Why isn't there rock on KEXP?? (part II) for Questionland Seattle

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Why isn't there rock on KEXP?? (part II)

The original: I mean, they play music with all the elements of rock: Bass, Drums, Guitars, Singers, but I never hear a bona-fide rock song on there except for some of the late late night DJs and the occasional song in a Brian Foss set. Is there a rule that rock music has to be dumb enough for 107.7 to be on the air? It seems like the only station in a position to reward innovation in rock just picks soundracks for software cubicles...
My question wasn't perfect, I know. Drinking will do that. However, I don't think that parsing the phrasing addresses its spirit. The point is that in a city full of aggressive/urgent/heavy/freenzied/frenetic/(etc.) music that is forward thinking and carefully crafted, there appears to be little support from the city media in general and radio specifically. The stranger helps, but as the coverage question illustrates, there's only so much a written review can do for an established act, much less an interesting new thing.
As far as radio: On the corporate side, they already have the "hard-rock" genre covered with whatever major label dreck is on their playlists (not all of which is terrible, but c'mon... almost all of it is). On the independent side we have a station that is ostensibly representing Seattle's independent music but is also trying to be all things to all people. And let's face it, a station like KEXP is as beholden to their donor base as KUBE is to it's advertisers. So we are left with a situation where those who have the time to listen at their work, where there are likely computers around, are the most likely to e-mail in their requests... most likely to be heard and thus to donate when the time comes. Independent businesses are more likely to advertise when they feel that the music will not be offensive to the lowest common denominator, so the music reflects this, as well. Perhaps this is why I almost never hear any fast or thoroughly syncopated drumming from any band on KEXP. "Sounds too complicated" I hear my mother saying. She loves KEXP. She even donates. Perhaps it's telling that during the day she switches back and forth between KEXP and KISS 106.1.
The issue is that outside of business hours, and when it would seem the most opportune time to play some of what seattle has to offer in the more edgy side of things (be it rock/hip-hop/electro/whatever) they adhere to the same style of programming that they do during the day. There simply appears to be little to no opportunity to get that side of the independent musical spectrum on the radio in Seattle unless you manage to get one song on KNDD in their buried local programming hours. So in this respect, KNDD is kicking KEXP's butt in programming local rock, and they only do it 2 hours a week when nobody's listening.
It seems like the folksy lo-fi backlash against the machismo and over-simplified proto-frat aggression that was successfully marketed in recent years has manifested itself in the creation of an atmosphere where hard or edgy stuff has very little room to be heard through local media channels. This bars internet availability, where the argument can be made that "if you like it... go look for it". But this argument is inapposite to a discussion of how Seattle's only independent music station is allocating it's resources.
What is KEXP doing to recognize that there are people making amazing music in this city that happens to be edgy/syncopated/loud/aggressive? The answer appears to be: waiting for requests for music that few know much about anymore to come in. Here, I need only point to the underground/obscure/minute bands and genres that KEXP has almost singlehandedly (and proudly if you listen to their pledge request spots) pulled into common knowledge on an independent local level. Is a station that is entirely capable of tastemaking and educating an entire city of the virtues of the softer side of independent music somehow incapable of doing the same for the harder side?
I know I'm kind of going off here. And I might be a tad off base in some things. But this is a discussion that I've been having for a few years with musicians, fans, small time promoters, and whoever else likes harder music than KEXP plays and feels gypped by the fact that the station seems to be selling an independent music culture that it only represents a narrow spectrum of. Some people want to know what is holding KEXP back and I thought this forum might be a place to get some brainstorms, and maybe even a thorough explanation of what's happening, there. Sorry to cast stones at a sacred cow. I expect a thorough scolding.

Michael Duggan asked in Music Panel over 2 years ago | Report

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this is brian foss, one of the sonic reducer punk DJs on KEXP.
i saw my name mentioned so i thought i'd write a quick response.
err....i don't think yer gonna like my answer, but it's pretty simple -
if you want KEXP to change you should volunteer @ the station. spend time there, become part of the station. be a sane & passionate advocate for the music you wanna hear and (while it will take time) if there's an audience for your tunes i bet you can make it happen.

