Is Radio a viable venue?

Subject: Is Radio a viable venue?
From: GUEST,Les B.
Date: 19 Mar 03 - 04:21 PM

In reading through the obit for the late great Bill Carlisle my eye was caught by the phrase that he had "played the live-radio circuit".

That was some time ago. In this day and age what are the ins and outs of playing live radio? I know some Mudcatters host their own show, but are there any stations that offer an open mic of the airwaves? Or, alternatively, sponsor a program for groups - like Martha White Flour did for Flatt & Scruggs, or Light Crust Dough for the early Bob Wills?

If so, what kind of money does radio pay?

Subject: RE: Is Radio a viable venue?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 19 Mar 03 - 04:25 PM

not sure where you are Les, but in the UK it doesn't.Bands generally go on the radio to plug a gig or CD, but don't get paid for it directly.

Subject: RE: Is Radio a viable venue?
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 19 Mar 03 - 06:07 PM

There are a few radio stations that pay a mileage fee if they have a regular live broadcast show (KUNI's Live from Studio One for example). However there are not enough shows like that to make a whole radio tour viable. As John mentioned above, most radio spots are done to help promote a concert.

Subject: RE: Is Radio a viable venue?
From: Don Firth
Date: 19 Mar 03 - 07:17 PM

I guess it depends on what you want to do.

In this area there are three public radio stations: one at Bellevue Community College in Bellevue, Washington (KBCS-FM) that plays folk music of various kinds (plays CDs, does interviews, etc.) throughout most of the day; one at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma (KPLU-FM, an NPR affiliate) that specializes in jazz; and the biggy, KUOW-FM, also an NPR affiliate, at the University of Washington in Seattle. KUOW is mostly news, discussion, and talk, but on an afternoon show called "The Beat," they often have interviews with local or visiting musicians, including folk musicians.

If I wanted to do a program where I, say, sang a bit, played some CDs, and generally ran my mouth, I would approach KBCS. If I were promoting an upcoming concert or appearance, I would try to get on "The Beat" at KUOW. If I were a jazz musician, I would cozy up to the folks at KPLU. I wouldn't expect to make any money from appearing on the station, however. They tend to have wee, tiny budgets.

The commercial stations? Other than one good classical music station and a couple good country stations, the rest is a vast wasteland. Not much to offer someone looking for a "viable venue."

Leastways, that's the situation in this neck of the woods.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Is Radio a viable venue?
From: greg stephens
Date: 19 Mar 03 - 07:24 PM

I used to work for Radio 2 in the 70's , doing talks on folk related topics. As far as I know, ther is no,repeat no, professional radio work in England in our area of music.

Subject: RE: Is Radio a viable venue?
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 20 Mar 03 - 10:56 AM

In Madison, Wisconsin there radio station WORT does a three hour block of folk and related music forms from 9:00a.m. until noon.
Mondays and Thursdays are given over to "World Music". Tuesdays has a program called "Pastures of Plenty" (after the Woody Guthrie song). It features various traditional music forms, country blues, a bit of bluegrass, and quite a few acoustic singer/songwriters.The host is John Fabke of the Cork and Bottle String Band. Wednesday features older country music. The host is country music historian and grammy winner (for liner notes) Bill Malone. On Fridays bluegrass musician and singer/songwriter Chris Powers hosts "The Mudacre Bluegrass Special". You'll never guess what kind of music he play. *G* The last three programs play Cd's and frequently have live guests (I've been on both John and Chris's programs several times).

Radio, if used properly, is STILL a viable and vibrant medium. You just have to look a little harder to find it than you used to.

Stephen Lee

Subject: RE: Is Radio a viable venue?
From: sed
Date: 20 Mar 03 - 02:21 PM

First, view: www.folkradio.org as it's an international network of folk and bluegrass DJs who discuss many aspects of contemporary radio.


I enjoy featuring live performances and interviews on my live weekly radio show but being an unpaid volunteer I haven't even a salary for myself and consequently no money to pay musicians. The way public radio is set up all money raised goes to the network and so I've not made a cent since starting in Oct. 1999. Of course there are fringe benefits not the least of which is hearing some great and often very rare and endangered music.

There's a bumper crop of talented people eager to perform for little or nothing. Yet, I feel guilty for not paying people but where would I get the cash?

Steve Sedberry
Radio Station WUWG
1601 Maple St.
Carrollton, GA 30118
USA

playlists archived: http://us.geocities.com/sedberrysteve/radio.html

Subject: RE: Is Radio a viable venue?
From: open mike
Date: 20 Mar 03 - 07:17 PM

about to join the ranks...
of volunteer folk programmers
sat. will be my first 2 hour show
on local low power f.m. station .. hope
some day to have a listening area larger than 10 miles radius!
as they say---from the acorn growe the mighty oak.

Subject: RE: Is Radio a viable venue?
From: Peter Woodruff
Date: 20 Mar 03 - 08:22 PM

The war has started in Iraq. I am listening to Maine PBS Radio while writing this.

Peter Woodruff