No. 1 Bus: Bob Lefsetz on the radio. For your own good.

Howdy all,

Wow. What a shit week last week. I would blame it on that lull between
Christmas and the first releases of the new year. But, If you look at
the Billboard Top 200, there is not a bunch of stuff there to drive
anyone into the stores. Especially ours.

The coming 60 days have some releases that are dreams for us. All
independent. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Bloc Party, The Shins and Arcade
Fire are all on deck and there is much excitement, yes even for
physical goods.

What concerns me and what I think is a root problem for our industry
is radio. As great as the new Shins record is (and it is great), you
can't hear it on any mainstream radio anywhere in most parts of the US.
Same with the other three titles. This is the new stuff that ought to
be promoted. All I get is Nickelback and Hinder mixed in with 15 year
old Pearl Jam and Stone Temple Pilots. Not very exciting. Not knocking
the two current bands dominating radio because I know they have an
audience. I am just saying that radio has become this ultra dull
lifeless thing that I rarely turn on.

I can hear you now saying "Don, you caveman, no one listens to the
radio. Everyone hears about new music on the internet". Well, that is
just not 100% true. A nice chunk of people hear about new music on the
internet (obviously). But frankly, many people are just too damn busy
to spend non-work time in front of their computers. Some are lucky
enough to get to stream KEXP at work but most are blocked.

As I have said before, I keep on top of everything by sticking my dial
on "Left of Center" on Sirius. In my opinion, there should be a station
like this in every market. For those who have not made the leap into
satellite radio. For those who get sun and don't live on the internet.
In other words, the majority of people out there. The people who would
be purchasing music but just can't get turned on.

My kids don't turn on their radio any more. It sucks too bad they say.
What is terrible is that no matter how many ways people have to get
turned on to new music these days, what they really need is a filter.
Unfortunately, the biggest filter out there, the one in every car on
the road, is blocking the best stuff from the air.

Coalition of Independent Music Stores Top 200 for Week Ending 01-14-07

No. 1 Bus

Saturday, January 20, 2007

Bob Lefsetz on the radio. For your own good.

Sunday Brunch Menu

Gus' memoir as a download on Amazon for 49 cents!

Toscanini's Ice Cream Official Site

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