Tuesday, June 21, 2005

750 kHz

750 kHz- an introduction to the Seldom Heard Radio blog

Every venture starts at a point of origin, and my venture into the world of blogging starts here. Why a blog? I much prefer the written page and textured paper to the ephemeral world of internet technology. I’ve decided that Seldom Heard Radio needs a presence in the electronic community so I can share thoughts, resources, and creative work & ideas with others. This blog will focus on non-commercial radio, independent music (including some of my personal favorite, the realm of what is sometimes called "psychedelic folk") and occasional news and rantings regarding my show called "Seldom Heard Radio" which is heard on WSCS 90.9 (www.colby-sawyer.edu/wscs in New London NH and WNEC 91.7 in Henniker NH (www.nec.edu)

In New Hampshire there are very few alternatives to commercial radio. There is New Hampshire Public Radio http:/nhpr.org which is about as bland as public radio gets - there is only one music show and it's a boring traditional folk music show on Sunday nights. The rest is talk talk talk ... and very little listening to the audience. Only an hour and a half per day is devoted to topics of New Hampshire interest. "Public Radio" should rightly be called "partially public-funded radio" ... or "partly corporate sponsored radio" ... meeting local public need has little to do with it. I would rather listen to "public access" radio broadcasting if it existed --- frequencies where many diverse voices could be heard. I'll be the first to admit I know very little about podcasting, which seems in spirit similar to public access, though it is "narrowcasting" rather than "broadcasting". To listen to podcasts one must own the right equipment, a computer, etc. To listen to a radio broadcast, all one needs is a radio with an antenna and a power source (or not - some radios are solar or wind-up).Maybe narrowcasting is the future --- ever smaller audiences as we all become more active in creating our own media. The state of media is in flux right now, it is the most exciting time in radio history since Marconi received the letter 'S' in Morse code across the Atlantic. The possibilities for creating diversity are opening all around us even as commercial radio becomes more and more homogenized, monosyllabic and bland. So this is my first attempt at a web presence for Seldom Heard Radio. Please stay tuned.

No comments: