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Radio Talk
With Frank Ahrens
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, July 24, 2001; 1 p.m. EDT
Frank Ahrens covers radio for The Washington Post. His column -- "The Listener" -- appears every other Tuesday in the Style section. Frank is also a general assignment feature writer, and his reporting subjects have included everything from minivans to murders, from baseball to bandwidth.
If you're wondering about the inner workings of radio in Washington, around the country and on the Web, or want to know what Frank really thinks of minivans, then don't touch that dial... um, mouse! Please join us for this discussion!
Check out the second edition of Radio Lives with Frank Ahrens, a series of conversations with washington radio's biggest stars. On this episode, Ahrens interviews Bob Edwards, host of NPR's "Morning Edition."
A transcript follows.
Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control
over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
Frank Ahrens: Greetings all, and welcome to the discussion.
The well-rested Listener, becoming accustomed to his every-other-week status during the summer, is ready to accept your questions.
First, the news.
Today's column focused on an odious promotion that Top 40 Hot 99.5 put on last week and early this week, called "The Running Of the Bull Dykes." Read the column at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40770-2001Jul23.html
to see what I thought of the contest. (P.S. I didn't write the headline.)
Typically, we don't like to break news in these disucssions, but I ran out of room in my column today and will probably write a short story later this week, but since you're here: Bluegrass update at WAMU!
One of the two hosts who had their bluegrass/country shows killed during the week--Jerry Gray--has decided to pack it in and not accept WAMU's offer to host a weekend show. Didn't like the look of the contract WAMU offered. The other host, Ray Davis, was able to come to terms with his version of the contract and will do a weekend show, on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Further, at least 72 disgruntled former WAMU bluegrass donors have demanded, and received, their $35 membership pledges back from the station.
So, on with the discussion...
Herndon, Va.:
I was listening to Z104 this morning and Dylan kept referencing the fact that he needed to drum up more interest in the station in order to keep his job. Do you have any further information? Was his contract based on performance over three months?
Frank Ahrens: I think Dylan (Guy Patton) signed a longer-term deal. Of course, most contracts say the station can fire you whenever they want...it's a tough business. I didn't hear it, but it sounds like the continued salvos of the Top 40 war between Z104 and Hot 99.5.
Reston, Va:
Frank,
The folks at Clear Channel have been probably "slapping each other five" over the free publicity you provided to them this morning for their horrendous morning show at Hot 99.5. Everyone knows that any publicity is better than none, especially when your ratings are 1.9. Don't forget this is the same company that killed a pig for ratings in Tampa, and here in D.C., bragged that they will play the "bad" words in songs while Z104 won't. What a selling point! If you want to actually provide a service to your readers, you will give them names and addresses of the FCC and Congress to help break up this horrible company that has no standards and will do anything for ratings and the almighty buck
Frank Ahrens: Believe me, I struggled with writing about this topic for just the reason you say: Radio folks are happy just to get their names in the paper, good or bad, because the Arbitron diaires are based solely on memory and not impression: they ask you to remember what station you heard, not what you thought of it.
However, sometimes staitons need to be spanked for what they do and this was one of them.
I do not agreee that the government should break up a company because they broadcast tasteless material--corporate breakup should occur only if and when it can be proven that the company violated laws, such as federal anti-trust regulation. However, I think that by bringing such deeds to light, as I did this morning, the market will make its decisions on its own.
Why has Don Geronimo forsaken us?:
What is Don Geronimo thinking with his latest scheduled programming?!
First: He fires, not moves, the top rated and nationally syndicated midday guy in a field dominated by easy listening shows/stations. As much as his politics make me cringe, Liddy was a blast to listen to at times and better than any Kenny G. worshipping station could hope to offer.
