This Time Concerts is pleased to be bringing Tracy Grammer back to
Seattle on Thursday, March 6th at 7:30pm.

She'll be appearing at the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in West
Seattle.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 day of the show, and are available
from <a href="http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/25300">Brown
Paper Tickets.</a>

More information on the show is available at our site:
<http://www.thistimeconcerts.org/>.

We do hope that if you're in the area, you can make it to the show.
The venue's got amazing sound and seats about 150 people. It's our
second show, and we're *so* excited to be bringing Tracy to town.

Thank you for the information.  I noticed this on Tracy's tour schedule
and was curious about the venue, which I had never heard of.  Will this
be a solo show, or will Jim be with her?

Neil

--- In TracyGrammer@yahoogroups.com, "nbretvick" <nbretvick@...> wrote:
>
> Thank you for the information.  I noticed this on Tracy's tour schedule
> and was curious about the venue, which I had never heard of.  Will this
> be a solo show, or will Jim be with her?
>
> Neil
>

It will be a solo show.

This venue is relatively new; it's *our* second concert here, but
there's a story: Brian and Jill Higgins started Four Sheep Concerts a
couple of years ago and used this venue. We attended a show there last
spring (Ellis Paul) and got to talking with Brian and Jill. They told
us it was their last show, as they were moving to the East Coast.

We've put on house concerts for a number of years, in a number of
locations, and felt that we could take the next step up (since we
don't have room at our place for 160 people *grin*) and work with a
family-friendly venue to bring in performers.

It's a great room with a great sound system. We'll have water, juice,
cookies and hopefully coffee for sale (and say "Hi!" to the kids;
they'll be manning the refreshment counter).

Bring your friends!

Stephen

TRACY GRAMMER MUSIC
February/March 2008 Newsletter
http://www.tracygrammer.com
http://www.myspace.com/tracygrammer

> GREETINGS
> UPCOMING TOUR DATES
> TRACYGRAMMER.COM STORE

Greetings from the snowy east!

In response to my "What's alive and thriving?" question in the last
newsletter, I received a flurry of colorful responses from all over
the country. One writer said that on an unseasonably warm day in
Pennsylvania, he was startled by a pale mid-winter moth, which he
nearly mistook for a wind-blown seed pod. A friend in Oregon shared
both wonder and worry at the surfeit of skunks now populating his
back forty. Yet another, on the other side of the country, said, "I
have all the same birds as you!" I appreciated all the observations
and revelations. May we never get so busy and distracted that we
forget to witness the world around us.

Jim Henry is doing just fine, thank you for all the well-wishes. He's
going to limit his long-distance touring since it turns out that
seems to exacerbate some of his issues. We'll continue to tour the
Northeast together, though, and when he's able, he'll join me for
adventures further afield.

So -- my first solo Northwest tour starts, appropriately, on Leap Day
in Portland and will take me to my favorite cities in the region.
Please, please come! The Northwest is my musical home, and these
shows will be much more fun with your energy and support!

Blessings and best wishes,
tg

----------------------------------------------------------------------

TRACY GRAMMER TOUR DATES
Detailed up-to-date list at http://www.tracygrammer.com

02/29, Mississippi Studios, Portland, OR
03/01, Eden Hall, Gleneden Beach, OR
03/02, Five Pine Lodge, Sisters, OR
03/06, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, Seattle, WA
03/07, Merc Playhouse, Twisp, WA
03/08, Rogue Folk Club, Vancouver, BC
03/14, Golding Park Cafe, Cobleskill, NY *
03/15, Oswego Music Hall, Oswego, NY*
04/24, Stage Door Cabaret, Mt. Shasta, CA
04/25, Freight & Salvage, Berkeley, CA
04/26, Dig! Music (morning in-store), Ukiah, CA
04/26, American River Resort, Coloma, CA
04/27, Coopers Bluff House Concert, Chico, CA
04/30, Don Quixote's, Felton, CA
05/01, Steynberg Gallery, San Luis Obispo, CA
05/03, Boulevard Music, Culver City, CA
05/04, Coffee Gallery, Altadena, CA
05/09, Club Passim, Cambridge, MA*
* = shows confirmed with JIM HENRY

----------------------------------------------------------------------

TRACYGRAMMER.COM STORE
Shipping/handling not included. Priority Mail delivery on orders over
$25.

AMERICAN NOEL cd (2007, Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer) 8 songs. $12
BOOK OF SPARROWS cd (2007) 7 songs. $10
SEVEN IS THE NUMBER cd (2006, Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer) $15 FLOWER
OF AVALON cd (2005) $15
FLOWER OF AVALON signed/numbered print, *limited edition* $35
THE VERDANT MILE cd (2004) 7 songs. $10
DRUM HAT BUDDHA cd (2001, Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer) $15
TANGLEWOOD TREE cd (2000, Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer) $15
WHEN I GO cd (1998, Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer) $15
SONGBOOKS - Tanglewood Tree or Drum Hat Buddha, $15 each
Please also visit Jim Henry's website.

