Local Radio

Have you even been riding in your car listening to the radio, and realize that you’ve heard at least one song twice in the last thirty minutes? I’ve been noticing something very disheartening about local radio, and it’s that they hate. They hate on local artists who are 1.5 million times more talented than mainstream artists who simply have the major backing to make it appear as if they have talent.

Last week I listened to more radio than I have in a very long time… And it was for the sake of proving to myself how ridiculous and sad it really is. In one hour, I heard every song at least twice, if not three times. Not only that, but if I was sick of hearing the same songs on one station, I turned to another, and there it was again! Even if I arrived to my destination, exited the vehicle, locked it and went on my way, came back four hours later and turned the radio on, I hear the SAME SONG I LEFT TO!

Now. Please don’t think I’m a hater. I know theses artists need their money, they need their publicity, they need their records played ten trillion times a day—or do they? Once you’ve made it to the mainstream media and you are on commercials, music video channels, daytime talk shows, etc. does radio really make a difference any more? If I hear your music in the mall, the dentist office waiting room, or the zoo lobby, is it truly a factor anymore? It’s hard for me to think so.

What this all comes down to is: why aren’t local radio stations supporting local music? It used to be that a city was the ambassador of new artists, making noise and bring attention to them. Now it’s pretty much impossible to even get a song played without emptying your pockets of everything you have. And even then, you’re only paying for a CHANCE at being aired. And I can only speak from what I’ve seen in Columbus, Ohio as far as the urban music community is concerned. Cleveland is not the same way. They support their artists, from what I can see, in such a major way that they make sure the hype travels from city to city.

I think local radio stations should take chances on good local artists if they’re really on to something. I know me personally, it would be hard to show Columbus love after signing a contract to a major label if they never supported me before I made it big. And it’s a proven fact for more than one artist who has come out of Columbus to be a star—they never got support from their home town, so they never come back.

What kind of home is that?