WDET cancels folk and bluegrass shows

Subject: WDET cancels folk and bluegrass shows
From: Cool Beans
Date: 21 Dec 09 - 05:43 PM

The newest set of big-brained people at Detroit's public radio station, WDET, has killed Matt Watroba's "Folks Like Us" folk music show and Larry McDaniel's "The Arkansas Traveler" bluegrass show, after 23 years and 30 or so, respectively. Here's more: http://www.folkslikeus.org/
They also killed Robert Jones' gospel show, one of the few radio programs that regularly played black gospel, white gospel and the music of religions other than Christianity. A previous regime tried this, kept all three shows off the air for about a year, then relented. Needless to say, this public radio station will get no more pledges from this member of the public.

Subject: RE: WDET cancels folk and bluegrass shows
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 21 Dec 09 - 05:50 PM

What rotten news! Is there any letter writing campaign to help rescue the show?

Dan

Subject: RE: WDET cancels folk and bluegrass shows
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Dec 09 - 09:19 PM

frogprince in Wisconsin
Not again...how can they not have learned!

Subject: RE: WDET cancels folk and bluegrass shows
From: Cool Beans
Date: 21 Dec 09 - 09:20 PM

Dan,
   I haven't heard of any organized campaign but I and my wife have written to this email address:
http://www.wdetfm.org/contact/

Subject: RE: WDET cancels folk and bluegrass shows
From: GUEST,The Folk E
Date: 22 Dec 09 - 10:51 AM

Sad news, but the reality of it was probably in the pleading of the voices of the hosts of these shows during their last pledge drives. If there is not pledge revenue being generated, something else will be tried.

I am hoping that does not happen where I am at.

Folk music today and what it has evolved into, does not speak to but a small group. Those who deny that, as they always do have to just look at this as another on-going example. Very little media, very few venues.

Why is that?

Subject: RE: WDET cancels folk and bluegrass shows
From: maire-aine
Date: 22 Dec 09 - 12:50 PM

Here's another Detroiter who won't be listening to WDET any more, nor contributing $$. I hope Matt, Larry and Robert will be picked up on other stations.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: WDET cancels folk and bluegrass shows
From: Big Mick
Date: 22 Dec 09 - 02:27 PM

I spoke with Matt this morning. Hang tight, he is working on things.

As to withholding funds from WDET, do that if this and their general outlook make you believe that they are not the station for you. I sent them money in response to their reinstating the Folks Like Us show. I won't be doing that again, but not just because of this. It is because they seem to want to appeal to "40 year olds who want to act like they are still 20 year olds". Note the quotes. I won't tell you who I am quoting, just that I am quoting. This station does not reflect my public radio tastes any longer.

By the way, they let him do a final show. One of the songs that he played was Utah Phillips "Talking NPR Blues". Nice shot, Matt!!

As to Matt, hang tight. A strategy will pop soon enough.


All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: WDET cancels folk and bluegrass shows
From: Art Thieme
Date: 22 Dec 09 - 05:14 PM

What a f...ing travesty. Matt, I'm so sorry! These things are happening all over...

I know you in Boston and other parts of the Northeast can't begin to understand it when I tell you how unhealthy the folk radio scene is from all that I can discern of it--both here where I live and in many other places around the USA. Please, good people, just sit back and enjoy your "healthy" music scene. But know this. You are one of a handful of survivors.

Another indication of stuff: I sent my last CD to a major editor friend of mine at the Chicago Tribune hoping to get it reviewed by someone there. He got back to me and said, There is nobody left here who knows enough about your folk scene as it was to do it! -- So, he did it himself--for which I was very grateful.

Again, Matt, I'm so sorry. And I know a ton o' folks in and near Detroit are going to miss you a lot!!

Pardon my tuirade, folks. It is distressing to me.

Art

Subject: RE: WDET cancels folk and bluegrass shows
From: Stewart
Date: 22 Dec 09 - 10:14 PM

It's happening in Seattle too

Pretty soon every public radio station will sound the same.
Generic public radio. It's a sad loss of diversity.
Folk music, unfortunately, is on the loosing side.