Hello,

I'm wondering if anyone from the Eugene area is planning to go to any of
these upcoming concerts:

02/29, Mississippi Studios
<http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=2884609&msgid=120495&act=M3NN&c=16395\
3&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mississippistudios.com%2F>,
Portland, OR
03/01, Eden Hall
<http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=2884609&msgid=120495&act=M3NN&c=16395\
3&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.edenhall.com%2F>,
Gleneden Beach, OR
03/02, Five Pine Lodge
<http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=2884609&msgid=120495&act=M3NN&c=16395\
3&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sistersfolkfestival.org>,
Sisters, OR

If so, I and possibly another friend/Tracy fan may be interested in
going as well. Please contact me at chris AT (substitute @)
talkingleaves dot org. Thanks!

Chris Roth

Hi there,

The good news/bad news is that Tracy's Portland show is officially sold
out.  If there are very many people who wanted to come and didn't get
tickets, I'd like to know just so we can consider whether to do two
shows next time through.

I will say that Kris Delmhorst and the Winterpills (both also Signature
Sounds artists) will be here on March 8th, and there are plenty of
tickets left for that one.  I'm really excited about it.  Kris's new
album is stunning (her first new album of original songs in 5 years).

See some of you soon!

Thanks!
Jess (Portland promoter)
www.shiningcitymusic.com

Hi Jess,
Bummer! I was too late at the switch. Itıs been on my calendar but Iıve been
holding off on definite plans. Yes, I was deciding to come when I got your
note. Thanks for letting me know ~
;0 ­nancy
P.s. Loved hearing about your new home ~ CONGRATULATIONS!


On 2/23/08 12:46 AM, "Jessica Byers" <jess@...> wrote:

>
>
>
>
> Hi there,
>
> The good news/bad news is that Tracy's Portland show is officially sold
> out.  If there are very many people who wanted to come and didn't get
> tickets, I'd like to know just so we can consider whether to do two
> shows next time through.
>
> I will say that Kris Delmhorst and the Winterpills (both also Signature
> Sounds artists) will be here on March 8th, and there are plenty of
> tickets left for that one.  I'm really excited about it.  Kris's new
> album is stunning (her first new album of original songs in 5 years).
>
> See some of you soon!
>
> Thanks!
> Jess (Portland promoter)
> www.shiningcitymusic.com
>
>
>




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Sorry yaıll
Meant that one for Jess only
;-/


On 2/23/08 7:32 AM, "Nancy Scott" <tanager3577@...> wrote:

>
>
>
>
> Hi Jess,
> Bummer! I was too late at the switch. Itıs been on my calendar but Iıve been
> holding off on definite plans. Yes, I was deciding to come when I got your
> note. Thanks for letting me know ~
> ;0 ­nancy
> P.s. Loved hearing about your new home ~ CONGRATULATIONS!
>
> On 2/23/08 12:46 AM, "Jessica Byers" <jess@...
> <mailto:jess%40shiningcitymusic.com> > wrote:
>
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Hi there,
>> >
>> > The good news/bad news is that Tracy's Portland show is officially sold
>> > out.  If there are very many people who wanted to come and didn't get
>> > tickets, I'd like to know just so we can consider whether to do two
>> > shows next time through.
>> >
>> > I will say that Kris Delmhorst and the Winterpills (both also Signature
>> > Sounds artists) will be here on March 8th, and there are plenty of
>> > tickets left for that one.  I'm really excited about it.  Kris's new
>> > album is stunning (her first new album of original songs in 5 years).
>> >
>> > See some of you soon!
>> >
>> > Thanks!
>> > Jess (Portland promoter)
>> > www.shiningcitymusic.com
>> >
>> >
>> >
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Howdy all . . . for anyone going to the Sisters show this weekend,
please note that although Tracy had indicated that the show was at 7,
it actually starts at 6:30.

Enjoy!!

RG

As of this weekend, WUMB-FM (91.9) will be playing more music - just don't
call that music "folk."



The University of Massachusetts-Boston public radio station has announced
program changes to begin Saturday that will move around existing shows and
replace public affairs programming with longer music shows and the return of
a Saturday afternoon institution. The changes, the result of studies funded
by a Corporation for Public Broadcasting station renewal grant, also include
dropping the station's long-time identification as "folk radio" for a
livelier, more electric sound that, for now, is simply being called the
"WUMB music mix."



"It's a work in progress," says station program director Brian Quinn, adding
that the station remains focused on a "roots" sound. "We wanted to give it a
little kick, a little more electricity," he says.



That has meant adding some heritage electric blues artists, such as Muddy
Waters, into the station's signature singer-songwriter mix and also
programming more rock-sounding cuts from current artists, like Neil Young
and Lucinda Williams. In the past, explains general manager Pat Monteith,
"when we made selections of what music we were going to take from a
particular artist, we looked for a particular sound. Now we're going back in
and saying we selected these three songs over some of the more energetic and
uptempo things. We're going to reexamine some of the music."



Along with this more eclectic sound, the station has rearranged its schedule
for longer, uninterrupted programming blocks. Weekdays still begin with Dick
Pleasants's "Morning Express," but his rotating shift of cohosts is being
dropped, allowing for approximately five more minutes of music each hour,
says Monteith. Live local programming will continue throughout the day,
after which the popular "World Cafe," from Philadelphia station WXPN-FM,
will move up to start at 7 p.m.

weeknights, with much of the station's specialty programming bumped to late
nights or weekends.



To make room for these changes, two Sunday public-affairs shows, "National
Geographic" and "The Changing World," are being dropped. But two specialty
music shows that had been slated to be cut, "Afropop Worldwide" and
"Mountain Stage," will remain, thanks to last-minute negotiations with
distributor Public Radio International.