Second: He takes his OWN show, that for all intents and purposes is THE show to listen in the TOP RATED and TOP AD RATE CARD p.m. drive and moves it to midday to compete against easy listening. This move mystifies me the most. Most Don and Mike listeners in the D.C. area cannot listen to the show at work -- it's not exactly PC work friendly fare -- and since CBS/Big Daddy Mel Karmazin refuse to webcast the show, that's an enormous body of the local listenership shut out for good. And these are the listeners who made D&M as popular as they are.
Third: And what does he replace in p.m. drive, a NON-LOCAL show. So that means that WJFK has a New York show in a.m. drive and a New York show in p.m. drive.
And yet he leaves that miserable excuse of weekend programming largely intact -- what the hell? I guess he likes Pat Goss and that stupid Crystal Ford Isuzu guy.
I have listened to the show pretty much constantly since 1995 and now I can no longer listen to the show because of this seemingly punitive move he's doing to his home listenership.
What on earth is he thinking? Does he think that this will garner ratings? And does he think his listeners won't recognize the fact that he is basically -----ing on the DC listenership?
Sorry for the rant, but driving around here is bad enough, at least they made me laugh on my way home. Now I can't even do that.
Frank Ahrens: All your points are well and passionately made.
I had written in my story on the Liddy firing, but it got cut for space (to quote Charlton Heston: Damn them! Damn them all to hell!), that one of the reasons why moving the Don and Mike show to middays is risky is exactly because of the at-work Internet issue. See, stations such as smooth jazz 105.9 and WASH and other "at-work" stations not only provide a sort of indistinguishable wallpaper sound that's innocuous in the office, up until this AFTRA Internet streaming magilla, you could get them on your computer. (Once every company figgers out a way to get around this, you will get radio stations streamed back into your computer; lots of Clear Channel stations are on the verge of returning streaming service.)
However: Don and Mike work for Infinity, which has expressly forbid its stations from streaming their signals: which means no Don and Mike on the computer at work.
Further, your point about not having local D.C. shows in mornign and evening drive is well-taken, but it's not like Don and Mike address local issues, like a Chris Core; they are entertainers who talk about movies, themselves, etc.
Maybe Geronimo's (who was named WJFK program director a coupel of months ago) eye will fall next on the weekend programming: it is not a priority, inasumch as most of it is brokered--which means it's paid for by the person on the air, which means it's making money and doesn't cost WJFK anything. Further, weekend radio listening is much lower than weekday, so clearly it's a lesser priority.
As for Liddy, I agree with you: he is entertaining, but evidently, WJFK/Infinity officials felt he no longer felt with the feel of WJFK.
Good rant.
D.C. Radio Stinks:
I'm submitting this early hoping that it gets posted. Morning radio stinks and I never quite get how people find the morning personalities entertaining. Similarly, I don't get how magazines such as Vogue and Cosmo get away with repeating the same old line for the past eons. In any case, the 99.5 situation is atrocious and those 2 morons should have been punished like the Greasemonkey was a few years back. I'n no brain surgeon, but why are people's intellects subjected only to this crap? My question, do you listen to WPFW on Tueday nights from 9 to 10 pm? The best hour in radio. The lady in charge, Marlene Fernandez?, must be on some good -$%- because she can't even pronounce in spanish. You can't criticize her passion for the show just hope that she may talk less and play more music.
Frank Ahrens: Thanks for the posting.
Speaking of magazines, someone recently said, pretty humorously, that golf magazines are essentially Cosmo and Vogue for men: where Cosmo/Vogue has "Top 10 Tips to Drive Him Wild in Bed," golf mags have "Top 10 Tips To Improve Your Short Game."
Mountie in Fairfax, Va.:
Wonderful article on the flooding in Southern West Va. I had tears in my eyes reading it. Are you planning any followups on the recovery efforts or progress on the charges against the coal companies? (Personally, I think that all executives should have to live downstream or in the vicinity of the hazards they create.)
On today's column: What the hell was that station thinking? As someone who has had friends beaten up in alleyways because they were coming out of a gay bar, this makes me want to go down to the station and slap them around until they see the light.