S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: WDET cancels folk and bluegrass shows
From: olddude
Date: 22 Dec 09 - 11:03 PM

TERRIBLE   JUST TERRIBLE NO WORDS   NO PLEDGES EITHER ON MY LOCAL ONE THAT DID THE SAME

Subject: RE: WDET cancels folk and bluegrass shows
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 22 Dec 09 - 11:53 PM

Sometimes we get some great PBS TV folk specials that come into Canada from the States. I would be tempted to send them money but the only time they play these shows is at fund-raising time. If the folk scene is what it takes to raise the funds why don't they play this stuff on their regular schedule ?

Subject: RE: WDET cancels folk and bluegrass shows
From: GUEST,The Folk E
Date: 23 Dec 09 - 12:39 PM

This type of stuff that is happening I believe is because of what HAPPENED to folk music.

Sadly, many of you do not get it as I have expounded on other threads.

Subject: RE: WDET cancels folk and bluegrass shows
From: GUEST,Andyman
Date: 02 Jan 10 - 08:56 AM

I just read about this while researching something else.

I dumped WDET years back when they got rid of Martin Bandyke and John Penny in that management change. Got stiffed for my $52.

But hey, "it's all about the music" right.......

Subject: RE: WDET cancels folk and bluegrass shows
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Nov 13 - 06:46 PM

Please someone what was the intro song for Arkansas traveler?????

Subject: RE: WDET cancels folk and bluegrass shows
From: Cool Beans
Date: 03 Feb 14 - 07:49 PM

Something by Tut Tyler. Sorry I can't remember the name, and Larry McDaniel has died.

Subject: RE: WDET cancels folk and bluegrass shows
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Feb 14 - 08:22 PM

"Please someone what was the intro song for Arkansas traveler?????"

RufF N' Ready - Tut Taylor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3goUre1Yxsw

There ya go :-)

Subject: RE: WDET cancels folk and bluegrass shows
From: Allan C.
Date: 04 Feb 14 - 06:33 AM

Don't you think it is odd that many radio stations are feeling a need to dump such shows while public broadcast TV stations almost never fail to feature PP&M and/or some manner of folk revival shows at fundraising time?

Subject: RE: WDET cancels folk and bluegrass shows
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 04 Feb 14 - 11:20 AM

Right, Allan. Your post reminds me of our classical station, when we still had one. To advertise themselves, they used a passage of lovely, delicate lute music, very appealing.

But the programming consisted almost entirely of dull, long, dense symphonies, because they filled up so much time and made scheduling easier. The station management wondered why people lost interest.

Subject: RE: WDET cancels folk and bluegrass shows
From: Will Fly
Date: 04 Feb 14 - 11:36 AM

I recently discovered that there was such a thing as "National Public Radio" in the US - and apologies for not knowing about it before, but I'm in the UK so it's a not a phenomenon I was aware of.

I posted a tune of my own on YouTube (a mandolin/guitar duet) and a part of one of the comments was, "Sounds like something that should be played on NPR." When I asked what NPR was, they replied, "National Public Radio. They play music by people who write well crafted songs played with tremendous skill, typically of the folk, country or bluegrass genres. You would fit right in on there!"

All very nice and complimentary, but it sounds as though NPR with that ethic is fast disappearing!

Subject: RE: WDET cancels folk and bluegrass shows
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 04 Feb 14 - 12:06 PM

NPR Spokane is noted for Lawrence Whelk re-broadcasts. Ugh!

"Austin City Limits" is scheduled late night, when I am in bed.

A similar problem at the other end of audience appeal, with the rare opera also scheduled late night.

Subject: RE: WDET cancels folk and bluegrass shows
From: Elmore
Date: 05 Feb 14 - 11:10 AM

Weekends on WUMB-FM in Boston continue to feature lots of good folk music programming. You can listen on line if you wish.

Subject: RE: WDET cancels folk and bluegrass shows
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Feb 14 - 11:23 AM

Will, FYI, yesterday when I opened YouTube there you were. I'd flashed to another page looking for what-I-can't-remember but the blurb said something about blues guitar riffs and whatever that is it had damned close to 200,000 views. Good for you.