These trims and the reshuffling of programs will allow for the expansion by
two hours each of Sunday's "Acoustic Sunrise" (8 a.m.-noon) and "Folk
Odyssey" (2-6 p.m.). They have made room for an extra shift of the "WUMB
Music Mix" on Saturdays from noon-2 p.m. Pleasants will take over that
Saturday show, effectively returning him to the airwaves during the same
shift that he held as host of "The Folk Experience" at WGBH-FM (89.7) from
1981 until 2004.



"I took the weekends off for a long time, and it feels good to be back,"

says Pleasants. "Saturday afternoon is a wonderful radio time. It's a nice,
relaxed, very comfortable group of people."









Bruce Hayden

P O Box 125

Garden Valley, Ca. 95633

  <http://www.qnoteproductions.com/> www.qnoteproductions.com

http://www.myspace.com/folkmuse1

Information and reservations - 530-333-1018

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

August 10-14- American River Acoustic Music Camp

http:// <http://www.americanriveracoustic.org/>
www.americanriveracoustic.org

http://www.myspace.com/americanriveracousticcamp







[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

While I'm sorry to see them drop the "folk" label, I think this is
probably a good thing for WUMB.  Their rather limited rotation has
felt stale to me for quite a while, and it doesn't help that their
playlist really hasn't changed all that much since I started listening
to the station when in college in Boston ten years ago.  I think that
the "folk radio" format didn't accomodate very well the growing
interest among folkies in alt-country and neo-bluegrass and other
"roots" music.  On the other hand, I'm not sure the new format will
either, since WUMB's web FAQ about the change says that their focus
groups are suspicious of "twang."  (A fear I disagree with, but
whatever...)  That said, it's weird to think of Boston without "WUMB
Folk Radio."  What I hope they don't do is go too much in the lite pop
or modern rock directions.

Hey-a,

Marianne

Indeed, and this is why I will no longer be sending them a membership
contribution.  They were already too electric for me (I hate World
Cafe at least 75% of the time), but I wanted to support "folk radio."

FWIW I agree with Marianne that their programming was often stale,
but getting _more_ like other alternative radio stations is not the
direction I'd like to see them go in.

Jean Rossner
--
What can you do with your days but work and hope?
Let your dreams bind your work to your play.
What can you do with each moment of your life
But love till you've loved it away?
      - Bob Franke, "Thanksgiving Eve"

Yes . . . the WUMB changes are really depressing me.  (And the timing
couldn't be worse for me -- I sent in my CD for consideration for airplay
literally as the changes were happening; if the odds were small before,
they've become microscopic. . . .)

It's not only about the playlist -- which could have been made more
dynamic if the station weren't so adamant to avoid playing musicians that
aren't already established -- but they've changed the times of all the
additional shows they carry.  My two favorites have been moved to almost
inaccessible times: the Midnight Special is now 10 p.m. to midnight on
Sundays, and Art of the Song (which, to keep this message relevant to the
list topic, I'll point out featured Tracy a couple years ago) is now only
at 5 A.M. on Tuesday mornings. Bleh.  Guess I'll be checking out other
stations that broadcast on the web.

Beth

Beth DeSombre
www.bethdesombre.com

The minor change sounds like a very good idea to me. Doesn't sound like
anything very radical, just freshening things up a bit.
Perhaps I'd feel differently if I lived there(?), I dunno. I have
enjoyed WUMB a few times in the past, but never got into it regularly.
Maybe I'll give it another shot now.
My favorite station is WFUV (they get my pledge dollars), and I've also
become a big fan of WFPK in Louisville (check it out, you'll probably
like it too).
I may be turning 60 in a couple weeks, but I like to keep the fresh
music coming at all times.

~Richard
(in central Illinois)

I see in other posts suggestions of



WFUV (Fordham University, NY)

WFPK (?????)



Let me add WKSU (Kent State University)  www.wksu.org <http://www.wksu.org/>
or more directly http://www.wksu.org/folk/ .  WKSU plays nothing but folk
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings (8:00 to midnight).  They also archive
most shows (they keep two weeks worth online but sometimes forget to rotate
in the new shows each week) so you can listen anytime.  In addition to the
weekend shows, they have an associated web site called "Folk Alley
http://www.folkalley.com/ that steams folk 24 x 7 and if you're a member you
can also steam interviews of folk artists and many live concerts and many of
those are downloadable.



Beth - take a look at their "Open Mic" link
(http://www.folkalley.com/openmic/

--------

Welcome to Folk Alley's Open Mic, a place for developing and under-exposed
singers, songwriters and musicians to post their music to share with Folk
Alley listeners. An open mic night is a traditional way that many musicians
gain confidence performing while honing their songs. Folk Alley's Open Mic
opens the stage to up-and-coming artists - presenting new music to thousands
of folk music lovers.

Musicians - choose your best work and upload it. Pick categories to describe
your song and add some artist info. The most important rule, the songs have
to be yours or a traditional song that is part of the public domain. Please
read the complete list of rules before beginning.

Listeners can sort songs by artist, title, category and date added to the
queue and rate them from 1 to 5 (5 being best). As songs are rated, the top
songs will be posted on the Open Mic front page - and might even make it
into the Folk Alley stream!