Frank Ahrens: Thanks for the kind words on the West Virginia flood. I'd like to go back at some point and see how the folks have tried to recover. It's a cliche, I know, but some towns were literally wiped out.
As for Hot 99.5's bull-dyke promotion, I do not endorse violence, but I appreciate the sentiment.
Washington, D.C.:
I just came back from a week in Austin, Texas. THEY HAVE REAL PUBLIC RADIO!
There were two stations at least, one playing actual classical music all day long, pieces played full length, a mix of cheerful and challenging, but real classical music all the way.
A second was a roots etc station, with an eclectic mix of you name it, plus the standard NPR news shows. They had a blues show, a folk show, a roots show, and several different people playing eclectic mixes of their own making.
It was paradise.
Why can't we have something that good here?
Frank Ahrens: It's a good question, especially now that public radio WETA (90.9) and WAMU (88.5) are broadcasting the same programming in moring and evening drive. Let's not forget that Pacifica's WPFW (89.3) is a public staiton too, and plays stuff like jazz that you won't hear anywhere else on the dial.
But by and large, D.C. listeners are cut off from the terrific world of public radio variety that's out there.
Did you know--it's true!--that NPR affiliate stations don't have to play just news/talk and classical? WDET, an NPR affiliate in Detroit (www.wdet.org) plays Morning Edition, Fresh Air and All Things Considered, but in bewteen plays terrific jazz, folk, blues, funk, R&B; Yes! It's true!
Go to www.current.org/stream to see links to lots of cool NPR affiliate stations that play lots of cool music.
Arlington, Va.:
In your last chat, you said that you thought the Sports Junkies show was the best Washington radio has to offer. I hope you were joking, or meant the show is the best show DC radio has to offer 13 year old boys. So, seriously this time, what DC shows do you think are tops? I would nominate the Donnie Simpson Show and the Kornheiser Show.
Frank Ahrens: I kid you not: I said it last Christmas and I still believe that the Junkies are the best thing on local radio. Here's why: It's not even about the sports; they are at their best when they're talking about themselves and their families and friends. I grant you that only a certain section of the population--let's say guys in their 20s to 40s--may "get" all the Junkies' repartee, but I know lots of women who listen. Why? Because they are all talented and natural comedians. They have great chemistry and, furthermore, great affection between them. And, finally, it is no small issue than in an era of increasing crassness and meanness on radio, the Junkies are a show that is devoid of hate, misogyny even mostly bad language.
I would agree that Donnie and Tony do good shows, as well.
Maryland:
107.3 used to play Ace of Base. Not anymore. Who else is playing it?
Frank Ahrens: Hopefully, no one.
Washington, D.C.:
Hi:
What do you believe is the reason for the sharp drop in ratings for WGMS over the past few months? Is anger over their decision to drop the Metropolitan Opera broadcasts -- and the organized boycott -- a major factor? And what have you learned about WETA's plans to pick up the Met broadcasts? Thanks.
Frank Ahrens: Well, I don't know about that. Ratings often run in cycles, and I know there are some very very unhappy opera fans out there, who are outraged and action-oriented over WGMS's decision to drop opera, but I can't think that they had that much impact as to hurt WGMS's ratings that much. Sorry.
Washington, D.C.:
So, let me get this straight: lesbians can call themselves "dykes" but nobody else can. As a reporter, when did your skepticism leave you? Why do you accept this nonsense?
Frank Ahrens: I never purported that at all. If you read my story, you will see the line: "The truth is, the contest was indefensible in any form -- perhaps even if it had aired on a lesbian radio station."
There is a worthwile debate on who owns language. The Marines in World War II took the Nazi's slur for them--Devil Dogs--and appropriated for themeselves. The argument goes that, by seizing the offending word and using it yourself, you strip it of its power. Which is why you hear so many rappers use the N-word. On the other hand, lots of folks--black scholars, for instance--believe that any occurance of the word is harmful, and espescially so when it's used by a black rapper--they believe it's like getting a person to hurt themselves with your weapon.
