News Notes & Spins – June 1 2012

Last month I focused my personal editorial on the fact that, statewide, community/public radio programmers are broadly unaware of music from here in Colorado – a predicament I believed might ultimately only be addressed by legislation dictating the level of local content on our over-the-air broadcast stations …much in the same vein as Canada’s mandate that 35% of their content be Canadian.

The prevailing argument against that idea is that Canada’s law is national and not something that in general we have to worry about in the US – as the VAST amount of music being aired is from the US … and that on a state by state basis, there would be no way for most states to implement such a mandate on their broadcast stations, since most states don’t have sufficient content to make the idea fly.

Since last month’s rant I’ve given this issue considerable thought.  I’ve experimented a bit and asked a question or two – all in an effort to find a way to address this issue without more government intervention, something I am wary of in the least and generally opposed to in principle.  I found two issues to be prevalent, knowledge and access.

There is no simple way for on-air programmers to discover Colorado talent.  There is no website such as a Reverbnation or MySpace for Colorado, specifically dedicated to the music of our state, and no easy way to sort artists by state at Reverbnation, Bandcamp, or other online music services.  Further, content would have to be filtered for language, something a lot of artists don’t think of when posting content online – since they obviously don’t have to.  There are no language prohibitions online.

Solving the knowledge dilemma is not easy.  Locally, it would mean that someone at a station has to be hip to what’s going on statewide, and then be able to educate on-air djs/programmers.  Even if a centralized Colorado specific version of something like MySpace were created, it would require that programmers know about it – not something that most djs would do, I’m sorry to say.

Most programmers, especially those who are “older” I’ve discovered, are more interested in playing stuff from their personal collections, than searching out new music they are not familiar with.  So, what if we who are in the business of getting people to know “force-fed” product to individual djs, by sending it to them directly; would that help in some measurable way?  It’s possible, and something worth considering as more and more independent programmers appear resistant to playing what exists in station libraries, instead preferring what they discover themselves.

The other issue is access.  Physical or digital?  I asked that question of the music and program directors at stations around the state …the answer?  Both.  Most stations are not yet outfitted to easily catalog and air digital content.  Most have not yet digitized their physical product sufficiently enough to do away with their existing cd libraries.  And most find that their djs (especially their older djs) are uncomfortable with trying to access and air digitized content with existing studio “dj assist” software – preferring the older technologies such as compact discs, cassette tapes, and vinyl records.

One option that’s been floated is the idea of creating a cloud based solution, enabling one or more stations to access content they already own or can access and share collectively.  This as opposed to needing large hard drives and specialized software on site to deal with large collections – in some cases, collections that contain over 50,000 album titles.

Interestingly, however, it seems that most of the djs at those stations have internet access, a laptop, or some other tool used to collect, store, and play digital content, leading further I believe to the individualization of the content being broadcast.  Some djs I’ve learned are streaming content from online services – something that station management may have to look into as a possible violation of DMCA rules.  It is an interesting idea however – it just makes me wonder what the legal ramifications are.

All that said – we are among the lucky places where local content receives as much notice and airplay as it does here in Colorado – and for which I personally am very grateful.  Thank you to all the programmers, music directors, and on-air talent who take the time and make the effort to support … much love my friends.

In station news this month –

Check out the music blog at KWMV (Westcliffe) … http://musicblog.kwmv.org/ or easily access it by a big red button on their homepage at www.kwmv.org.  They also have a new late night dj show with one of the Custer County Youth Radio alumni, The Midnight Hour with Cameron “Carmine” Kessler on Saturday morning from midnight to 2 a.m.

Lindsay Isbell, the music director at KSJD (Cortez) writes in this month: “We have moved!  We are now thrilled to be working and broadcasting from our new home at the corner of Main and Market streets in downtown Cortez.”  The new [physical/street] address is 2 E. Main St. Cortez, CO 81321.  However, all mail should be sent to P. O. Box 116 in Cortez.

Tedi Gillespie at KAFM (Grand Junction) reports that “I have now been named Executive Director.  I was serving as Interim for 4 months and now they’ve made it official and permanent.”  The station got a power increase to 300 watts last November and a second phase of improvements will mean renovations to the control and production studios.   Tedi also reports that KAFM will be looking for a Program Director in the near future.