--------



                     Thanks -- Dan



   _____

From: TracyGrammer@yahoogroups.com [mailto:TracyGrammer@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of Beth DeSombre
Sent: Monday, March 03, 2008 3:33 PM
To: TracyGrammer@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [TracyGrammer] Re: WUMB goes electric



Yes . . . the WUMB changes are really depressing me. (And the timing
couldn't be worse for me -- I sent in my CD for consideration for airplay
literally as the changes were happening; if the odds were small before,
they've become microscopic. . . .)

It's not only about the playlist -- which could have been made more
dynamic if the station weren't so adamant to avoid playing musicians that
aren't already established -- but they've changed the times of all the
additional shows they carry. My two favorites have been moved to almost
inaccessible times: the Midnight Special is now 10 p.m. to midnight on
Sundays, and Art of the Song (which, to keep this message relevant to the
list topic, I'll point out featured Tracy a couple years ago) is now only
at 5 A.M. on Tuesday mornings. Bleh. Guess I'll be checking out other
stations that broadcast on the web.

Beth

Beth DeSombre
www.bethdesombre.com





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

My note to WUMB ----







Dear WUMB,



I was quite surprised to read the message below about your "format"
adjustment.  I, for one, am very sad by this turn of events.  WUMB "folk
radio" had been a gleaming light in the wasteland of radio.  I guess the
"market forces" that gave us Clear Channel (yechhhhhhh), News-talk radio,
and all the other homogenized, sanitized, pasteurized dreck one hears on
commercial radio are now being applied to the non profit segment of radio
broadcasting as well.



Gee, I have an idea!  Let's make our radio station unique by having it sound
like everybody else's.  What high paid consultant thought that one up.
Never mind, I think I know.  Probably the same people who advise the US auto
makers to make more SUV's because that's what people are buying not
understanding that people are buying them because that's all that's being
made or advertised.  See how easy it is to be a sheep?  Let's play
"electrified" music because that's what people are listening to on other
stations not thinking that they are listening to it because there is little
else available to listen to.



This is truly a sad day for WUMB and public broadcasting.  I guess I won't
be sending in my pledge to WUMB anymore.  There are plenty of radio stations
around the country where I can hear "electrified" music.  The reason I have
been sending my hard earned dollars literally the entire way across the
country from California to Boston was because you offered something unique
and highly unavailable anywhere else.



Good luck with your headlong plunge into mediocrity, but count me out and
don't forget to send those "guru's of the middle ground" consultants their
fee - I'm sure they weren't cheap.



                           Thanks -- Dan





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Wow.

If Neil Young and Lucinda Williams are mediocrity and dreck, I shudder
to think what you must have to say about music that's actually bad.

Best,
Phil Sandifer
philsand@...

You are standing in an open field west of a white house, with a
boarded front door. There is a small mailbox here.

  >


On Mar 3, 2008, at 10:40 PM, Califdan wrote:

> My note to WUMB ----
>
> Dear WUMB,
>
> I was quite surprised to read the message below about your "format"
> adjustment. I, for one, am very sad by this turn of events. WUMB "folk
> radio" had been a gleaming light in the wasteland of radio. I guess
> the
> "market forces" that gave us Clear Channel (yechhhhhhh), News-talk
> radio,
> and all the other homogenized, sanitized, pasteurized dreck one
> hears on
> commercial radio are now being applied to the non profit segment of
> radio
> broadcasting as well.
>
> Gee, I have an idea! Let's make our radio station unique by having
> it sound
> like everybody else's. What high paid consultant thought that one up.
> Never mind, I think I know. Probably the same people who advise the
> US auto
> makers to make more SUV's because that's what people are buying not
> understanding that people are buying them because that's all that's
> being
> made or advertised. See how easy it is to be a sheep? Let's play
> "electrified" music because that's what people are listening to on
> other
> stations not thinking that they are listening to it because there is
> little
> else available to listen to.
>
> This is truly a sad day for WUMB and public broadcasting. I guess I
> won't
> be sending in my pledge to WUMB anymore. There are plenty of radio
> stations
> around the country where I can hear "electrified" music. The reason
> I have
> been sending my hard earned dollars literally the entire way across
> the
> country from California to Boston was because you offered something
> unique
> and highly unavailable anywhere else.
>
> Good luck with your headlong plunge into mediocrity, but count me
> out and
> don't forget to send those "guru's of the middle ground" consultants
> their
> fee - I'm sure they weren't cheap.
>
> Thanks -- Dan
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

One member of the NorthEastFolk group -
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NorthEastFolk
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NorthEastFolk>  - takes that idea one
step further, suggesting that anyone whose membership began while the
station billed itself as a "folk" station should demand a refund!

This format change goes against the station's mission statment:

Serving radio listeners, particularly the folk and roots music audience,
through WUMB-FM, the university's public radio station; and promoting
WUMB-FM and its relationship to UMass Boston. Through WUMB, producing
such activities as Summer Acoustic Music Week in New Hampshire and the
Boston Folk Festival on the UMass Boston campus.
(emphesis mine)

Source:
http://www.umb.edu/faculty_staff/enrollment_services/overview.html

Needless to say, I am not pleased at all and have been vocal about the
slide towards "schmaltz" for the last several months.

Not only will I be letting my membership expire, I will no longer donate
concert tickets for on-air giveaway.