As the GLAAD spokeswoman pointed out, there are lots of lesbian women who are offended when they hear another lesbian use the term "dyke."
Austin, Texas:
The erascable G. Gordon Liddy was extra fiesty yesterday, frequently taking time from his broadcast to mock those who claim he's been fired from WJFK, and his staff indicate such rumors are -- Bravo Sierra. How confident are you that Mr. Liddy has been fired from flagship station WJFK?
Frank Ahrens: This has all happened very fast for Mr. Liddy and no one wants to find out they've been fired from the newspaper. So I accept his denials as face-saving posturing. That's okay; he's licking his wounds. I stand by my story, to haul out a Watergate-era phrase.
Annapolis, Md.:
Thanks for taking my question.
We're taking 95 to Florida on Saturday. Any suggestions for good classic rock stations along the route? I remember that we got a great one in Charleston many years ago, but I forgot what it is.
Thanks.
Frank Ahrens: I'm going to relay on my travelin' readers for this one. Am taking suggestions for classic rock stations along the I-95 corridor. Classic rockers...?
Annandale, Va.:
Frank,
I'm sure much of today will be spent talking about the WJFK shakeup. I was wondering if you could address a few of things if you haven't already:
1. How do you think Don and Mike will do in a mid-day timeslot? Many of us who listen regularily just plain cannot listen to the radio during that time of day due to work. It's a shame that I will essentially no longer be able to listen to my favorite radio show anymore.
2. When in New York, I've listened to O&A; I just don't find them as entertaining as Don and Mike. Maybe it's the local D.C. angle D&M always take. How do you think O&A will do comapred to D&M in the same time slot?
3. One show overlooked is the Tech Radio Show Saturdays on WJFK. This show and Goss' Garage were the only things to listen to on WJFK weekends. Tech Radio was just cancelled. Do you know anything about their ratings, and do you have any opinions about that show?
Thanks in advance.
Frank Ahrens: 1) It is not an unrisky move for the Don and Mike show. Mornign show star Tom Joyner has shown in numerous cities--here in Washington last fall--that if you have loyal listeners, you can pack them up in a suitcase and carry them from station to station. Don and Mike are betting they can do the same thing and move their fans from afternoon to middays. I think you are right, however: Lots of peopel are in offices middays and radio signals don't penetrate office walls. Further, Don and Mike are not streamed on the Internet. Finally, their material--often raunchy and always boisterous--does not make for good, consensus-building at-work listening.
2) Have heard Opie and Anthony several times. They are a little younger than Don and Mike and more overtly sexual. Go to the Web site of their station, WNEW (www.wnew.com) and see what they do (for instnance, their self-explanatory Whip Em Out Wednesdays contest). They'll probably fit fine at WJFK.
3) I have really no opinion or knowledge, sorry, about WJFK's weekend programming.
The Airless Cubicle:
Sorry, Frank, small correction re: Marines. The Marines fought the German Army in the First World War. It was at the battles of Belleau Wood and St. Michel that they earned the nickname "Teufelhund", or "Devil Dog." Otherwise, good point. Persecuted groups often take the previous generation's perjorative and make it a point of pride, such as Blacks using the n-word or gays the q-word. And, to bring it to radio, "ham" operators do the same (play on the word "amateur" with "ham actor").
O Dubya
Frank Ahrens: Dubya, you are a continuous font of useful information. (Unless, of course, one day you're revealed to be a raving maniac and you just made up all this stuff all this time...)Was afraid I had my wars wrong with the Marines.
Thanks much!
(Great on the "ham" radio!)
Frederick, Md.:
Frank, was that you on TV news last night? If so, to paraphrase Warren Zevon: I would like to meet your tailor.