From Sally Kane, executive director at KVNF in Paonia:  KVNF has been selected to be an incubator station for the Association of Independents in Radio “Localore” grant.  Our project is called “iseechange.” It’s an experiment in citizen science reporting. We’re hosting a community   conversation with citizens and scientists talking about what’s changing in their backyards and across the state with regard to weather and climate. Julia Kumari Drapkin is the multi media producer who joined our station for a year to coordinate the project.  The content is available to be shared with RMCR (Rocky Mountain Community Radio) stations statewide. More info is available at http://www.kvnf.org/.

TOP 40 MOST SPUN TITLES – May 2012
(303 titles tracked / 146 titles reported as played)
(LM) TM / [date added]
(D) = debut, first time on chart
(R) = re-entered chart

(1) 1. The Lumineers – The Lumineers (Dualtone) Indie/New Alternative [Mar-12]
(16) 2. Leftover Salmon – Aquatic Hitchhiker (LoS Records) Americana/rock [Apr-12]
(D) 3. Danielle Ate The Sandwich – {like a king} (Youngest Daughter Records) Folk [May-12]
(2) 4. Tennis – Young & Old (Fat Possum) Indie/New Alternative [Feb-12]
(3) 5. Otis Taylor – Otis Taylor’s Contraband (Telarc) Blues [Feb-12]
(8) 6. Mosey West – Merica (self) Rock/alt-country-rock [Apr-12]
(5) 7. Bad Weather California – Sunkissed (Family Tree) Indie/New Alternative [Feb-12]
(D) 8. Rob Drabkin – Rob Drabkin Live (self) Rock/adult [May-12]
(13) 9. Grant Farm – The Grant Farm (self) Americana/rock [Mar-12]
(D) 10. Joe Sampson – Kill Our Friends (Fellow Creature Recordings) Folk [May-12]
(9) 11. Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams – Live at Hodi’s (self) Alt-country [Jan-12]
(12) 12. Mama Lenny & the Remedy – Punches and Hugs (self) Blues/rhythm and blues [Apr-12]
(20) 13. Achille Lauro – Flight or Flight (Hot Congress Records) Indie/New Alternative [Feb-12]
(21) 14. Finnders & Youngberg – FY5 (self) Bluegrass/country [Apr-11]
(25) 15. Katie Glassman – Snapshot (self) Americana [Feb-12]
(14) 16. Great American Taxi – Paradise Lost (self) Rock/roots [Oct-11]
(R) 17. Coles Whalen – I Wrote this for You (self) Pop/country crossover [Feb-12]
(D) 18. Instant Empire – Instant Empire (self) Indie/New Alternative [Apr-12]
(D) 19. Flashbulb Fires – Gasconader (self) Indie/New Alternative [May-12]
(D) 20. Grass It Up – Alabama Tory (self) Bluegrass [May-12]
(24) 21. Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra – Sharks & Manatees (Dazzle Recordings) Jazz [Apr-12]
(18) 22. The Congress – Whatever You Want (self) Rock [Apr-12]
(29) 22. Harry Tuft & Friends – Treasures Untold (Manasses Records) Folk [Nov-11]
(D) 23. Haunted Windchimes – Out with the Crow (Blank Tape) Folk [Apr-12]
(10) 24. Longest Day of the Year – Turn Into the Ground (self) Americana/alt-country [Nov-11]
(11) 24. Musketeer Gripweed – Staight Razor Revival (self) Rock/blues/southern rock [Apr-12]
(29) 25. Catch Bees – Newman’s Open Choir (On Joyful Wings) Indie/New Alternative [Feb-12]
(D) 26. Better Than Bacon – Better Than Bacon (self) Rock/jamband [Apr-12]
(D) 26. Patrick Dethlefs – Fall & Rise (self) Folk [May-12]
(17) 26. The Swayback – Double Four Time (self) Rock [Feb-12]
(19) 27. Churchill – The Change EP (Wire Bird) Folk/folk-rock [Feb-12]
(22) 27. Eric Gunnison – Trios (Synergy Music) Jazz [Feb-12]
(27) 28. Gauntlet Hair – Gauntlet Hair (self) Indie/New Alternative [Sep-11]
(R) 28. Wendy Woo Band – Austerity (Woo Music) POP/adult [Jun-11]
(R) 28. You Me and Apollo – Cards with Cheats (self) Indie/New Alternative [Aug-11]
(D) 29. Jeff Finlin – Live Songs for the Ice Age (Bent Wheel) Rock/singer-songwriter [Apr-12]
(23) 30. Euforquestra – Let Us In (self) Alternative Adult/reggae/funk/world [Mar-12]
(26) 30. Lionel Young Band – On Our Way to Memphis (self) Blues [Aug-11]
(D) 31. Raincheck – Raincheck (Dazzle Recordings) Jazz [May-12]
(29) 32. The Yawpers – Savage Blue EP (Adventure Records) Rock/alt-country-rock [Jan-12]

