This is the episode where I felt that this was becoming a real show. We had a top notch guest, (who wasn't my long time friend) an eclectic mix of videos and a prestigious location.

Frank's opening rant was shot in front of the Old Town School of Folk Music. He lamented that the artists who brought their talents to the Old Town School would find it hard to get their music played on corporate country radio. 

The show segments were all shot in a classroom in the Old Town School. Notice the writing on the chalkboard behind Frank. Not only will you see the name of the show but also some mentions of particularly sucky country singers and a shout out to Frank's daughter.

The show starts with bloopers from episode 2. Frank wrongly blames this bald headed producer for the first bloopers but wisely accepts blame for the second. The bloopers are followed by a brief history of our beloved Old Town School.Our first music video of the episode is the Drive By Truckers, Nowhere to Go. This song features Jason Isbell on vocals. The second video can be argued is not country music but the point of our show is that any good music with a country influence deserves a listen. So watch this episode to see Ben Lee's video for the remarkably catchy tune Catch My Disease. The third video is a country blues number reminiscent of the Rolling Stones. It's Broken Mouth Blues by Nic Armstrong.

Our in studio ( classroom) guest is Will Kimbrough. He was in town opening for and playing in the band of Rodney Crowell. In the interview section he mentions influences from Woody Guthrie to the Who. He also laments a corporate country system that ignores greats like Rodney Crowell. Both songs are from his 2006 release "Americanitis." "Warring Ways" was written during the run up to the Iraq war. By contrast, "Everyone's in Love with Everyone" is a delightfully happy song. Both are performed live and acoustic in the Old Town School classroom.

The RIAA is going after the radio industry. Sounds to me like one dying industry attacking another dying industry.  I think the radio guys are going to win this one.  The recording industry is on it's last leg but the radio industry, while aged, is like your spry old uncle who still likes to jog a few miles every day. 

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AC/DC has just signed a deal to distribute their next album exclusively through Wal-Mart.  I'm not sure what this says about the industry, but I'm sure it has something to do with lowest common denominator, slippery slopes and mediocrity.  Weigh in with your thoughts to help clear mine.

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I found an interesting article about the economics of music.  I've always heard that many musicians depend on tours to make money but this is the first one I have seen that backs it up with numbers. Read the story here.

How about with you independent folks.  Is the Holy Grail of album sales worth fighting for?  Would you be better off finding more venues to play in?  Leave us a comment and let's get the discussion started

Despite an agreement last year on internet radio royalties, many small internet radio stations have quit broadcasting.  Now even the biggies are threatened.  Pandora says they are on the bubble.
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But before you do, let's start a discussion on internet radio.  Do you use it?  If so, how often?  Personally I love Pandora.  It's music suggestions are usually right on.

One of the RIAA's recent strategies is to claim that just keeping music in a share folder is illegal, whether it has been shared or not.  A judge in Arizona sees it another way.

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The number of notices going out to college students from the gestapo  RIAA has increased recently.  File sharers beware.

Read about it
here
and here

Trent Reznor of NIN is giving away 9 of their new tunes.  If you want more you have to pay.

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A blogger has put forward one of the most accurate visions of the future that I have seen in sometime. 
He says giving away music will be how money is made in the future.  His arguments are articulate and convincing.

Tell us what you think of his ideas in our comments section.


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The RIAA says you can't rip your CDs.  That's right.  CD's you own are not supposed to be on your hard drive according to the recording industry thugs. Will you take yours off your hard drive?

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