Register your dismay by contacting

Kathleen Teehan, Vice Chancellor, Enrollment Management
Campus Center,4th floor,Rm. 4100
Boston, MA 02125-3393
617-287-6020
kathleen.teehan@... <mailto:kathleen.teehan@...>




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I wish the change were towards musicians like Neil and Lucinda, but WUMB
is favoring "artists" more likely to perform at the Paradise rock club
than Passim or any of the 30+ coffee houses that ring Boston.  I've
heard better busking on the streets than what they are now playing.

And to Beth's chances of being played being minuscule, this should put
things into perspective.  It took me three months and several
conversations with station management to get multi folk festival award
winners Pat Wictor and Jason Spooner elevated from event calendar "and
more" status (yes, they were listed as "Jud Caswell and more" and "Greg
Greenway and more", respectively), to play list status.


--- In TracyGrammer@yahoogroups.com, Philip Sandifer <philsand@...>
wrote:
>
> Wow.
>
> If Neil Young and Lucinda Williams are mediocrity and dreck, I shudder
> to think what you must have to say about music that's actually bad.
>
> Best,
> Phil Sandifer

Howdy---

Regarding the 'UMB changes: They've been underway, really, for a
while---over the past year or so, they've added artists on both ends of
the chronological spectrum. Old acoustic Neil Young stuff that never
made it on the air was suddenly finding a spot. Songs from Bruce's
"Nebraska" and "...Tom Joad" found a home. More notably, newer artists
like Feist, Rilo Kiley/Jenny Lewis, Sylvie Lewis, etc. have gotten a
foothold.

I know that they mentioned that the audience had been shrinking, and for
a noncommercial format to begin with, that was clearly a cause for
alarm. They mentioned needing to attract a younger audience, which of
course they had to do. In terms of how they vetted the change, there was
a survey to which they brought attention on their Web site; the survey
was rather comprehensive in its scope.

Now of course I am not happy about a situation in which Beth finds it
more difficult for her music to be played. But it really is not a
situation in which they've ceased playing folk music---I still hear all
the usual faves, including Tracy, D&T, Richard, Dar, Lori, etc. The
electric additions, beyond the aforementioned new artists, are supposed
to be more old-timey electric-blues artists. To my ears, WUMB still
stands alone out there---they do not resemble other, commercial
stations. So while I understand how folks might be disappointed if the
music of Rilo Kiley and Feist doesn't appeal to them, WUMB continues to
be the standard bearer for (mostly) folk, and the place I turn to for
most of my favorite artists.

Finally, I know that it's kind of the "pornography" Supreme Court
Justice line ("I know it when I see it") in that people know what they
like or dislike when they hear it, but genres/descriptions continue to
evolve/dissolve. What if a "folk" artist releases a "different"-sounding
album? Just who/what does "Americana" comprise? What do you do with
artists that other stations play, even sparingly? How do you classify
Alison Krauss, Emmylou, Lyle, Nanci, Lucinda, Neil Young, Chris Smither,
Allison Moorer, Shelby Lynne, Loreena McKennitt, Kate Rusby, Mavis
Staples, Neko Case, Maura O'Connell, Nickel Creek, Doc Watson (all of
whom find regular airplay on WUMB)? I think of how Dave described his
and Tracy's music---"postmodern mythic American folk"---and how Dave
used to describe Tracy as his favorite country singer. I'm just saying
that it's complicated---nothing (save matters of the heart) is more
subjective than matters of the arts. So if the changes do not resonate
or if they repel, then it goes without saying that WUMB is probably no
longer the station for you. If, however, the genre-bending changes on
what is now being branded as "authentic" music "for people who love
music" are intriguing, then I'd recommend hanging in there.

Sorry for the ramble!

Ciao,

Joe

P.S. Just started playing on WUMB: "Blue Wing" by Tracy and Jim.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

This was on another list. For some time there has be some criticism of the
price of CD's. One concern with this is who will get the lion share of the
profit, the CD company, the publisher (already this is set by the
PRO's[ASCAP, BMI,SEASAC]) or the artists.  For the most part the artists
share is under contract so it sounds as if this will hit the recording
companies the hardest.

Bruce

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~





Record label margins and shelf space at Wal-Mart may soon be under further
duress. The No. 1 retailer with a 22% market share is set to gently, but
firmly, urge labels to adopt a new 5-level pricing program.

According to Reuters, that program includes offering the Top 15-20 titles at
a rounded $10 price. Other pricing would include hits and currents with a
$12 retail; top catalog at $9; midline catalog at $7 and budget releases at
$5. Reuters quotes an unnamed label executive as saying, "I don't think this
is a Wal-Mart discussion, it's a future-of-the-business discussion. Right
now everyone is paralyzed."

Another label executive comments, "This sounds like the Hail Mary pass, and
if it doesn't work, they [Wal-Mart] could be out of the music business; or
maybe they reduce music down to a couple of racks."

Negotiations between Wal-Mart and the labels have not yet happened but a
representative for the giant retailer has acknowledged its new plans.

Jeff Maas, Wal-Mart divisional merchandise manager for home entertainment,
adds, "When you look at sales declines with physical product, and you have a
category declining like it is, you have to make decisions about what the
future looks like."