Frank Ahrens: Hahaha! That's what you get for standing around outside the Post waiting for a bus to Kay Graham's funeral and TV crews are hovering like locusts looking for anyone--even a lowly Style writer--to interview. Thanks for the nice words: it is one of my highest compliments to Kay Graham, and a real show of respect to her, that her funeral occasioned me to don a tie.
LJ Arlington Virginia:
The debate over the term "dyke" is similar to that over "queer," Or a Sicilian using "dago" or "wop". It is one thing to be used within the family, another to be labelled it.
The Gay community is fairly evenly divided over the use of dyke and queer by gays, with a lot of the division occuring along age divisions: if you grew up in an age when dyke and queer were slurs only hets used, then the term still has negative and connotations and emotional impact. If you grew up as a member of the Lesbian Avengers, you might have a different point of view.
LJ
Queer as Folks
Frank Ahrens: Thanks much for the posting. Appreciate it.
Classic Rock Stations...:
When you start to lose the DC stations, you can try to get XL102 (I think it's at 101.9) that broadcasts in Richmond.
And then just hope that you have a satellite radio in your car by next summer so you can listen to one station the whole way with no (or few)commercials.
Frank Ahrens: Here's some classic rock advice to our South-bound traveler. Thanks much.
Silver Spring, Md.:
Beyond scheduling changes, what do you think of the new "sound" of WJFK, courtesy of Don Geronimo? I can't stand the reverb, I think it sounds like bad AM radio from the '70s, and the new voice for station IDs, etc. Sounds a bit creepy to me.
Frank Ahrens: Geronimo added the reverb to make the station sound a little more distinctive. WFJK's signal is not very good, so it can use all the tricking up they can come up with, seems to be the opinion.
Chicago, Ill.:
Death of the 80s: the playlist to Chicago's "80s and beyond" station is prominently including Matchbox 20, Train, and other new lame rock-lite bands. In fact, from what I've heard, there's an 80s song about every five songs, and nothing that's totally dated like Wham or Culture Club.
Well, that trend lasted, oh, about five minutes.
Frank Ahrens: Those '80s stations, many called "The Point" did, as you correctly point out, came and went pretty quickly. The 80s station in Philly ,WPTP, ranked about 16th or 17th overall among all listeners (would have to check how it hit is target audience for a complete read), but you can see how its not a ratings winner. This seems to be a case of the industry panting packlike after an anomoly: a station in Portland Ore. flipped to '80s a year or so ago, shot to the top, and everyoen followed suit. The '80s station in Portanld, btw, is ranked about 12th.
Washington, D.C. 20121:
I have to disagree with the earlier poster - kudos to you for your write-up today. I was happy to see it, if only to know that you disapprove of some of these horrible morning shows (you seem to be hesistant to criticize when they are brought up in this forum). Although I try to avoid the talk portions of these shows, I unfortunately do catch some of the banter from time to time, and I sadly say that this sort of stereotypical drivel is the rule, not the exception. It should also be pointed out that not only did they try to pull this stunt, but they also thought it would be funny to dress up a guy in a Z104 shirt and send him around a neighborhood claiming he was a sex offender. Because sex offenders are SO funny.
Frank Ahrens: Good posting. Yes, the same station that did the bull dyke promo, Hot 99.5, pulled the stunt you mention, putting on a Z104 shirt and going door-to-door, telling people he was moving into the neighborhood and was, I believe, an ANIMAL sex offender. Foes of Clear Channel, which owns Hot 99.5, will say this only follows the compnay line of shock and tastelessness: A Clear Channel jock in Florida, one "Bubba the Love Sponge" (what does that MEAN???) got in big trouble and may face prison time because he slaughtered a live hog on-air. Animal cruelty and all that.
New Bern, N.C.:
There's a great classic rock station listenable through most of Central Virginny from Hampton Roads called The Fox (I think it is 106.9 FM). It reminds me of the old days of DC101 slash 98 rock with a healthy mix and real live Djs.
