WFDU - Ron Olesko "Commercial stations go with advertisers, and advertistes cater to a different demographic than what constitutes the "folk" audience." "

Guest from Sanity: "So, do you think it possible to change that situation, if the 'folkies' got more serious, and creative????....or is it 'over' as far as ever getting into the mainstream, wider influence of things? "

How can you change a business that is designed to make money?   All businesses have a plan and it has been proven that a station will make more money if they advertise to a younger audience.

Public radio was designed to be protected from the commercial interests, but starting with the deregulation of radio, public radio had to turn its back on the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 and worry about its own survival.   No one wanted to be regulated for a variety or reasons - freedom of speech as one. Operators did not want to be held under the strict rules that Fairness Doctrine held station owners accountable to. While it spoke to the "tell both sides" story that #1 Peasant is asking for, it is an unrealistic action and is against what freedom of speech is supposed to be about. You do not tell someone what to say, you provide forums for each side to say their piece.

Unfortunately, the downside of deregulation has brought us to the empty suit consultants that dictate the need to raise money for survival. The kind of donations that a folk audience brings is not enough to support some of the larger stations.   I've been lucky to volunteer at a station that has not been subject to these issues, but it is a reality for many.   ALL "fringe" audiences face danger of being eliminated on radio - and make no mistake, "folk music" is a FRINGE audience.   

Still, I am very hopeful. There is room, and there are outlets. The sky is not falling - just a bit cloudy.    If we look beyond the norms that we are used to, we will see that the media has many more opportunities than ever before.    THERE ARE MORE FOLK MUSIC RADIO SHOWS ON THE AIR IN 2010 THAN THERE WERE DURING THE FOLK REVIVAL. That is not just an opinion, that is a fact that has been backed up by research.   The problem is, the audience has diminished and each of these shows are playing to smaller audiences.