Bruce Hayden

P O Box 125

Garden Valley, Ca. 95633

  <http://www.qnoteproductions.com/> www.qnoteproductions.com

http://www.myspace.com/folkmuse1

Information and reservations - 530-333-1018

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

August 10-14- American River Acoustic Music Camp

http:// <http://www.americanriveracoustic.org/>
www.americanriveracoustic.org

http://www.myspace.com/americanriveracousticcamp







[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

>> For the most part the artists share is under contract so it sounds
as if this will hit the recording companies the hardest. <<

Even if it was to hit the artists, it makes me wonder: for artists like
Tracy, Shindell, etc., what percentage of their sales do we
realistically think comes from Wal-Mart?  I can't imagine it's a lot.

RG

> Even if it was to hit the artists, it makes me wonder: for artists like
> Tracy, Shindell, etc., what percentage of their sales do we
> realistically think comes from Wal-Mart?  I can't imagine it's a lot.
>
> RG

That is true, but this will also have a trickledown effect as they may have
to sell their CD's in concerts also for a reduced price. It may be hard to
justify a $15 price on a CD when WalMart has forced the market to reduce the
CD's to $10 or even less. For many of us we may be willing to pay that
difference but for some others perhaps not.

I spoke with an artist the other day who with his new recording will be
available on CD only if you are a DJ or attend his concerts, otherwise it
will only be available as a down load from his site or CD baby. The market
he mentioned is no longer conducive to release CD's hoping they will sell.
All things are pointing to downloads.
Bruce

Bruce Hayden
P O Box 125
Garden Valley, Ca. 95633
www.qnoteproductions.com
http://www.myspace.com/folkmuse1
Information and reservations - 530-333-1018
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
August 10-14- American River Acoustic Music Camp
http://www.americanriveracoustic.org
http://www.myspace.com/americanriveracousticcamp

> Finally, I know that it's kind of the "pornography" Supreme Court
> Justice line ("I know it when I see it") in that people know what they
> like or dislike when they hear it, but genres/descriptions continue to
> evolve/dissolve. What if a "folk" artist releases a "different"-
> sounding

Then we can get into the argument that is equal to the dog chasing his tail,
"What is Folk". That argument is never ending. I do like your comment "I
know it when I see it" alluding to personal tastes and that for the most
part is what it is all about, you either like it or you don't.

> I'm just saying that it's complicated---nothing (save matters of the
heart)
> is more subjective than matters of the arts. So if the changes do not
resonate
> or if they repel, then it goes without saying that WUMB is probably no
> longer the station for you. If, however, the genre-bending changes on
> what is now being branded as "authentic" music "for people who love
> music" are intriguing, then I'd recommend hanging in there.
>

Freebo and I had a discussion on the last day of the Folk Alliance
conference regarding the singer/songwriters trying to get noticed at the FA
that are not appealing to either of us. Mostly they are younger, writing on
subjects that at one time would have appealed to us in our younger years.
The songs are not bad it is just that we are in a different space than we
were then. The younger songwriters often write as if it is a personal
journal, a diary, often with overtones of angst for which we all at some
time or another have gone through. Our life, Freebo myself and others, have
evolved and we have other concerns and interest that are different when we
were in our teens or twenties, even in our thirties.

Much the same as the discussion here, are the changes that are being made by
WUMB going to "resonate or if they repel". You may find in a few years what
resonates with you now will have little interest to you in the future.

I used to listen to WUMB but have found that my eclectic tastes were not
being met by the format they stuck to. Thus I gravitated away from
listening. Perhaps that might change now.
Bruce

Bruce Hayden
P O Box 125
Garden Valley, Ca. 95633
www.qnoteproductions.com
http://www.myspace.com/folkmuse1
Information and reservations - 530-333-1018
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
August 10-14- American River Acoustic Music Camp
http://www.americanriveracoustic.org
http://www.myspace.com/americanriveracousticcamp


> -----Original Message-----
> From: TracyGrammer@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:TracyGrammer@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Luca, Joseph (EHS)
> Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 7:56 AM
> To: TracyGrammer@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [TracyGrammer] WUMB
>
> Howdy---
>
> Regarding the 'UMB changes: They've been underway, really, for a
> while---over the past year or so, they've added artists on both ends of
> the chronological spectrum. Old acoustic Neil Young stuff that never
> made it on the air was suddenly finding a spot. Songs from Bruce's
> "Nebraska" and "...Tom Joad" found a home. More notably, newer artists
> like Feist, Rilo Kiley/Jenny Lewis, Sylvie Lewis, etc. have gotten a
> foothold.
>
> I know that they mentioned that the audience had been shrinking, and
> for
> a noncommercial format to begin with, that was clearly a cause for
> alarm. They mentioned needing to attract a younger audience, which of
> course they had to do. In terms of how they vetted the change, there
> was
> a survey to which they brought attention on their Web site; the survey
> was rather comprehensive in its scope.
>
> Now of course I am not happy about a situation in which Beth finds it
> more difficult for her music to be played. But it really is not a
> situation in which they've ceased playing folk music---I still hear all
> the usual faves, including Tracy, D&T, Richard, Dar, Lori, etc. The
> electric additions, beyond the aforementioned new artists, are supposed
> to be more old-timey electric-blues artists. To my ears, WUMB still
> stands alone out there---they do not resemble other, commercial
> stations. So while I understand how folks might be disappointed if the
> music of Rilo Kiley and Feist doesn't appeal to them, WUMB continues to
> be the standard bearer for (mostly) folk, and the place I turn to for
> most of my favorite artists.
>
> album? Just who/what does "Americana" comprise? What do you do with
> artists that other stations play, even sparingly? How do you classify
> Alison Krauss, Emmylou, Lyle, Nanci, Lucinda, Neil Young, Chris
> Smither,
> Allison Moorer, Shelby Lynne, Loreena McKennitt, Kate Rusby, Mavis
> Staples, Neko Case, Maura O'Connell, Nickel Creek, Doc Watson (all of
> whom find regular airplay on WUMB)? I think of how Dave described his
> and Tracy's music---"postmodern mythic American folk"---and how Dave
> used to describe Tracy as his favorite country singer. >
> Joe
>
> P.S. Just started playing on WUMB: "Blue Wing" by Tracy and Jim.
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

