THE PROGRESS OF PROGRESSIVE RADIO

THE PROGRESS OF PROGRESSIVE RADIO

As seen thru the eyes of one standing nearby -

As the one-year anniversary of WABX-FM. has come and gone, it is as good a time as any to look upon what is happening with Detroit’s underground radio scene.

Although WKNR-FM has been thru many changes and seems to be on the verge of others, it is generally accepted that although WKNR-FM has the huge “AM Machine” behind it, and the more or less brilliant talents and efforts John Small, WABX-FM remains the station “of the community”.

Let us therefore attempt to look as closely and critically as possible at ABX, in the hopes that what is good “for the community”, is good for the “whole”, and will reflect upon it!

I, for two, am really tire&of being .Called “boys and girls.” I don’t necessarily enjoy 4 or 5 cuts, back tp back, of Elvis Presley, or hearing whole sides of 3-month-old LP’s. Thesetypes of programming generally reflect a certain laziness on the part of the DJ to take the time to “create” a show - the easiest thing, for a DJ to do is to play fr6m what he has in the pile next to him, instead PT looking for new cuts to play.

I also feel that it may be good for the “groovy guys” from ABX to spend more time, and show more interest in the general scene, rather than concentrate on specific groups. Live performances of the groups whose records are being played should b6 seen, that they may be put iri the proper prospective within, one’s mind. Too much foul play is available at, the recording studio level, which can alter the sound of four off-the-street musicians into the phenomenal sound of a Symphony Orchestra. How sad!

The particular point at hand is that groups do not make a lot of bucks from their recordings. Theyrather serve as a pay-stale “barometer” and enable the groups to get top-dollar bookings, and top-dollar door gates from those of us who cap afford it. How tragic it is to come upon a studio group who cannot properly re-create what you’ve heard on record, and paid $4 or $5 to see!

Since our FM stations are the emanatiofi of the sounds of these groups, it seems likely that they would want to follow thru and witness in person, wherever possible, the ' live performances of these groups for future comment.

The ego of the “underground” DJ certairily must be handled gently , it is this.ego, arid dedication, which the ABX guys have, which keeps them at a tough job, at lower pay than the “average” working man. It is/ unfprtunate that this type of operation cannot financially afford the luxuries of a well-paid staff, because it might help to balance this immense “ego trip” down to reality. In this writer’s opinion, merely-being at the controls of a beautiful media does not give full license to show-off for the listener, or to play or not play, a certain record simply because one “isn’t in the mood” for the L.P.. There generally are four or five cuts on every L.P. in the library which are worthy of air play, and should be integrated accordingly .

Another point to be considered, and summarily weighed, is the broadness which the underground has taken-by force. It’s great to play all kinds of groovy music, but if the spectrum gets much broader, it may result in yet another station coming on the scene and specializing in what ABX set forthto do-expose those ' groups who are of interest to the general age range of eighteen to thirty-five, whose music wasn’t being exposed elsewhere. ABX-FM will never be number one in the ratings, let’s be honest, so why should it spread itself so thinly? Heavy jazz is available on WCHD-FM, as top 40 and R & B are at CKLW, and WKNR. The pleasant integration of good music, whatever category it falls into, is super. Where it is off-balance, it may be “hazardous to the health!”

Ah yes, those “little” records-how seldom they are heard. Perhaps two or three sneak in each hour two or three shows a day, are generally being a “moldy-oldie,” or whatever, and the other two maybe are new. Singles are very important. It seems as though the. proper concentration is indeed a service to us, the listener, because we may be enlightened to many records and groups the AM’s haven’t seen fit to expose yet, but now are hits; ABX and Keener-FM have often played singles, before their AM counterparts, but with little, concentration. The credit due there is often last in the shuffle of big business, simply because there has been no real effort to let the listener know about that part of programming.

“Together” is a word which is. often over-used, but it 1^ vital at this point that both stations stop for a moment to look critically at what they are doing, for one DJ to again listen, to the shows of another, and stop all the constant back-slapping until a general, overhaul and tightening up has taken place.

Detroit is far ahead of nearly every other city in this country, for which we are thankful, but it is often those who sit in reverence and look in the mirror, who eventually get kicked in the ass.