PS- I am an affiliate of Liddy's and talked to my WW1 rep today. He confirms that changes are imminent, but nothing is set yet. He also claims that there are other (perhaps not on the FM dial) stations in the DC area who will foaming at the mouth for the #1 rated show for its demo and have contacted WW1 already. Liddy will survive at its timeslot both in syndication and in Washington, albeit not on 'JFK, most likely.
Frank Ahrens: Good classic rock tip and good info on Liddy. Thanks.
The Airless Cubicle:
Hi, Frank.
In two of the last three weekends, I drove from Dee Cee to Fort Devens, Massachusetts, to take my intelligent, beautiful, and karate-using daughter to Sea Cadet camp. (She graduated and I have very good things to say about the Sea Cadets) On the way, I listened to a lot of radio, except when the countryside of the Berkshires or the Catskills or the Poconos were so beautiful it needed to be savored in silence.
The best talk station I heard on the way was WOR-710-New York City. Although the topics aren't always to my taste, the hosts are intelligent and polite and assume that I share these aspects. WNYC-820-New York City also had some interesting coverage of the Falun Gong demonstration here in Washington. Boston has too many radio stations that have "car talk" on a Sunday morning.
I've heard the argument that smaller cities have more diverse playlists because they cater to a larger audience. This is not necessarily so. Some of the smaller towns, such as Scranton, Pennsylvania, have two or three oldies stations on the AM band, with satellite feed coming in. Even in a smaller market, one is aiming for a consistent "sound" 24/7. What one does hear are more diverse formats. Long Island's WLUX did have an interesting all-Sinatra format, and I heard decent Christian contemporary music in Western Massachusetts as well as all-swing band stations. And it's not Pennsylvania without POLKAS!
With Mr. Gray leaving WAMU (and taking his vast music library with him), jazz being relegated to the low-power public band, and G. Gordon Liddy being possibly syndicated to WTNT-570-Rockville, there isn't much attractiveness on local radio. But do not despair, Washington. It's the same around the Northeast.
The Original Dubya
Ask me how I can pick up Morse code on a cheap shortwave radio.
Frank Ahrens: Just saw this posting...thanks much. Sounds like you're raising a trained killer. I hear the theme to "Sea Hunt."
Dee Cee (The Original):
Hi Frank-
I used to think of recommending to you for a
article, what may have been the longest running show on the same radio station in town (and my favorite), The Jerry Gray Show which ran for twenty-nine years on WAMU.
Since 1972 his unique program of songs of the old west, western swing, classic country music, some newer alt. county (like Lyle Lovett, Nanci Griffith, Jerry Jeff Walker) even occasional recitations by cowboy poets aired on Saturday afternoons.
Unfortunately, Mr. Gray decided to quit the show, even though WAMU kept it on, despite dropping the p.m. drive time bluegrass that
Gray and Ray Davis hosted.
In my call to the station to inquire I was told by a staffer that Gray decided to retire and stay home and take care of his health (he is a heart transplant recipient) and not deal with the stress of coming to the station only one day a week.
The July 20th issue of Washington City Paper,
however, has an article on Mr. Gray's show and a more detailed explanation of why he left the station. Apparently WAMU was offering only a one-year contract and they would have recorded all of his music for future internet broadcast. (Link through to this article on Dave Hughes site www.dcrtv.com scroll down the news hotline page.) Eddie Dean's article sums it up as best as an old and dear friend who had a loyal, almost cult following and infused each show with a warm conversational style.
And with his sidekick "Clyde" the steer (cue the tape cartridge with mooing sounds and a cowbell clanking) one did not have to be a kid to believe that he had a steer in the studio.
Frank Ahrens: Thaks for the posting. Eddie did a nice, gentle job on Jerry.
Fairfax, Va.:
Frank ---
Did you and your buds see that The Lovely Lynne Russell is going to pose in Playboy?
Frank Ahrens: The annoucement brought our work here at The Post to a standstill for hours as we simply ruminated on the possibilities.