Okay, y'all--how was Tracy's show on Leap Night?  I wasn't able to
attend.  I'd love to hear all about it.

Regards-

Helen

It sold out before Julie and I could get tickets.

I'd like to hear also!

Mike Samudio

> Okay, y'all--how was Tracy's show on Leap Night?  I wasn't able
to
> attend.  I'd love to hear all about it.
>
> Regards-
>
> Helen
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Come on up to Seattle - we'd love to see you on Thursday and tix are
still available... :)

http://www.thistimeconcerts.org/

On Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 5:51 PM, Mike Samudio <mike@...> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>  It sold out before Julie and I could get tickets.
>
>  I'd like to hear also!
>
>  Mike Samudio
>
>  > Okay, y'all--how was Tracy's show on Leap Night? I wasn't able
>  to
>  > attend. I'd love to hear all about it.
>  >
>  > Regards-
>  >
>  > Helen
>  >
>  >
>
>  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>



--
Kristina Spencer
kcspencer@...
http://livelywrithing.blogspot.com/

Ditto.

Mollie in PDX


To: TracyGrammer@...: mike@...: Tue, 4 Mar 2008
17:51:37 -0800Subject: Re: [TracyGrammer] Portland Show?




It sold out before Julie and I could get tickets.I'd like to hear also!Mike
Samudio> Okay, y'all--how was Tracy's show on Leap Night? I wasn't ableto>
attend. I'd love to hear all about it.> > Regards-> > Helen> >[Non-text portions
of this message have been removed]







[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

"Come on up to Seattle - we'd love to see you on Thursday and tix are
still available... :)"
   *************************************************

   Just try to make sure she doesn't eat a veggie burger before the show :)

   I didn't make a set list, for me it wasn't so much what she sang (with the
exception of one that she has rarely played in recent times, "winter when he
goes") but what she talked about.  Tracy shared many stories about herself,
(before, with, and after dave,) it was a very special night.  Just Tracy, for
almost three hours . . . heaven!!  All those members of Tracy's Portland posse
not there were very much missed.

   Thank you, Jess ~ for bringing Tracy to Mississippi Studios, and for those who
missed this show, Jess is hosting an amazing line-up this coming Saturday, 3/8 
. . .  Kris Delmhorst with the Winterpills, I am so excited about this one
(www.shiningcitymusic.com)

   Pam





---------------------------------
Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile.  Try it now.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I already shared an email I sent to WUMB on this subject.  The
station manager responded to my message and suggested I look over a
web page they have pertaining to the format adjustments.  Here is my
response to Pat......


Hello Pat,

Thank you for your note.  I read the link you provided.  Let me
respond to the content of the web page with some rambling comments.

1)  Since my listening is pretty much limited to 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
M/F (Pacific time), I'm not all that aware of what shows are on at
other times or even what show I'm listening to at any one time.  For
me it doesn't matter what "show" it is, the music or commentary
either resonates with me or I link to a different internet stream
such as WKSU archives or Folk Alley 24x7 stream or turn on my iPod.
So your shuffling of time slots and personnel doesn't mean that much
to me.

2)  You talk about changing to "cater more to the lifestyle" of your
listeners.  I'm not clear how you determine what that "Lifestyle" is
or what programming "caters' to it.  In fact, I suspect that there
is no single lifestyle that accounts for the majority of your
listeners.   But this begs the question.   Just who is your target
audience?   Is it "20 something singles on the college scene in
Boston?"   Is it "aging hippies who love folk music"?    Is it
the "radical left", or the "mellow background music type"?  The
problem arises when the answer is "all of the above".  You can't
please all the people all the time and if you try you wind up
alienating those who supported you in the past with the hope that
you'l gain someone else to replace them.   The "new" audience will
tune in if they happen to hear something to their likeing.  However
if once tuned in  50% of what they hear doesn't suit them they
quickly move on.   You need to pick your spot and cater to it.  Not
try to be all things to all people

3)  You ask for my support.  I support what appeals to me.  I found
WUMB after searching dozens (if not hundreds) of itnernet radio
streams and was very pleased to have done so.  At this time I
support 7 public radio stations with pledges - 3 of which are local
that I can get over the air and the others through the internet.
For me to keep one of these stations on my donations list it must
either be local or play what appeals to me.  I support local PBS
stations on principle whether they play music I like or not.  I
support non local stations based on what they play.  On the local
radio there are some shows I listen to every week (KALW - Thistle &
Shamrock,  Folk Music and Beyond, Patchwork quilt;  KPFA - Across
the great divide,  KQED - Car Talk).  On the internet stations (like
WUMB) I pick one and listen to it at work till there are 2 or 3
songs in a row that don't cut it for me at which time I switch to a
competitor.  I'll then stay with that station till the same thing
happens.  When I find that I'm switching off of a station after
short periods of time, I pull it off my rotation and stop dontating
to it.

