Bluegrass radio stations?
jeff lipchik
Hello, everyone!
Does anyone know why there are no 24-hour bluegrass stations in operation in
this country? It seems pretty strange to me that as many people as
there are that like bluegrass music, no one has come forth in attempt to
start their own bluegrass station. Did it ever come to mind that this is
probably 99% of the reason that bluegrass is not popular, and that not
many people have heard it, or know the difference as opposed to "country"?
There are over 4,000 country stations in the USA, and not one that I have
ever heard bluegrass music played on it. I only hear it on a few college
stations, and I play it whenever I operate my pirate bluegrass station.
I would like to hear some new stations in the near future with a format
of either all bluegrass 24/7, or a mixture of bluegrass and other
alternative country music. Good examples of the latter would include all
independent country labels, such as Sandy Ellwanger, as well as
artists on commercial labels that never get any airplay on commercial
radio, such as Amie Comeaux. I'm sure many people would be interested in
a break from the same songs every hour, 20 times a day like they do on
commercial country stations.
For starters, if anyone is interested in running a pirate radio station,
you might want to read alt.radio.pirate for ideas on transmitters and other
equipment/techniques on broadcasting. But the ultimate result I am looking
for is some all-bluegrass/alternative country stations (commercial or
non-commercial).
Jeff
Bluegrass 106.3 FM, Dearborn Heights, MI
james taulbee
bluegrass. If it were not for WRFG ("Radio Free Georgia") in Atlanta,
the Freight Room in Decatur (GA of course!) and the dedicated folks of
the Southeastern Bluegrass Association, bluegrass here would be solely (a
little irony here) a "salon" activity.
Dave Lavender
jlip...@elvis.umd.umich.edu writes:
>
>Does anyone know why there are no 24-hour bluegrass stations in
operation in
>this country? It seems pretty strange to me that as many people as
>there are that like bluegrass music, no one has come forth in attempt to
>start their own bluegrass station. Did it ever come to mind that this is
>probably 99% of the reason that bluegrass is not popular, and that not
>many people have heard it, or know the difference as opposed to
"country"?
closed-eared baffoons running the nation's country music stations
thinking they are cool because they have ''found'' Alison Krauss and
watering down the airwaves with the young -hat, disco, pop mainstream,
line-dance crap. I was talking to Charlie Daniels this summer and he said
its a damn shame when Merle Haggard can't get played on a country
station. The same can be said for bluegrass artists ranging from Tony
Rice, the Osborne Brothers, Flatt & Sruggs, Bill Monroe, Jimmy Martin and
all our favorite artists who should be getting played on these high power
so-called ''country stations.''
I was also bending John Conlee's ear this summer about the sad solid
state of radio affairs and he said it was sad that he's not hearing any
unique voices doing unique songs. Well, there are unique voices out there
in bluegrass and country such as Steve Earle, Nanci Griffith, Lyle
Lovett, Joe Ely, Guy Clark, Larry Stephenson, Del McCoury and Laurie
Lewis just to name a few and they should be getting country radio station
air time period!
At college radio stations and community radio stations, we do the best
we can. I revived the Blue Yodel Radiotime Cafe in Lexington, Ky. at
WRFL-FM (University of Kentucky) and we have one heck of a faithful and
cool audience, but this music is too good to get relegated to such puny
wattage and such limited hours.
For a good list of radio stations where you can get good grass you
might call The International Bluegrass Music Association in Owensboro,
Ky. (502) 684-9025. I'm sure they could send you a list of good radio
stations.
Hey, If I win the lottery tomorrow, I'll start that station and you
can D.J. via Michigan.
Jessica B Hadden
On Wed, 22 Nov 1995, Ken Murphy wrote:
> Are you kidding? In reading the posts in r.m.c.w, all I ever see is
> "X sucks, it ain't country." Can you imagine a generation of folks that have
> all been raised on HNC, actually listening to an acoustic band? Or
> appreciating a 4-part harmony? If it doesn't have smashing geetars, or
> a raging synth, they ain't interested.
May I venture to say that you generalize an awful lot? Being a fan of
HNC does not automatically exclude one from having musical taste . . .
God forbid somebody that knows *anything* about music listen to
*anything* with an electric, um, 'geetar'!
##Ooops . . . I smell smoke . . . stopping now before I violate fire code!##
. . . jessica . . .
Bruce Hopper
>jeff lipchik (jlip...@elvis.umd.umich.edu) wrote:
>
>: Hello, everyone!
>
>: Does anyone know why there are no 24-hour bluegrass stations in operation in
>: this country? It seems pretty strange to me that as many people as
>
>"X sucks, it ain't country." Can you imagine a generation of folks that have
>all been raised on HNC, actually listening to an acoustic band? Or
>appreciating a 4-part harmony? If it doesn't have smashing geetars, or
>a raging synth, they ain't interested.
>
>your original question. ;) I recently attended a bluegrass festival in
>Denver. There were about 10 *great* bands playing. There was an audience
>of 100-200 people, every day. Now if there were 10 HNC bands playing for
>an entry fee of $15, can you imagine the sheer number of people that would
>show up? It has been said many times that one can't make a living playing
>bluegrass (AK excepted ;) ). Radio stations are all about money, with the
>possible exception of college radio. That's why you hear bluegrass shows in
>college radio.
>
>I only wish your dream would come true, and if you station was local, I'd
>be tuned there 100% of the time.
>
>[snip-O-roonie]
====================================
OOOOOH! Does your comment about " It has been said many times that one can't make a living playing
>bluegrass (AK excepted ;) )." mean that we're known for being a good environment to play bluegrass in???? I know a lot of folks up=
here in the Last Frontier who would be tickled to hear someone from the "Lower 48" say that!!! We sure have an active community, a=
nd we have a heck of a lot of fun!
Robin Hopper
njn...@alaska.net
Ken Murphy
: ke...@array.com (Ken Murphy) wrote:
: >I only wish your dream would come true, and if you station was local, I'd
: >be tuned there 100% of the time.
: >
: >[snip-O-roonie]
: ====================================
: OOOOOH! Does your comment about " It has been said many times that one
: can't make a living playing
: >bluegrass (AK excepted ;) )." mean that we're known for being a
: good environment to play bluegrass in???? I know a lot of folks up
: here in the Last Frontier who would be tickled to hear someone
: from the "Lower 48" say that!!! We sure have an active community,
: and we have a heck of a lot of fun!
I had to read that a couple of times to get it... ;) Gotta switch back
to caffenated coffee. Naaa, AK was meant to be Alison Krauss. Sorry.
: Robin Hopper
: njn...@alaska.net
--
O Ken Murphy aka ke...@array.com RMEC
<M>erfMan DoD #0479 '94 YZ 250 NRA COHVCO
_/ \_ Yeah, I play banjo; So what? 406077 AMA
Disclaimer: _I_ don't believe what I said, why should you? 0005 FOLMA