Back in October 2019 I published a response to the breathless news reported across the tech, music and popular press that “vinyl outsold CDs” for the very first time. While true in terms of raw dollars, as I demonstrated, it wasn’t true in terms of volume. More than twice the number of CD albums were sold than vinyl […]
Archive | Music
Podcast #273: Thanksgiving and Radio Traditions with Alice Brock of “Alice’s Restaurant”
On this most unusual of Thanksgiving weeks, we are honored to speak with Alice Brock, the woman who provided much inspiration for Arlo Guthrie’s inadvertent Thanksgiving Day radio staple, “Alice’s Restaurant.” Brock shares with us not only some insight into the 18-minute anti-war epic; but also stories about her life and holiday traditions. For 2020, […]
Thanksgiving Radio Tradition withstands the Pandemic as “Alice’s Restaurant” Hits the 2020 Airwaves
Where can you hear “Alice’s Restaurant” on Thanksgiving 2020? The Radio Survivor listening guide is here.
Podcast #221 – The Intertwined History of the Radio and Recording Industries
On this week’s show, we take a trip back to the early 20th century to learn about the recording industry’s intertwined relationship with radio and music culture. Our guest is Kyle Barnett, Associate Professor of Media Studies in the Department of Communication at Bellarmine University. Barnett’s forthcoming book, Record Cultures: The Transformation of the U.S. […]
Alice’s Restaurant on the 2019 Thanksgiving Radio Menu
Catch Alice’s Restaurant on the 2023 radio dial. See our latest listening guide. In fall, 1967, Arlo Guthrie released “Alice’s Restaurant,” unintentionally launching a Thanksgiving radio tradition that persists more than 50 years later. The Thanksgiving-themed 18+ minute story-song is beloved by folkies and classic rock fans who continue to search the radio dial for […]
No, Vinyl Records Aren’t Outselling CDs – Do the Math
Last month news spread that, “Vinyl Is Poised to Outsell CDs For the First Time Since 1986,” as Rolling Stone reported. The source of that prediction is the recording industry’s own mid-year report, which showed vinyl sales racking up $224.1 million on 8.6 million units in the first half of 2019, creeping up on CD’s […]
Walter Benjamin Radio Diary #3: on puppets and dictators
“A proper puppeteer is a despot, one that makes the Tsar seem like a petty gendarme.” – #walterbenjamin
Walter Benjamin radio diary: mailbag #1
Who knew that Walter Benjamin would generate this much correspondence?
Walter Benjamin radio diary entry #1: selective snouting
Walter Benjamin’s first radio essay focused on the Berlin “Schnauze” or snout, but selectively so.
When it comes to classical music (and classical radio), don’t mess with (San Antonio) Texas
KPAC is another reason why San Antonio, Texas is a great place for classical music and classical radio.