4)  You talk about a new "paradigm" with Internet streaming and pod
casting.  You are correct, but I think you came to the wrong
conclusion.  Success is going to go to those who can attract and
keep far flung listeners who have other choices.  When your audience
was limited to those within 50 miles of your tower, and who only had
maybe 10 to 15 stations they could recieve, stations needed to cater
to a multitude of tastes.  The world is different now.  I don't have
10 - 15 choices, I have thousands.  Prior to this range of choices,
I'd willingly "suffer through" junk I didn't like and was happy if 1
out of 10 items played was enjoyable to me.  I had no choice.  I am
no longer required to do that.  If I'm not getting an 80% to 90% hit
rate on things I like being played, I'm going elswhere.   The
successful station for me  is the one that has a narrower focus
which holds my interest and doesn't subject me to very much that I
don't care for.  Let me come at this point from a different angle.
It's much easier to lose a devoted listener like myself by playing
too much that is not of interest to that listener, than it is to
attract a new listener who just happens to stumble onto your station
at the moment you're playing something that appeals to him.  If you
continue to play what appeals to the new listener he or she will
stay, but throw in a set that they don't care for and away they
go.   The station that tries to cater to a broad mix loses.  The
station that sticks to what their listener base wants will
succeed.

5)  Let's talk about commercial vs non profit.  Commercial radio
(e.g. Clear Channel) must atrract sponsors (actually more imortant
than listeners).  To do that they must maximize the number of
listeners counted by polling.   They do this in two ways.  1)
monopolize the air waves so as to limit choices of what can be
heard,  2)  Cater to the mass market (Britney Spears, et. al).   Non
commercial radio has a different mission.  It must fill the void
left by commercial radio and provide content that would not be
permitted or supported by sponsors.  For example, politically
sensitive, controversal, or less mainstream content.  If the goal is
to maximize market share, then why not just go commercial and be
done with it.  If the purpose is to fill a void, then the metric
cannot be measured in market share but must be measured in value to
the listener.  Let me pose an analogy.  We all know
that "terminator" type action movies sell a lot more tickets than
live opera.  Following your argument that you must chase the larger
market, should the Opera houses around the country put in movie
screens and show action flicks?  There is no argument that they
would attract more attendance, and probably make more money by doing
that.  But where would that leave the Opera fan?  Should WUMB "Folk
Radio" move away from it's base into more "up tempo", "electrified"
music.  Same thing.

6)  To be honest, my tastes are quite narrow.  Probably narrower
than your typical listener.  I like contemporary folk and celtic.  A
little soft rock or 60's oldies is good for nostaligia but I can
find that anywhere.  However, my listening pleasure is in the folk-
celtic genre and that's the core of my passion for WUMB.  .

7)  In my attempt to be open to your content changes, I have made an
effort over the last two days to listen to WUMB as much as possible
during the day and keep track of what I've been hearing.  Below is
my track by track rating of what I heard with some comments thrown
in.  In summary
a)  There is less of the music I like coming across now than in the
past.

b)  The more "up tempo" and "electric" (as opposed to amplified
acoustic) offerings you are playing , even from artists I like, are
a negative for me.

c)  I strongly object to, and greatly dislike, the increase of Blues
and Jazz in the mix. I equate these genre with finger nails on a
blackboard.   I will typically sit through 2 or 3 songs in a row
that I don't care for before switching stations.  However, with
Blues and Jazz I almost always turn it off or switch stations within
the first 30 seconds..

d)  Statistically, over the last 2 days, I'm finding that I "dislike
or "strongly dislike" 30% of the tracks.  I "like" or "strongly
like" 30% of the tracks.  I "mildly dislike", or "mildly like"
40%.   I don't have statistics for periods prior to your format
change on March 1, but my sense is that the shift has been about 10%
to 15% to the negative.
My rating is on a 10 point scale from 0 to 9.  A single cut with a
rating of 0 or a string of 2 or 3 cuts with a rating of 1-3 would
normally cause me to change stations.  Ratings in the 4 to 6 range
are OK - pleasant and not annoying.  Ratings of 7 or above I stop
what I'm doing and just listen.  Here's my track by track ratings of
about 60 cuts over the last two days.


<for this post I removed my track by track ratings since I don't
want to get into a debate of what's good and not good since that is
a personal matter where everyone has their own opinion, and is not
the point of the message>



I know that I may be a pest writing such a long response to a simple
request to take a look at the web page.  However, I have come to
love WUMB and am very fearful that you're stepping onto that
proverbial "slippery slope".  I am especially worried when I hear
about "studies" and catering to "lifestyles" and "increasing market
share" and "meeting the needs of our listeners".  Those are all red
flag statements to my ears.  Do you recall the Pacifica Radio "take
over" attempt 8 or so years ago?  The same words were being used by
those trying to "mainstream" that network (which includes KPFA, and
WBAI).  We almost lost that battle which would have destroyed a
national treasure.   There are way too few "shining star" stations
like WUMB left and it hurts when they succumb to the pressure and
move toward the "mainstream middle" and become indistinguishable
from the thousands of other "me to" stations plastered across the
country.

                     Thanks for plowing though my rant -- Dan