KCRW's On the Beat

Raise Your Flag

podmaster@kcrw.org (Celia Hirschman) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:02:00 EST

When you create your own online page, on MySpace, Facebook or any other user generated site, a personal flag is planted in the ground. The flag is your statement about who you are and what you celebrate. And because millions have planted their personal flags, companies like Myspace and Facebook have become multi-million-dollar organizations...

Grant Park, Chicago

podmaster@kcrw.org (Celia Hirschman) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:44:00 EST

Today, I'm a very proud American. Last night, our country stood up and sent a clear message that a change is going to come. The whole world was watching. This change sprang out from the youngest voters, driven by hope and hard work. They wanted to help define the kind of country they want to live in. Barack Obama owes much to America's youth for standing up and being counted. And he knew it. You could feel the electrifying excitement from the crowds in Grant Park, Chicago...

Big Boxes

podmaster@kcrw.org (Celia Hirschman) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:28:00 EST

Last Tuesday, legendary heavy metal band, AC/DC, released their latest album in eight years, an exclusive with mega retailers WalMart and Sam's Clubs. In the first week, the band sold over 780,000 CD's. It's the first Number One record for the Australian group and the fastest selling album this year for WalMart...

Marillion

podmaster@kcrw.org (Celia Hirschman) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:50:00 EST

Prince, Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails have each shown the music industry how they can take business back into their own hands, record institutions be dammed. They worked hard for their independence, and with timing on their side, they have transitioned pretty easily...

Counting Your Audience

podmaster@kcrw.org (Celia Hirschman) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:26:00 EST

The economic livelihood of a commercial radio station is largely driven by one single factor. Ratings. Ratings are the estimate of the number of people listening to that station during a specific period of time. For almost 60 years, Arbitron has been the recognized company to estimate listeners, and release the data...

Keeping the Dream Alive: The Daniel Pearl Music Days

podmaster@kcrw.org (Celia Hirschman) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:46:00 EST

The measure of a life well lived is the wealth of friendship and love that is left behind. In 2002, South Asia's Wall Street Journal bureau chief Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and subsequently murdered by terrorists in Pakistan. His murder, captured on video, shocked the world and created international outrage...

Time Sharing

podmaster@kcrw.org (Celia Hirschman) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:44:00 EST

While the financial crisis hangs over us like a dull ache, music is one of the last things Americans want to think about. But the truth is we should be thinking about it. Popular culture reflects our emotional sensibilities and chaos and uncertainty now abound...

Pennies or Millions, Artists Are Fighting Back

podmaster@kcrw.org (Celia Hirschman) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 12:45:00 EST

Last month, the legendary rock band, the Allman Brothers, filed a lawsuit for $13 million against Universal Music. The Allman Brothers contend that Universal has been shorting the band their full compensation for the sale of their music on outlets like iTunes...

Artists Fight Back

podmaster@kcrw.org (Celia Hirschman) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:44:00 EST

John McCain has not had a good year with musicians. First John Mellencamp objected to having his music used at McCain support rallies. Then Jackson Browne sued McCain for putting his song, Running on Empty, without permission in an advertisement against Barak Obama. Van Halen registered their objection after McCain added a track to his rally-song playlist. And just last week, the band Heart sent a cease-and-desist letter to John McCain and the Republican Party for using their hit, Barracuda at the National Republican Convention...

The Definition of Insanity

podmaster@kcrw.org (Celia Hirschman) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:44:00 EST

The record industry is engaged in a cycle of self-destruction. Decades ago the business was robust, but now it struggles to remain relevant. Much has changed in the last fifty years and the timeline tells an interesting tale...