IDM Mailing Archive

The radio station here at school just received a promotional copy of Vapourspace's CD; but after taking it home and finding that the entire album is one track, I was wondering how FFRR expects DJs at college radio stations to play this. I mean, the one-track format just doesn't seem conducive to (or convenient for) radio play. Especially if they're trying to break the music to a larger audience - including DJs who aren't necessarily familiar with the style, and want to explore it on their radio shows. Am I overlooking something obvious? Does anyone else have any thoughts on this? Why would they even do a promo mailing to radio stations in this format? Darshan

Darshan asks:

quoted 3 lines Am I overlooking something obvious? Does anyone else have any thoughts

> Am I overlooking something obvious? Does anyone else have any thoughts > on this? Why would they even do a promo mailing to radio stations in this > format?

Maybe FFRR thinks that college radio jocks are more resourceful and creative than commercial jocks, and so can invent a way to use it rather than bowing to the stricutres of conventional radio programming. Why not just play the Cd from the beginning for like 5 minutes and then fade out? Or pick out a section you like, note the start time, and use the "search" function (rather than the track skip forward function) on the CD player to cue up what you want? Radio seems to be built around 4 minute tracks that have definite beginnings and ends. Maybe this is a chance to try something new . . . maybe they figured someone would like it, even if it doesn't fit what radio has dictated for years. How did you all handle that Prince CD that came out a few years ago and didn't have "track" markers on it? If it's really useless to you then mail it to me. I'm sure I can put it to good use, especially since a friend of mine is on the verge of getting the first techno college radio show in San Francisco. Laura

Adam J Weitzman sez:

quoted 9 lines On Tue, 8 Feb 1994, Laura La Gassa wrote:

> > On Tue, 8 Feb 1994, Laura La Gassa wrote: > > > How did you all handle that Prince CD that came out a few years > > ago and didn't have "track" markers on it? > > Bad example. The promotional version of this CD did come with track > markers. >

Well, there's always Skinny Puppy's live CD... -H- -- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Howard Berkey howard@netcom.com "That's BigbooTAY!" - John Bigbootay

Adam Weitzman says:

quoted 1 line Bad example.

>Bad example.

Look, whether it's a bad example or not the rest of my post still stands. Maybe FFRR was being generous? (I have friends at some very small colleges who complain they can't GET techno-related promos). My point was why dis FFRR for giving something away? Laura

quoted 1 line My point was why dis FFRR for giving something away?

> My point was why dis FFRR for giving something away?

I don't think anyone was. FFRR could give away a ton o' free stuff, but it still doesn't stop anyone from criticizing the manufacturing methods. Frankly, I think "no track IDs" on both the album and the "Gravitational Arch Suite" was a silly idea. Especially when the vinyl equivalents are in tracks.

quoted 1 line Well, there's always Skinny Puppy's live CD...

> Well, there's always Skinny Puppy's live CD...

And Throbbing Gristle's CD1.

In our previous episode, Laura La Gassa said: > Why not just play the Cd from the beginning for like 5 minutes and then > fade out? Or pick out a section you like, note the start time, and use > the "search" function (rather than the track skip forward function) > on the CD player to cue up what you want? Come on, they should have at least indexed it. -- Brian sex = differentiation = death bhostetl@indiana.edu bhostetl@silver.ucs.indiana.edu

quoted 2 lines Frankly, I think "no track IDs" on both the album and the "Gravitational Ar

> Frankly, I think "no track IDs" on both the album and the "Gravitational Arch > Suite" was a silly idea. Especially when the vinyl equivalents are in tracks.

Maybe the start-id button on their DAT machine fell off.

Hmmm. I wasn't really critisizing FFRR for sending out the promotional copies - in fact, I think it's wonderful that they support college radio and are interested in having their music played (I wish more independent dance labels had the resources to do promo service). I was just wondering whether they really think that DJs at college radio stations will play this. At least at my station the DJs are all pretty lax about their shows - they take it all kinds of easy, and don't care about professionalism, much less being adventurous on the air. Indexing through the 50+ minutes of music with the >> key to find just the right 5 minute segment is something I don't think they'll do. Fuck it man I'm rambling. All I really wanted to say was that I don't really think the CD was recorded in a radio-friendly manner. That's it. Darshan

quoted 5 lines If it's really useless to you then mail it to me. I'm sure I can put

>If it's really useless to you then mail it to me. I'm sure I can put >it to good use, especially since a friend of mine is on the verge of getting >the first techno college radio show in San Francisco. > >Laura

Which college? Berkeley? USF? Stanford (not!!!)

On 8 Feb 1994, DARSHAN M. JESRANI wrote:

quoted 14 lines The radio station here at school just received a promotional copy of

> > The radio station here at school just received a promotional copy of > Vapourspace's CD; but after taking it home and finding that the entire > album is one track, I was wondering how FFRR expects DJs at college > radio stations to play this. I mean, the one-track format just doesn't > seem conducive to (or convenient for) radio play. Especially if they're > trying to break the music to a larger audience - including DJs who aren't > necessarily familiar with the style, and want to explore it on their > radio shows. > > Am I overlooking something obvious? Does anyone else have any thoughts > on this? Why would they even do a promo mailing to radio stations in this > format? >

Well, there's probably sections in the piece which don't have a beat/are ambient etc. You could use these points to mix in another song. Or you could be brave and just play the whole thing! In fact, the first time i play a song i try to play the full thing through as it was meant to be heard. Screw pop sensibility! If a song is good (as the vapourspace prob is) listeners shouldn't be bored through it (though you should bring a good book!). In fact, i'd wager a guess that there's classical shows at your station that regularly play long tracks. karl

quoted 3 lines Well, there's always Skinny Puppy's live CD...

>> Well, there's always Skinny Puppy's live CD... > > And Throbbing Gristle's CD1.

And the Korean cast album of EVITA. (Ooops, sorry...wrong mailing list.)

quoted 8 lines Well, there's probably sections in the piece which don't have a beat/are

>Well, there's probably sections in the piece which don't have a beat/are >ambient etc. You could use these points to mix in another song. Or you >could be brave and just play the whole thing! In fact, the first time i >play a song i try to play the full thing through as it was meant to be >heard. Screw pop sensibility! If a song is good (as the vapourspace prob >is) listeners shouldn't be bored through it (though you should bring a >good book!). In fact, i'd wager a guess that there's classical shows at >your station that regularly play long tracks.

quoted 1 line karl

>karl

This is amusing. Last week on my show on college radio (techno for tyros, mondays 12:30, 88.1 cambridge, ma) show. I played Gravitational Arch of Ten in its entirety. Mostly because it was about three in the morning and I had homework to do, but hey. Maybe I'll play the new album this week. [fletcher]