Great stuff, Kevin. Thanks for featuring Katherine and her new book. She and I have exchanged messages about our mutual interest in underground radio, mine being commercial freeform radio of the late Sixties and Seventies. You might enjoy what we've put together at www.radicalradio.media if you have time to check it out. As Katherine illustrates, there was a time and place when the public airwaves actually did serve the public interest first and advertisers, college administrators, and the rest of the control agents only secondarily, if at all. It's deserving of our attention and respect!
I'm not exaggerating in the slightest when I say that college radio in Cleveland was the only lifeline we Cleveland musicians bands had to our broader music cultures, starting in the early 1980s; but especially from 1989 on (when the Nostalgia Industrial Complex took over rock radio, and then completely marginalized the modern music of the time everywhere else).
Even today, the 3 main college stations are a beacon to music subcultures of all sorts; and remain the only places we'll ever see any relevant airplay, no matter how popular some of us may get in our fields.
I rail against the N. I. C. often; but I never stop feeling grateful that we have WJCU, WCSB, and WRUW.
I didn't know about this book, so thanks for the mention. 97X was life-changing and hugely influential for me. The first time I heard one of my songs on 97Xposure, their annual local bands contest, was such a thrill.
For anyone who has seen Rainman, this is the station he's referring to when he repeats, "97X...bam! The future of rock and roll." The early sections of the movie were filmed in Greater Cincinnati.
Oh fun! Queuing this up to listen later. Bryan worked at his college radio station!
The book sounds great!
Great stuff, Kevin. Thanks for featuring Katherine and her new book. She and I have exchanged messages about our mutual interest in underground radio, mine being commercial freeform radio of the late Sixties and Seventies. You might enjoy what we've put together at www.radicalradio.media if you have time to check it out. As Katherine illustrates, there was a time and place when the public airwaves actually did serve the public interest first and advertisers, college administrators, and the rest of the control agents only secondarily, if at all. It's deserving of our attention and respect!
This was great! Adding her book to my list!
I'm not exaggerating in the slightest when I say that college radio in Cleveland was the only lifeline we Cleveland musicians bands had to our broader music cultures, starting in the early 1980s; but especially from 1989 on (when the Nostalgia Industrial Complex took over rock radio, and then completely marginalized the modern music of the time everywhere else).
Even today, the 3 main college stations are a beacon to music subcultures of all sorts; and remain the only places we'll ever see any relevant airplay, no matter how popular some of us may get in our fields.
I rail against the N. I. C. often; but I never stop feeling grateful that we have WJCU, WCSB, and WRUW.
I gotta snag a copy of her book!
I think you'll really like it!
Thanks for sharing this interview! I especially enjoyed the discussion about the overlap and intersection of college with community radio.
Adding this to my TBR pile with another new(ish) UNC Press book: 'The Future of Rock and Roll
97X WOXY and the Fight for True Independence'
Thanks for listening and I’m glad you liked it! And thanks for getting that book on my radar, it sounds right up my alley.
I didn't know about this book, so thanks for the mention. 97X was life-changing and hugely influential for me. The first time I heard one of my songs on 97Xposure, their annual local bands contest, was such a thrill.
For anyone who has seen Rainman, this is the station he's referring to when he repeats, "97X...bam! The future of rock and roll." The early sections of the movie were filmed in Greater Cincinnati.