by one or two
powerful jazz honchos who hold the key to what gets played and what doesn't.
What gets programmed and played is what I call straight-ahead, no frills
jazz. Programming is becoming more market driven - ie. lowest common
denominator - what does the AVERAGE listener (narrow well off demographic)
want to hear. It has gotten to be a slightly high brow commercial jazz
station.
Chicago's jazz scene is flourishing at the moment... vandmark, tortoise, the
resurgent aacm musicians (check the new niki mitchell lp) chicago underground
duo, david boykin, malachi thompson, daniel givens, von freeman, hamid drake,
etc, etc. Places like the Empty Bottle are being recognized internationally
for the deep stuff going down. BBC has been broadcasting concerts from there.
Yet, not a one of those artists recieve play on wbez. The GM of WBEZ puts it
well - "It's not supposed to be different shows by different people that
just happen to occur on the same radio station"
The playlist is bland - over 80% is midtempo and safe (no experimentation),
i'd say 2/5 is lame vocal jazz.
From what I've heard and read, the same is happening everywhere (except the
few bright spots - almost all college and community) The stations have to be
worried about market share and demographics now. It isn't their fault
entirely but it must change.
Regarding the low power stations. Yes, the FCC is being somewhat defiant -
announcing the approval of applications after the bill that was attached to
the budget. I am not completely clear on what the future will be - I think
few people are. I think most people think that the new FCC Chairman will hold
the cards and
decide whether to press forward with the plan or not. the legislation ties
his hands by putting so many conditions on applicants and leaving final
approval in the hands of Congress - They actually stripped the FCC of their
bureacratic power to score applications.
finally - no, its not completely Republicans against this - but mostly. Yes,
NPR has been a major voice against the idea. They're scared of competition
and (they say) their signal being distorted (there are already provisions
against this).
Imagine radio stations broadcasting from the projects in the US. Those who
live in or American Samoa, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Missouri, New
York, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Wisconsin can now apply for a
station. I'd like to see who they gave preliminary approval to in the first
round.... anyone previously operating an illegal station was disqualified i
think.
matt
matt
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