FYI - like all KEXP DJs i program my own show & as long as i have the music on hand and it fits the format of my show (i try to cast a wide net) i try to take requests. also there's a lot of punky bands i do not play because i do not like them.
also, if yer wondering if a particular band gets airplay in KEXP there's a searchable playlist here -
http://www.cheeseandbeer.com/radio/

if you wanna talk to me more my email is brian@kexp.org

Funhouse Seattle answered in Music Panel over 2 years ago | Report

3 comments by Michael Duggan, Funhouse Seattle, and Michael Duggan…

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Yo. For real? I don't know very many people who have the 5 years of time and sweat it takes to become an influential part of the apparatus there. I watched a friend bust ass for many years and she hasn't made much headway. The way I see it, you are very lucky and fortunate to be in your position and you do a good job with it, but that doesn't mean that others can manage the same level of influence with the same ease. (Not discounting your many years dedicated to booking etc...)

Regardless, the point I'm making still isn't addressed, and it seems like one you'd be interested in on the whole. The opportunity to represent underrepresented elements of rock-n-roll / hip-hop / whatever is not being taken, but like the commenter below points out, that same time is being filled with comfy indie or old bands that aren't around.

Your answer, although perhaps unintentional, and not applied to you particularly seems to be: The DJ's just don't know any better and it's your job to influence them. That, although between the lines, is the best response I've had. Unfortunately for my goals, it leaves a music fan who is too busy earning a living to become an influential volunteer with little recourse. I can only imagine things getting worse as the rest of the staff there continues to age and drift away from that rock-n-roll urgency. Lost is the balance once maintained by KCMU, where older community DJs and college kids played their respective genres without pause. *sheds tear*

Thanks for your response!

Michael Duggan commented over 2 years ago | Report

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i do hope i didn't come off as snarky - i just know i thought it sucked there wasn't much punk on KEXP and with the help of my fellow DJs west & nick we did something about it.
it took us years to do it, but hey, it worked.

i'm curious - exactly what bands do you find under represented?

Funhouse Seattle commented over 2 years ago | Report

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It's not about specific bands or my specific tastes. I personally find a lot of the local metal, for instance, to be kind of dull. Same with punk. Problem is that I know it's out there, and I know that even if a band is doing something really good/cool that they aren't getting a lot of help except from your club, the comet, and then house parties and all ages stuff on the east side. It has always seemed since the KEXP deal went down years ago that there's been a decline in representing the edgy side of musicmaking... even if it's hard techno or something. The question isn't really about pushing my personal tastes, as much as it probably comes off that way. It's about wondering why we don't see much radio support for harder music.

Your answer echos most that I've recieved from people in the business, which is "Do what I did, and create the market yourself." but that doesn't get to the issue of how, in my opinion, a station selling itself as representing the Seattle independent scene only represents a very mellow and approachable side of it. It seems that those who are adventuring in music might be willing to have their eyes widened a little farther. You are doing that with your show, and that's great. But it seems disingenuous to relegate all the punk/hip-hop (and let's be real "angsty young people music" to a couple shows and call those bases covered.

So I guess in the end it is really about representing my tastes, but in a way that intermingles it instead of isolating it. In a way that represents the spectrum of what is being made, and not just the spectrum of what the donor base is most comfortable hearing during business hours.

It's a fucking pipe dream, but it's something my friends and I would like to see more of, instead of the current setup.

So! Moving on... my thought returns to tales from older punkers growing up in the 70s and 80s who loved the shit out of AM radio because it was all they got and it played less marketable music. I wonder if it would be possible to create a NEW seattle independent station and do it on AM?? Now that would be awesome and it's also a pretty damn good question.

Michael Duggan commented over 2 years ago | Report

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I'll back you up on the larger point, Michael. KEXP is an adult contemporary station because that's what the stations listeners want to hear. All the indie rock kids from the last decade or more grew up, got themselves a good income and can now donate big chucks of money to still get their fill of that fresh "underground" sound that goes down a little more easily than Botch or Lightning Bolt.

What's even more laughable is the local show. I tuned in recently and heard three songs in a row from regional bands that no longer exist. Way to support local music.

I have tried to request local "hard rock" bands a few times on KEXP and get no response. Why would I want to help power KEXP then?

kinney answered in Music Panel over 2 years ago | Report

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Simple question you don't answer in your question: have you called to request the music you want? If so, what do they say?

CleverScreenName answered in Music Panel over 2 years ago | Report

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Sounds like you feel like your scene isn't well represented. I can relate,
but with few exceptions, an artistic movement, sound, or style, flourishes AFTER the keys to success have been put in place.

Consider creating cool shows with bands you like, work with a promoter, foster a sense of community through music, volunteer at radio stations, and keep people
excited about the music you love by talking talking talking about it.

Vincent Gates answered in Music Panel over 2 years ago | Report

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