IDM Mailing Archive

I'm not sure that it's totally necessary to do a massive thread-esque thing on this, but... I agree that there are only a few US labels going on re: techno/electronica oriented radio. You look in CMJ etc. and see Hardfloor, Seefeel, blah blah, which can all be accessed via major, e-z-axess labels and distribution. Nothing wrong with a lot of these releases...just the same stuff keeps showing up on "RPM" lists...Astrelwerks and Net stuff. Respect to these labels like these. But where's the harder to find stuff and why aren't stations getting it? Our station (91.5 WOBC, Oberlin OH) has a lot of interesting music, and I really think this is greatly dependant on music direction and coordinators taking a genuine interest in the sounds and going for it. Therefore, we've gotten some good stuff...I don't know if it's all my favorite, but still...Organico, lotsa Cajual, Definitive, some Probe...last year some Accelerate...Stickman, etc. We also get wierd shit like the ASH Scanner cds, Solielmoon (nice collection of Muslimgauze and Hafler Trio), Extreme...tons of 7" records too...locals... I think this is because we have folks who are dedicated to the station and new sounds working there... Sure they are "cooler than thou" (is this a nationwide college radio phenomenon?) but they get the job done ;-) Good shows also depend on personal DJ involvement. If you have the financial resources and access to outlets of fine music, there is no reason not to haul your own to the station if you care about your show...and, I imagine, if you care about spreading the word. I know "spreading the word" may not seem like an important concern and have missionary-era overtones, BUT exposure = audience, and it always helps a "scene" to have people buying records. This will also bring other djs into the works...WOBC was where I first heard DBX...and this will expand exposure exponentially. This should have some positive effect, b/c the more djs spin "hard to get" music, the more stations will demand to get the stuff. Theoretically, this should interest non-major distributors and labels and more underground/experimental/whatever music can be heard. Theoretically. Hope this made sense and keep radio alive...how 'bout an NPR techno/electronica show? Does anyone want to put one together with me..? -morgan geist *** "VOLTS-R-US" 91.5 WOBC Sat. 10-midnight, amongst other activities... ***

On Thu, 29 Sep 1994, MORGAN GEIST wrote:

quoted 1 line But where's the harder to find stuff and why aren't stations getting it?

> But where's the harder to find stuff and why aren't stations getting it?

One possible reason is that the labels are too small to be able to afford sending stuff out to college stations. Also, unless you're in a major centre most of the people listening won't be the type who go out and pick up a 12". If you're into releasing full length cd's and compilations though, it's worth your while to get as much airplay as possible.

quoted 7 lines Our station (91.5 WOBC, Oberlin OH) has a lot of interesting music, and I really

> Our station (91.5 WOBC, Oberlin OH) has a lot of interesting music, and I really > think this is greatly dependant on music direction and coordinators taking a > genuine interest in the sounds and going for it. Therefore, we've gotten some > good stuff...I don't know if it's all my favorite, but still...Organico, lotsa > Cajual, Definitive, some Probe...last year some Accelerate...Stickman, etc. > We also get wierd shit like the ASH Scanner cds, Solielmoon (nice collection of > Muslimgauze and Hafler Trio), Extreme...tons of 7" records too...locals...

We get lots of good stuff from some of those labels as well (93.3 cfru-fm, guelph). You're right that it depends on having a good music coordinator who's into all kinds of music. Are last coordinator was really into electronic of all types and was constantly soliciting this type of music with good results. Now our most recent coordinator really doesnt have a clue and so there's been a steady drop in this type of material flowing into the station. The best idea, if your station isn't getting anything interesting in the idm dept, is to take the onus upon yourself to write the labels and ask them for material. The worst they can say is no. Also, if you subscribe to cmj, push idm on some of the other dj's so you can try and chart some of these labels. You'd be amazed at the goodies that came in once the plastikman album charted at our station!

quoted 11 lines Good shows also depend on personal DJ involvement. If you have the financial

> Good shows also depend on personal DJ involvement. If you have the financial > resources and access to outlets of fine music, there is no reason not to haul > your own to the station if you care about your show...and, I imagine, if you > care about spreading the word. I know "spreading the word" may not seem like > an important concern and have missionary-era overtones, BUT exposure = audience, > and it always helps a "scene" to have people buying records. This will also > bring other djs into the works...WOBC was where I first heard DBX...and this > will expand exposure exponentially. This should have some positive effect, b/c > the more djs spin "hard to get" music, the more stations will demand to get the > stuff. Theoretically, this should interest non-major distributors and labels > and more underground/experimental/whatever music can be heard. Theoretically.

Totally! If you're doing a show in this area there's no substitute for getting involved in buying yourself. I'd say 3/4 of my show is material i've purchased from small labels. I try and play as much local as possible too (not hard, since london ont is just down the road!). And when i announce what's played I always try to mention the label it was on as well so people can find it more easily if they really like a track. Anyhow, with all this said, i would like to see the small indies getting more with the college/community radio scene. If not to send material, then at least to make connections so dj's can interview the people making the music. karl