Say: she sent us a thank-you note for the piece a couple of weeks ago, telling us she's reading TV scripts (!) for a possible acting gig.
Northern Virginia:
I'm submitting this early because I'm hoping you'll get to it first before you respond to all the inevitable onslaught of comments on 99.5's contest and G. Gordon Liddy getting cancelled...
Were you familiar with the Tech Radio Show on WJFK on Saturday's from 2 to 4 pm? Well last Saturday was their last show because the station essentially forced them out (the hosts claim that they weren't "fired") by moving their show to midnight (!) on Saturdays.
I was one of the few people who absolutely loved this show; unlike ANY other show on the radio, I specifically made time to listen to it on Saturday, even if I was at home and not in my car. Jeff, the lead host, said that he would not consider moving the show to an AM station; I believe (not sure) that he said it wasn't real radio, or something like that. Do you agree with this? Could you PLEASE let him know here publically that AM radio would in fact be an excellent place for his show, and that if he would consider moving to AM he could probably get a better time slot than even Saturday's 2 to 4? Me and the rest of the show's fans would really appreciate it.
I was thinking of writing a letter (the first time in my life) to the station telling them politely how I feel. Do you think that would help?
Frank Ahrens: I am not very familiar with teh show, but I have listened a couple of times. Here's your posting, which may do some good, and writing a letter won't hurt. If you can get lots of friends to write lots of letters, that will help your cause more. Radio responds to volume.
Public radio on the internet:
You wrote: Did you know--it's true!--that NPR affiliate stations don't have to play just news/talk and classical? WDET, an NPR affiliate in Detroit (www.wdet.org) plays Morning Edition, Fresh Air and All Things Considered, but in bewteen plays terrific jazz, folk, blues, funk, R&B; Yes! It's true!
Go to www.current.org/stream to see links to lots of cool NPR affiliate stations that play lots of cool music.
Since you brought it up, can I suggest a few more eclectic public stations around the country, all of which you can listen to on your computer:
KCRW, Santa Monica: Morning Become Eclectic (9-12 am Pacific time, 12-3 Washington time) is one of the best sources of new music anywhere.
KSCM, San Mateo, CA: All jazz, 24 hours a day.
KCSN, Northridge, CA: Classical durign the day, but weeknights and weekends are a mix of almost any imaginable style of music, from polynesian on Monday night to a Grateful Dead hour late Sunday.
KANU, Lawrence, KS: Mixture of classical and jazz, with the Retro Cocktail Hour on Saturday nights.
WFUV, New York City: Almost entirely folk and traditional music
Frank Ahrens: Thanks for the tips. I listen to WFUV, the Fordham University station, when I'm in NYC.
Sterling, Va.:
Hey Frank. How is it that last month you got stuck with the story on the West Virginia flooding, while your editors sent one of your style-section colleauges to Hedonism for an all-expenses-paid vacation in swinger paradise?
Frank Ahrens: Because I am doing the Lord's work.
Falls Church, Va.:
I was hoping you could talk about some of the peculiar community programming the area stations put on the air at around 7:30 a.m. on Sundays. I guess they're trying to fill some type of government regulation. I tuned into DC101 expecting to hear rock and got a panel discussion on a story in The Post. Over on HFS, they mixed in songs by Linkin Park with a guest talking about the Maryland Food Bank. It was very strange.
Frank Ahrens: All radio stations have to air an certain amount of public service programming per week. They cram it all into the late/early weekend hours when no one's listening, so as not to use up precious, high-listenership times like mornign and evening drive.
Frank Ahrens: That's going to do it for today, folks. Thanks for all the very good questions.
Obviously, there's a lot of interest in the shake-up at WJFK, so we'll be following that.
Also, check out a story on www.salon.com by Eric Bohlert, who does some fine radio work; this one today is on payola in black radio.
See you in two weeks; everyone try to stay cool and in the shade.
© Copyright 2001 The Washington Post Company
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