junecleavage

I was just talking with StCyr about public radio...and the geeky love we who patronize have for it. It got me remembering those days long ago when I interned for WXPN, 88.5 FM which, at the time was located on the campus of University of Pennsylvania in this run down once upon a time row-home in West Philadelphia. I ran around tirelessly for 3 different shows on a daily basis...The Morning Show, with Michaela Majoun...The Blues Show, with Johnny Meister and The World Cafe', with David Dye. It was during this time that our program director (Mike Morrison, who - on a side note - later went on to become a program director for a triple A station in Los Angeles while I happened to be living out there and who acted like a class "AAA" asshole when our paths crossed during said time...but I digress...and he is probably a member here...if so...Mike Morrison...you were not even 1/8th as infallible as your ego convinced you that were and you are still a class "AAA" douche-bag)...anyway...it was during this time that he started to sense a shift in the winds of public radio - I would say around 1990 - 1993(ish) and he started selling out all of the underwriting spots, driving more and more of our funding into the hands of corporate puppet masters. The fund drives and the listener support became less a part of the programming and little by little the DJ driven (and chosen, and passionately preempted) stretches went the wayside of the marketing and labels and commercially "appealing" feel good (a la GinfuckingBlossoms) fodder...wash - rinse - repeat. These days, World Cafe' is HUGE (it was during that time too that they started to nationally syndicate that show in particular). Now they have opened up this hoity toity live venue where you can see the performers (through bullet proof glass of course) who come into the studio not only during the interviews but usually on stage afterwards. I hate that place man. It is called World Cafe' Live. We saw Robyn Hitchcock there. HATE it. Pretentious and filled with musical eradication. Just. Meh. It felt tinny and cramped and hipster and PLAYED OUT. "In my day...." (In my day we had one game and it was called stare at the sun and we liked it!) the DJs were little mini celebs in their various cities and their musical prowess and understanding and love was shared vicariously through the tracks they CHOSE to play us. I loved that about public radio especially. And I loved that about working at that station. I met so many of the real raw and resolute artists that intentionally made their way off the beaten path to our tiny little rowhome radio station because David Dye is THAT good an interviewer/host and they wanted to talk to him and play live songs for him. And for that experience, I am forever thankful. I learned more about music from working so closely with DAvid and Michaela and Johnny than I will ever be able to fully absorb or reflect upon. And, the reality is that I still just absolutely love public radio. Radio Lab Hearing Voices Wait! Wait! Don't Tell Me and of course This American Life. NPR - I support and love you forever and ever AMEN. This is all. Thank you and good night.