DROPPED OUT OF TOP 40 May 2012
6. The Jekylls – The Sweet Factory
7. Katya Chorover – Big Big Love
15. Haunted Windchimes – Live at the Western Jubilee
19. Broken Tongues – Crooked Skyline
22. Eric Gunnison – Trios
28. Fierce Bad Rabbit – Live and Learn EP
29. John Common and Blinding Flashes of Light – Beautiful Empty
30. Blackout Beat Production Company – The Circus House
31. John Oates – Mississippi Mile
31. Spring Creek – Hold On Me
32. Slim Cessna’s Auto Club – Unentitled
33. Josh Quinlin Quintet – Mountain Time Standards
34. Carbon Choir – Sakhalin
34. Kentucky Parlor Pickers – Barn Burner
34. Spires – S/T EP

ADDED MAY 2012
3 Twins Broadband – Cry at the Movies / How Couldya Not [single]
Andy Flattery & the Afternoons – Night Run EP
Ben Haugland – Point of No Return
Danielle Ate The Sandwich – {like a king}
Delta Sonics – Live at Lincoln’s
Flashbulb Fires – Gasconader
Grass It Up – Alabama Tory
Head for the Hills – Live
Joe Sampson – Kill Our Friends
Katie Herzig – The Waking Sleep
Matt Smiley – Quartet Art
McCumber & Moors – Gravity
Molina w/ Diles – Name and Town
New Ben Franklins – [peter gabriel]
O’Brien Party of 7 – Reincarnation, The Songs of Roger Miller
Patrick Dethlefs – Fall & Rise
Raincheck – Raincheck
Rob Drabkin – Rob Drabkin Live
Robert Cline, Jr. – All the Right Reasons
Shirley – From A Bright Clearing
The Ghost of Joseph Buck – The Ghost of Joseph Buck
The Knew – Major Nights [single]
Xiren – Not A Love Song [single]

STATION BY STATION

KAFM (Grand Junction)
1. Leftover Salmon – Aquatic Hitchhiker
2. The Lumineers – The Lumineers
3. Halden Wofford & the HI Beams – Live at Hodi’s
4. Better Than Bacon – Better Than Bacon
4. Mosey West – Merica

KBUT (Crested Butte)
1. Leftover Salmon – Aquatic Hitchhiker
1. The Lumineers – The Lumineers
2. Finnders & Youngberg – FY5
2. Great American Taxi – Paradise Lost
2. Halden Wofford & the HI Beams – Live at Hodi’s

KDNK (Carbondale) [HOT SPINS]
Haunted Windchimes – Live at the Western Jubilee
Haunted Windchimes – Out with the Crow
Leftover Salmon – Aquatic Hitchhiker
The Swayback – Double Four Time
Wendy Woo Band – Austerity

KGNU (Boulder)
1. O’Brien Party of 7 – Reincarnation, The Songs of Roger Miller
2. Lionel Young Band – On Our Way to Memphis
3. Katie Glassman – Snapshot
3. Leftover Salmon – Aquatic Hitchhiker
3. Otis Taylor – Otis Taylor’s Contraband

KRCC (Colorado Springs)
1. Otis Taylor – Otis Taylor’s Contraband
2. The Lumineers – The Lumineers
3. Haunted Windchimes – Out with the Crow
4. Moors & McCumber – Gravity
4. Tennis – Young & Old

KRFC (Fort Collins)
1. Danielle Ate The Sandwich – {like a king}
2. Mama Lenny & the Remedy – Punches and Hugs
3. Mosey West – Merica
4. Muskeeteer Gripweed – Staight Razor Revival
5. Leftover Salmon – Aquatic Hitchhiker

