Don't Leave Us, Big Brother!

For years, some of my rocker pals (and in truth, me too) have complained about the artistic effects of commerical radio consolidation on the FM dial. Then last year, the hated Clear Channel did an odd thing -- it allowed an L.A. station it sold ads for (though did not own outright; a Spanish-language concern owns the frequency) become the best American rock station I've ever heard, Indie 103.1. Terrific exposure of little-known local bands, DJs like Henry Rollins, the Sex Pistols' Steve Jones, and Jane's Addiction's Dave Navarro; proper respect paid to regional heroes like X.

But now, in a cruel twist only hard-hearted deregulationistas could love, Indie's days could be numbered, due to new FCC rules that count advertising rights the same as owned frequencies. Seen that way, Clear Channel now runs nine stations in the L.A. market, or one more than is allowed. And the Spanish-language company may not see the wisdom in keeping thirty-something Anglo rockers happy. Maybe it's all a plot to get punkers on the deregulation bandwagon….

Comments

[Mo]

NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 I love Indie!

[Twba]

The station's format only works in the biggest markets. If the audience fits in a phone booth, Clear Channel changes the station. Consider yourself lucky to have listened to something you like. You would be hard pressed to find good radio in most of the country. Blue America has the population base to support a wide range of choices.

[Warren]

A Ray Manzarek connection. FUCK YEAH!

[PintofStout]

WYEP in Pittsburgh plays lots of music such as this station. It is an independent public radio station so you have to endure the fund raisers every now and then, but the musical variety is impossible to beat on a main stream station. They stream at WYEP.org (sorry, don't know how to hyperlink.

[B.P.]

Skirting the actual issue addressed in this post...

http://www.kexp.org

Streams live from Seattle, in the format of your choice. No mersh.

[aj]

Check the latest WIRED in print, just got in the mail yesterday, big article all about this station

[droogy]

One of the main reasons radio sucks so bad is consolidation under behemoths like Clear Channel. People aren't pissed at CC 'cause they're big, it's because they pushed horrible, bland music because it appeals to the all important "tween" market. Stations like New Jersey's WFMU are truly independent and survive without Clear Channel's help. Maybe this'll be a good thing for Indie103.1 if they can do the same. I hope they find some way to stick around 'cause most of L.A.'s music radio just plain sucks.

[kate]

(I'm a regular reader, but I never post, so forgive me for butting in)

I just want to give a shout-out to woxy.com (you know, "97-Bam! the future of rock and roll"

I cried like a baby when this station went off the air, but they've since become a successful internet-only radio station.

now if only I could listen in my car...

[Tim]

I'm sad to hear that my one choice on the rental car radio may be gone on my next visit. I found the station by accident on my last trip to LA. It was great to hear Steve Jones and Henry Rollins playing music that didn't make me want to drive into the ocean or off a mountain.

But any one that blames CC for bland radio is kidding themselves. Lets face it, radio has been the domain of the lame and boring for as long as I can remember. I actually quit listening to the radio when both "rock" stations in STL were playing the same Eric Clapton song at the same time. I gave up and found college radio where I heard Black Flag,etc and never looked back. So all the CC's in the world can dominate the entire spectrum from left to right and it doesn't matter to me at all because I'm cranking Hot Water Music, Articles of Faith, Leatherface, Adolescents, DI and UK Subs in my car all day long. So screw'em.

[Warren]

Say Matt, aren't you poaching on Jesse's turf here? Also, I seem to recall seeing Low Power FM in the news in the past couple of weeks. They were talking about it's future in light of the new FCC leadership if I remember.

And a big shout out to my local indie station WYCE

[Lynne]

Ditto Kate's comment about WOXY. Perhaps Indie could go Internet-only ... ?

I listen to WOXY on my iPod in the car by saving streams and then using my iTrip to connect up to a FM frequency. It's not real time, but it gets the job done.

The March Wired mag has a selection of articles on its cover "The Death of Radio" topic, including the one about Indie. It'll be interesting to see if satellite radio survives, or if we all end up being able to do wireless Internet streaming in our cars. Perhaps both technologies will coexist. If satellite proves to be economically viable, then stations like WOXY and Indie (and my other favorite, somafm.com) would likely be looking to get carried on the satellites.

[Matt Welch]

Warren -- Yes, but he doesn't live within Indie's footprint.... Anyway, I hope we can still hear radio like this on the FM dial.

[XManiac]

"You would be hard pressed to find good radio in most of the country..."

What about XM and Sirius?

[Mo]

Matt,
If it makes you feel any better, most of my friends love Indie, too. We're all 20-somethings and not all of us are Anglos.

[tchiers]

XManiac has got it right. If you like music (especially 'wierd' music) and you have a spare $10-$15 every month, satellite radio is for you.

Since installing it in my car, I haven't tuned back to FM for even a minute. I seriously doubt I ever will. Everyone else I know who has sat radio is the same way.

[bob]

kroq jumped the shark about 15 years ago and until indie 103, I hadn't listened to the radio since then. I guess I might have to wait another 15 years for a listenable radio station in LA.

[Perry]

CC just changed Miami/Ft. Lauderdale's only "Rock" station (as bad as it was 99% of the time) to an all Latin station overnight, with no warning and no notice.

They suck, though innane rules on ownership percentages suck more. Really, radio sucks because of the monopoly power given to certain station owners by the FCC, but that topic has been broached here a thousand times already..

[aaron]

Thanks for turning me on to that - I listened all day at work, and it was great (although since when is U2 "indie?").
Oh wait, it's going away? Wonderful.

[Jim Walsh]

Don't worry: the CC-bashers (including all those pathetic washed-up disc jockeys, many of whom I know personally) will find some way to blame it all on "de-regulation."

[Twba]

I don't bash CC. They are smart to play crap because that brings in the audience the advertisers want. It's a business.

[Douglas Fletcher]

The radio is deader than rock and roll.

Screw em. I can hear about anything I want on the internet, shoutcast, live365.