What should we call it...It sounds like a duck...

[GoldenAvenger]

Great Googa-Mooga ya'll ! ;D

 

[TheBigA]

During the total run, most of the music played was unregistered, and at no time was the station sued.

Were these union musicians? How did you get the music? Did they sign release forms?

Because it was right around 2003 that the RIAA began its battle against OTA radio to get paid for airplay.

Around this same time, the RIAA was suing individuals for unauthorized use of music. The point is, as the 90s ended, musicians wanted more control over their music. It made shows like the one you describe far more difficult to do because of the legal paperwork.

 

[freqdev]

Now, it should be abundantly clear as to how foolish TheBigA, and BigA, Jr. LOOK!

the post is more about scooter than it is the topic

 

[Scooter Lesley]

Well,...since Freqdev-AKA BigA, Junior whips that this is all about me, I'll give him another dose, and again explain the importanace of Local/Regional Unsigned music; registered or not. In addition to my stint as host of the long-running "An Hour From Atlanta To Charlotte", unbenunced to me, I wasn't done. My idea of a two hour show made it to paper, and it was purposed in early 1999 to the then PD of The Planet. After he saw the method behind my maddness, "The Upstate At Eight" debuted in May; Sunday nights, 8p-10p. I simply turned it up to a Hotter level. Before long, I was receiving 10-20 bubble-pak envelopes a week, with music from all over the Southeast. After the second month, the avails were sold-out. Some were from semi-pro acts that were registered, and their product had a barcode. Others were non/un-registered rather "Homemade" cassettes & CD's. Whatever the case, alot of the material was "Stellar"! Both "The Katies" & "The Marvelous Three" were
3-piece powerhouses from Atlanta. Johnson City offered "Supafuzz". "Holden" from Spartanburg. One of my faves were four young skinny long-hairs from Brentwood TN, "The Sundowners"...a truely amazing sound. Their double-phased, twin-guitar solos would stick in your head to at least Tuesday of the following week. The show aired from May '99 to October '00. During that time, I granted airplay to those that certainly deserved it. The end only came after The Planet was sold to Barnstable.
Their Consultant in Boston nixed it over the phone, but...here's the funny part. He didn't bother to even ask about the ratings or even the revenue...he just canceled it. At that time, with five sponsors, it was sold out. Two of the five, had signed a
6-month contract, and one had signed a 12-month. The station lost all of that revenue! For me, the satisfaction of playing the "Unheard", and one other diddy. In the Fall of '99 the readers of Creative Loafing voted me: "Best Local FM Radio Personality" in their Best of The Upstate poll...and I was only...on the air for two hours a week! Go figure! So, I'll repeat it again: Radio Stations can not be sued for playing non-registered music!!!!!!!!!

 

[TheBigA]

So, I'll repeat it again: Radio Stations can not be sued for playing non-registered music!!!!!!!!!

You're basing your opinion on what you did 15 years ago. As I said, a lot of legal water has passed since then. A lot of innocent music lovers have been sued by the RIAA. If you want to ignore all that, be my guest. But for those of us who still work in the business, we aren't going to risk the lawsuit.

 

[freqdev]

Sunday nights, 8p-10p. The station lost all of that revenue!

do any other radio account execs want to comment?

 

[Scooter Lesley]

Well,...no, I don't have an offer, and oppertunities would fit in a thimball. However, I could re-create the same two hour show on a station now, and show them "Sold-out"; Sunday nights 8p-10p.
Probably, with three of the same five sponsors that I had.
...and there is no way that the station could be sued for
granting airplay to non-registered music.
If you'd listen to someone other than those Pencilneck Consultants,...you might learn something! (I Said Might!).

 

[TheBigA]

...and there is no way that the station could be sued for
granting airplay to non-registered music.

Keep telling yourself that. But here's a fact. Six years ago, Clear Channel tried to do a local music show where they'd air non-registered music. All they asked is for musicians to sign a simple release form, absolving them of any responsibility for the music. The Future Of Music Coalition objected to them being asked to sign a release, made a big stink, and it killed the show. One of the problems with unregistered music is plagarism. Someone hear's an unpublished song on the radio, makes a few changes, releases it as a single, and it becomes a big hit. Then the original writer sues everyone for lost royalties.

In the 15 years since you did your show, lots of new groups have popped up looking to sue for various things. They've made it more difficult to do things you once did. At one time, musicians were just happy to get their songs played on the radio. Now, that's not enough.

 

[Scooter Lesley]

There you go again, BigA,...painting yourself in a corner, and proving me right, with your own words:
"Six years ago, Clear Channel tried..."(and failed!) I'm not Clear Channel. I'm Scooter Lesley, and I have met every goal that I have ever set for myself. Clear Channel Oafs their projects High, Low, Left & Right. It is so...so...well known...they are loosing money Head over Ass. There is a very obvious reason that iHeart Radio is free...No one would pay for it! A Local/Regional music show is one of the simplest ideas in Radio, and you, and your highly boasted Clear Channel can't pour Dookie out of a boot, if the instructions were written on the heel!

 

[TheBigA]

There you go again, BigA,...painting yourself in a corner, and proving me right, with your own words:
"Six years ago, Clear Channel tried..."(and failed!) I'm not Clear Channel. I'm Scooter Lesley, and I have met every goal that I have ever set for myself.

OK...put a local music on the radio NOW. Get yourself a job, stop criticizing people who have jobs, and do what you say others can't do. It's real easy to sit on the side and give history lessons about back in the day. It's a lot harder to do it NOW. Go ahead. YOU'RE the one who has painted yourself in a corner.

 

[Board Editor]

MOVED: TIO: What should we call it...It sounds like a duck...

Some posts in this topic have been moved to Take It Outside.

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