Happy Turkey Day to All!
Mrs. Dr. J and I would like to wish a very Happy Thanksgiving to everyone who celebrates. Enjoy the time with family and friends. Relax and as always listen to some good indie music. We will be back this Tuesday from 4-6pm on WUDR – http://udflyerradio.com
- Mrs. Dr. J and Dr. J
Thank you!
The Rebel Set stopped by the studio today and we all had a blast. The stream from the interview will be available soon. Look here for more details! We can’t thank them enough for coming by!
We hope to have them back in the new year to do a live in-studio performance!
If you have not checked out their new CD, Across a Relentless Sea, you should!
- Mrs. Dr. J and Dr. J
Tuesday’s Theme
This week we will be playing music on a theme and a brand new release.
We will spotlight the Dayton area band The Rebel Set! Their new cd Across the Relentless Sea was just released! We will be having the band visit The School of Rock with Dr. J in a few weeks.
Now, on to the theme… we will be playing several songs that are connected in some way. What is the theme? What connects the songs? Think you know? Give us a call at 937-229-2774 or email us at drwudr@gmail.com
Remember to tune in via udflyerradio.com this Tuesday, November 17 from 4 – 6pm.
Your musical pals, Mrs and Dr. J
What are you Listening to…?
Mrs. Dr. J and I are wondering, what new music are you listen to? Send us the info at drjwudr@gmail.com
Remember: School of Rock w/ Mrs. Dr. J and Dr. J – Tuesdays 4-6pm on WUDR
Goodbye to a Legend
(picture courtesy of Ebet Roberts)
The great producer, Jim Dickinson has passed. While we came to know him from his work on The Replacements’ Pleased to Meet Me and Big Star’s Third-Sister Lovers, his influence on a vast array of musicians, producers, and record labels cannot be overlooked. When we compare the demo of The ‘Mats classic “Can’t Hardly Wait” with the final version, you see the musical genius that was Jim Dickinson.
This Tuesday we will play several recordings and productions from Mr. Dickinson. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends.
Rest in Peace, JD. You deserve it.
Thanks Les Paul!
We will miss the the guitar legend… we all owe him a debt.
Thank you Les Paul!
Idol Speculation
Is American Idol fixed from the start? One more ex-contestant on the show claims that it is. Of course, we would say it really doesn’t matter if it is a con or not, the show demonstrates everything that is wrong with the music business.
One has to wonder how shows such as this skew the American public’s (and British audience’s… since that is where the show started as Pop Idol) sense of the music industry. As anyone who has worked in the music industry understands, so much of what happens in the conventional music business is focused on big hits rather than careers because big hits makes the labels and their corporate owners profits.
The idea of support for a career in music is not something American Idol is meant to do. It is meant to generate public interest in a small group of handpicked musicians (though being able to write and play is secondary) who can be marketed in the short term for large profits.
So, is it really a surprise if the show is rigged? Would you want to bet your stock portfolio/investor profits on an investment that you could not in any way control?
Recommended Website
How many of us remember — as Joey Ramone sang in the classic Ramones song — hiding under the covers listening to the radio so no one else could hear that we were listening to the radio?
The radio of today is a poor reflection of what it once was… the same 20 songs over and over and over again. Or radio in its efforts to bring back the iPod generation plays one random pick after another without anything that holds the tunes together. Rarely do we find radio that we like in addition to our own show (hey you knew we had to say that), of course. But we have a recommendation for you:
Try Radio that Doesn’t Suck for what radio is supposed to be like: http://www.radiothatdoesntsuck.com/
What radio do you still listen to?
Rock Hall of Fame Concerts
Concerts are being planned to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the usual array of well known artists (Springsteen, U2, Clapton, Franklin, Wonder, Metallica, Simon and Garfunkle, Crosby, Stills, Nash, and others). One problem that we see… the event is not even going to be held at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Its in New York.
I know, they are going to celebrate the anniversary of something and not even go to the place to do it. Sound a little silly to anyone else?
Of course, this is not surprising as few of the induction ceremonies are held at the actual Hall of Fame. It is a strange realization that they build the Hall of Fame near the origins of Rock and Roll and then avoid it.
But then… when was the last time that the RIAA and the Board of Directors of the Hall made a decision that made sense? Remember this is an industry that made it a habit to sue their own fans.
Should Music be Free?
Many are debating this basic question… should music be free?
We have Radiohead’s response to the question in making In Rainbows so widely available for a price determined by the fan rather than the band or the label. While that position was fought with some difficulties, there remains a debate on whether or not music should be free to the fans.
Robert Smith of The Cure has weighed in on this with his concerns that we should value the artistic statement. And is it possible that giving the art away for free devalues it? This is a question that deserves much more consideration than the Entertainment Tonight mentality of reporting on something is the same as deep analysis.
Would we ask any artist(s) to create their art without a means of support for themselves or their families? Those who say that all artists should give their music away for free ignore the fact that many artists simply cannot afford to do so. Look at how grossly we compensate individuals who are supposedly managing these large record companies. In fact, their success — and compensation — does not appear to be tied to the actual performance of their companies.
Perhaps the absolutists on either side of this debate are wrong about the issue — its not music must be free for all or music must be controlled. The real issue is how can we support art and the artists and make it available for as many as possible.
And those who claim that Radiohead should not give away their music are ignoring the fact that Radiohead can do whatever they want with their music. Of course, assuming that they own their copyrights… own their music. Just ask John Foggerty about that one.
But what if there comes a time when Radiohead decides not to give away the music they make (for whatever reason they choose). Will we still worship them for thinking outside of the usual record company structure then? And believe us, we want artists to rethink the usual paradigm when it comes to record labels.
Robert Smith has every reason to speak highly of the record company which has supported his art, yet we believe that statement ignores the fact that most record companies specialize in profiting on the backs of small bands and artists and therefore make millions off of the work of others while the actual creators of the art receives very little in return. Consider the situation with Semisonic. They had a huge hit with “Closing Time” – toured the world in support of the album and song and still ended it all by owing their music label money.
In the end, with the emergence of the Internet and digital distribution, most artists would be best served by shedding the now unnecessary record companies and selling their products themselves online, where they could then make much more money and charge less for their music. However, should they decide that they want to release their music through record labels and make a decent living doing so, shouldn’t they be allowed to do so?
What do you think?
