The whole situation is rather murky.    In addition to cancelling the two shows listed above, they also cancelled Mountain Stage which aired immediately after.   

On Thursday, WDET announced that they were cancelling all their national shows (Car Talk, Thistle and Shamrock.. etc) to save money and promote local music shows.   On Friday they annoucned the cancelling of Folks Like US and Mountain Stage. That certainly did not fit with their press relase the day before.   On Saturday they had the new lineup on air.

Matt is a good friend of mine.   I have been in the studio many times with him- both as a phone operator during pledge drive, or driving in national artists playing in town.   I was just there three weeks ago with the Groovemonger when they played our contra dance.    At that time, Matt had no idea what was coming as we discussed future acts coming in town.

I know for a fact, that Matt had the second highest budget during plege week for the entire station- only behind morning edition.   I always assumed that meant he had the second biggest audience.   He always had a full staff for pledge drive and we always seemd to make the target.

Glen Morningstar (local caller and musician) wrote a stinging letter to the station.   One of his points was very significant. The station claims that only 6% of its viewers contribute to pledge drive, but if you check the zip codes he would contend that most of them are out of Detroit Metro and folks like us listeners.

There are two other public radio shows in our area.   Brad Battey- (fiddler and president of AACTMAD)stated it best when he said that they may carry Prarie Home, but do not give local announcements or support local musicians as Denise pointed out.

Our dance groups co sponsors a dance with Paint Creek Folklore society each year and has a fund raiser for WDET.   We have contributed $200 or more for the past 6-7 years.   Not this year.

It was a bad decision that was handled poorly.    Matt will bounce back.   WDET won't.