Tweet Photo by Randy Stern Is radio still a way to introduce you to new music? It used to be. It was a way to introduce you to new artists, songs, and movements. The powerhouse AM stations of the 1950s and 1960s drove young music-hungry consumers to the record store – remember the record store? …
Tweet What's behind that screen – and map – is a song about the radio… – Photo by Randy Stern Radio can be a lonely business. Or, it can be collaborative with a great engineer and other staff to support you on the road. Having done some radio as a guest, I understand how that …
Tweet Photo by Randy Stern First of all, I am not a book reviewer. However, this column is about a book. This one was written by a well-known air personality and disc jockey who was at the center of a movement in radio programming. His voice can still be heard on SiriusXM's 1st Wave channel, …
Tweet Your infotainment system – OK, radio – has been an entertaining you all year long. You tune it in and your song comes on… Then, someone records the playback of it. Another records the purchase of the song for your smartphone or other musical devices you use these days. In the end, Billboard magazine …
Tweet We either celebrate or cringe when Christmas music is piped through the speakers of any given shopping center before Thanksgiving. Why do we react the way we do? The music of the Holidays is part of the routine we go through in preparation for the gift-giving season. Whether it is faith-based or secular, the …
TweetSports on the radio has one of the deepest histories attached to it. Before television, radio and the local newspaper were the only ways to know what was going on with your favorite team and sport. They also help inspire the imagination of generations of sportscasters. Vin Scully tells the story of how he discovered …
Tweet All photos by Randy Stern A couple of weeks ago, Google created a "doodle” – the graphic on top of their main page – to celebrate the 44th anniversary of Hip-Hop. Little did we know that the music and culture that would become Hip-Hop would start with a party in the Bronx and an …
Tweet All photos by Randy Stern What is your definition of "public" radio? It depends on where you live. But, traditionally, public radio is one that is funded by a governmental source with its main priority to fulfill primary functions of public service. It is a noble service that has is intended to fulfill the …
Tweet The top station in the Twin Cities at the Minnesota State Fair – All photos by Randy Stern Remember Clear Channel? The largest terrestrial and viral radio broadcaster in the USA is still going strong. They recently re-branded themselves as iHeartRadio. Perhaps we should go on with this story… This is not going to …
TweetOne of the first things I do when I receive a vehicle to work with is to program the presets on the radio. Depending on the number of presets available – either per band or in combination of all bands – I have a few stations I prioritize above others. Contrary to popular belief, none …