KUNC (Greeley)
1. The Lumineers – The The Lumineers
2. Kathryn Mostow – Rich Girl
2. Mosey West – Merica
3. Wendy Woo Band – Austerity
4. Driftwood Fire – How to Untangle a Heartache

KUVO (Denver)
1. Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra – Sharks & Manatees
2. Eric Gunnison – Trios
3. Ben Haugland – Point of No Return
4. Raincheck – Raincheck
5. Adam Bodine Trio – Up ‘N Hear

KVNF (Paonia)
1. The Lumineers – The Lumineers
2. Leftover Salmon – Aquatic Hitchhiker
2. Otis Taylor – Otis Taylor’s Contraband
3. Better Than Bacon – Better Than Bacon
4. Finnders & Youngberg – FY5

Open Air 1340 (Denver)
1. The Lumineers – The Lumineers
2. Danielle Ate The Sandwich – {like a king}
3. Joe Sampson – Kill Our Friends
4. Flashbulb Fires – Gasconader
5. Overcasters – Curses/Prayers

The Colorado Sound
1. Leftover Salmon – Aquatic Hitchhiker
2. Danielle Ate the Sandwich – {like a king}
2. Rob Drabkin – Rob Drabkin Live
3. Achille Lauro – Flight or Flight
4. Bad Weather California – Sunkissed

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BY GENRE/PROGRAM FORMAT

Americana/Alt.country/Alt.country-rock
1. Leftover Salmon – Aquatic Hitchhiker
2. Grant Farm – The Grant Farm
3. Halden Wofford & the HI Beams – Live at Hodi’s
4. Katie Glassman – Snapshot
5. Great American Taxi – Paradise Lost

Blues/Rhythm & Blues
1. Otis Taylor – Otis Taylor’s Contraband
2. Delta Sonics – Live at Lincoln’s
3. Mama Lenny & the Remedy – Punches and Hugs
4. Lionel Young Band – On Our Way to Memphis
5. John Oates Band – The Bluesville Sessions

Bluegrass
1. Finnders & Youngberg – FY5
2. Grass It Up – Alabama Tory
3. Spring Creek – Hold On Me
4. Head for the Hills – Live
5. Dave Richey & Ruined Nation – No Peace of Mind

Folk/folk-rock/singer-songwriter
1. Danielle Ate The Sandwich – {like a king}
2. Joe Sampson – Kill Our Friends
3. Harry Tuft & Friends – Treasures Untold
4. Haunted Windchimes – Out with the Crow
5. Patrick Dethlefs – Fall & Rise

Dance/Funk/Hip-Hop/Urban Contemporary
1. Beats Noir! – 13 Tracks From The Dark Side Of The Beat
2. Rebel Tongue – Movin’ On
3. Wasteland Hop – Mother Acre
3. Wheelchair Sports Camp – Where We All Live
4. Broken Tongues – Crooked Skyline

Indie/New-Alternative
1. The Lumineers – The Lumineers
2. Tennis – Young & Old
3. Bad Weather California – Sunkissed
4. Achille Lauro – Flight or Flight
5. Instant Empire – Instant Empire

Jazz
1. Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra – Sharks & Manatees
2. Eric Gunnison – Trios
3. Raincheck – Raincheck
4. H2 Big Band – You’re It!
4. Shirley – From A Bright Clearing

POP / Alternative Adult Contemporary
1. Coles Whalen – I Wrote this for You
2. Wendy Woo Band – Austerity
3. Katie Herzig – The Waking Sleep
4. Megan Redmond – Dreamland
4. Zach Heckendorf – The Cool Down

ROCK / AAA / AOR
1. Mosey West – Merica
2. Rob Drabkin – Rob Drabkin Live
3. The Congress – Whatever You Want
4. Muskeeteer Gripweed – Staight Razor Revival
5. Better Than Bacon – Better Than Bacon

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TOP 5 VIDEOS

1.  The Lumineers – Ho Hey

2.  Tennis – Deep In the Woods

3. Zach Heckendorf – All The Right Places

4. Great American Taxi – Poor House

5.  The Epilogues – The Fallout