The only Clear Channel radio station I have programmed into my car stereo has now changed its format. Oldies 100.7 has stopped spinning Motown hits and is now going (wait for it) …country!
Makes me wish some of those low-power community radio stations like WZRU in Roanoke Rapids were close enough to listen to here. On our trips up to Lake Gaston, I’ve been mesmerized at how good that tiny public radio station is. Small, local radio will beat corporate radio every time in a contest based on content. That’s probably why Clear Channel and others feel so threatened by low power FM.
As Doc likes to point out, the listeners aren’t the customer in the station owner’s eyes: the advertiser is. But the listeners own those airwaves. The station owner only leases them. So it really is our radio. We should make sure crummy station owners like Clear Channel don’t ever forget that.
I was tuning in the shine on the light night dial
doing anything my radio advised
with every one of those late night stations
playing songs bringing tears to me eyes
I was seriously thinking about hiding the receiver
when the switch broke ’cause it’s old
They’re saying things that I can hardly believe.
They really think we’re getting out of control.
Radio is a sound salvation
Radio is cleaning up the nation
They say you better listen to the voice of reason
But they don’t give you any choice
’cause they think that it’s treason.
So you had better do as you are told.
You better listen to the radio.
I wanna bite the hand that feeds me.
I wanna bite that hand so badly.
I want to make them wish they’d never seen me.
Some of my friends sit around every evening
and they worry about the times ahead
But everybody else is overwhelmed by indifference
and the promise of an early bed
You either shut up or get cut out;
they don’t wanna hear about it.
It’s only inches on the reel-to-reel.
And the radio is in the hands of such a lot of fools
tryin’ to anaesthetise the way that you feel
[Chorus]
Wonderful radio
Marvelous radio
Wonderful radio
Radio, Radio
Uh, do I need a category for Elvis Costello “Radio Radio” posts? Seems like that song shows up here a lot!
Anytime you talk about Clear Channel I have to pipe up. What’s so funny about that?
Best,
Elvis