The Federal Communications Commission has issued an Order creating “rules of the road” for the Internet. They require transparency and prohibit the blocking of content. They also ban “unreasonable discrimination” for wireline providers, but give wireless broadband a free pass. The Commission says it will give the hairy eyeball to “pay for priority” deals and […]
Author Archive | Matthew Lasar
Howard Stern is History, Part IV
Sirius XM satellite radio is celebrating the renewal of its contract with Howard Stern with yet another installment of its “History of Howard Stern” series. This would be the “highly anticipated fourth chapter in the award-winning series that offers an unprecedented celebration and rare behind-the-scenes look at the life, career and achievements of Howard Stern,” […]
Can the Internet save classical music? An interview with KUSC’s Brenda Barnes
It’s hard to believe, but once upon a time classical radio was ubiquitous. Most cities had at least several popular classical music radio stations, and many had three. I remembering setting my clock alarm to a New York City based classical FM signal back in the late 1970s. One morning I woke up at six […]
Hello new Morning Show; goodbye KPFA
You can always tell a true community radio politics junkie, because eventually he or she will open up a post with a line like the following: “This is the last thing I’m ever going to say about Pacifica radio.” Yeah, right. So let me put it a little more tentatively. This is the last thing […]
At Last.fm, Glitter Puke rules
The Last.fm Best of 2010 list is out, and as is so often with these lineups, the top prize reaches into the bottom of the barrel. Congratulations to Kesha, 23 years of age and from Los Angeles (she sounds like she’s from Long Island, NY). She has replaced 2009’s number one winner Lady Gaga as […]
Wikileaks: the Afghanistan radio cables
With all the commotion over the Wikileaks files, I figured I’d search them for tidbits about radio related activities around Afghanistan, of which we’ve taken an interest at Radio Survivor. Turns out there are plenty. Here are a few. I’m not going to pretend I’m an expert on any of this intel. Just posting what […]
Free Speech Radio News: help it or lose it
Free Speech Radio News, the independent progressive news service heavily relied on by 114 community based radio stations, has posted an appeal to all its supporters. Send financial assistance now or the show will suspend production on December 21. “This is the situation,” FSRN writes: The majority of FSRN’s income comes from the Pacifica network, […]
Classical, jazz, and world music on public radio declined by up to 30% over last decade
A survey of 505 public radio stations from 2001 through 2010 indicates that a fifth of them abandoned classical music formats during those years. Many also let go of jazz, and even more discarded world music during the same time period. The statistics were submitted to the Federal Communications Commission by National Public Radio in […]
Media tweek: Should Rush Limbaugh’s supporters be allowed to vote?
Should Rush Limbaugh’s supporters be allowed to vote? Given the amazingly mean spirited and stupid things Limbaugh says, should the dittoheads who mindlessly applaud him receive the franchise? Could you imagine the elevated difference in the political makeup of this country if they didn’t? For example, on December 3, Limbaugh noted that hundreds of unemployed […]
Congressman: Rush Limbaugh wants to extend tax breaks for himself
As Capitol Hill debates whether to extend the Bush era tax cut for millionaires, Representative Alan Grayson (D-FL) pushed back on prominent talk radio hosts in favor of the provision, especially Rush Limbaugh. “They tell us that extending the tax cuts for the rich will somehow create jobs,” declared Grayson on the floor of the […]