Michael Barnes

Michael Barnes

Host/Co-Producer, 'Lost Notes'; KCRW DJ; Sociology Lecturer, Cal State Long Beach

Host/Producer

Michael Barnes is the co-host and co-producer of Lost Notes. Obsessed with sound even as a child, Barnes got his start as a DJ at the age of 18 on WRAS Atlanta, Album 88, and from there has produced and hosted shows on WORT-Madison, KALX-Berkeley, KPFK-Los Angeles and KCRW.  Most recently, Barnes curated the program "Moods In Free Time" for Adrian Younge's Artform Radio on Worldwide-FM.  During his time in the Bay Area, Barnes received his Ph.D. from UC Berkeley, with an emphasis on the intersections of Race, Class, Gender and Culture.  He currently teaches courses in the department of Sociology at CSU-Long Beach.  Whether as a DJ, a Collector or a Scholar, Barnes has always championed independent music and culture, particularly highlighting the work of those criminally overlooked and obscured artists of the past. (Photo: Farah Sosa)

Michael Barnes on KCRW

Lost Notes speaks with Gloria Jones (“Tainted Love”) for a wide-ranging and intimate conversation about her life and career.

Gloria Jones In Conversation

Lost Notes speaks with Gloria Jones (“Tainted Love”) for a wide-ranging and intimate conversation about her life and career.

from Lost Notes

Lost Notes speaks with Sandra Izsadore, “Queen Mother of Afrobeat,” about Fela Kuti’s time in LA in 1969.

Talking Fela Kuti with Sandra Izsadore

Lost Notes speaks with Sandra Izsadore, “Queen Mother of Afrobeat,” about Fela Kuti’s time in LA in 1969.

from Lost Notes

Lost Notes presents a special live conversation at KCRW HQ with legendary producer Larry Mizell (of the Mizell Brothers).

Larry Mizell Live in Conversation at KCRW HQ

Lost Notes presents a special live conversation at KCRW HQ with legendary producer Larry Mizell (of the Mizell Brothers).

from Lost Notes

More from KCRW

Adam Scott talks “Severance” season 2, Pablo Larrain tells us about loving opera and telling the story of Maria Callas, and Tiffany Haddish has The Treat.

from The Treatment

The latest film releases include Kraven the Hunter, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, The End, and September 5.

from Weekend Film Reviews

Altadena’s artist community is determined to rise from the ashes after losing studios and galleries to the Eaton Fire, in addition to homes.

from KCRW Features

Highly-anticipated films hitting the big screen in 2025 include Wicked: For Good, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Superman, 28 Years Later, Mickey 17, and more.

from Weekend Film Reviews

Colman Domingo on “Sing Sing,” Rodrigo Prieto on “Pedro Paramo,” and Carrie Courogen on a rule-breaking artist.

from The Treatment

The latest film releases include Presence, Rose, Inheritance, and Myth of Man.

from Weekend Film Reviews

Jude Law enters his lawman era (and joins to tell us about it), Aasif Mandvi talks “Waiting for Godot,” and Ilana Glazer has The Treat.

from The Treatment

The American saber-rattling against China has been increasing almost as fast as China’s own development in the past few years.

from Scheer Intelligence

Much needed attention has been brought upon the for-profit health insurance industry in the wake of the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

from Scheer Intelligence