Page Two THE MICHIGAN DAILY Tuesday~ March 28, 19'72' f Page Two THE MICHIGAN DAILY Tuesday, March 28, 1972 Has the music died on your FM radio? By MARTIN STERN "And I knew I was out of luck, the day the music died ... So, bye, bye, Miss American Pie . .." (copyright in litigation) Don McLean, in singing of the day the music died brings to mind the current situation with progressive rock stations, a small but energetic group whose volume is rapidly diminishing in America. KMPX, a Los Angeles b a s e d station, was the country's first "hippie FM" station, originating in the spring of 1967. According to the latest issue of Rolling Stone, KMPX finally died, after several years of internal strug- gles for survival. Locally, however, progressive FM stations have fared better, with the exception of WRIF 101 which has recently converted to a pseudo "top 40" format. There are four stations in the area which are still basically progres- sive: WABX 99.5, WNRZ 102.9, WCBN 89.5, and CJOM 88.7. Under its old free-format WRIF has been picking up in the rat- ings, however its owner, the American Broadcasting Co., re- cently dictated WRIF's change to its present format. T h i s change involved a turnover of staff and a new programming policy. Free selection of music to be played is out. Selection of songs from regulated playlists is now the policy. Lee Abrams, a 19 year old pro imported from Miami to serve as general manager, explains the change: "What we did was widen our base. We're not top forty; we're an evolution out of top forty. We're trying for a larger age bracket. We were aiming at the 18.4 group before; now we're aiming at the 16-35 group." Art Penthallow, the sole sur- viving DJ from the format shift at WRIF, explained how the new playlist policy works. About 800 selected songs are listed on file cards, and divided into four cate- gories, A thru D. Category A Includes the top40 hits, most of which are played once every four hours. Category B includes those songs which are popular, but not played too often; t h e longer album cuts for example. Category C includes former AM or FM hits, and category D features good album cuts. DJs are instructed as to how many records per category to play in each time segment. The music played is still most- ly hard rock and folk; for ex- ample, WRIF won't play the Jackson 5 or the Osmond Broth- ers. On the other hand, t h e y won't touch most hard blues or experimental electronic rtusi. How does a person such as Penthallow feel about going from a radio position which al- lowed him to express hi individ- uality to his current status as a d who merely announces t h e music, time, and weather, and is only allowed to mention his volvement. In the past, the sta- tion has sponsored free concerts, voter registration drives, com- munity picnics, and has had live broadcasts of special events, such as the John Sinclair Free- dom Benefit recently. WBAX also donated $200 to the prize fund for the Ann Arbor Film Festival. For the future, WABX is work- ing on new free concerts for the summer. (The series was can- celled last summer, due to crowds which got out of hand.. Detz also mentioned that ne- gotiations are in progress for the two hour Detroit Tubeworks television show. The show, which featured live rock sets simulcast over both radio and TV, is slat- ed to be seen in about 20 cities nationally. The progressive rock station for the city of Ann Arbor is WNRZ. Tiny Hughes, the pro- gram director, notes that the station does have a format guide, but not a strict one. For example, one top 40 song must be played each hour. But other- wise, the djs have a large selection of LPs to choose from. WNRZ, originally a. 24 hour middle of the road rock station, now handles hard rock 18 hours a day; from six in the morning till midnight. Hughes mentions that the sta- tion, aiming for a 18-35 year old listenership, is trying to become more community oriented. This means not just serving the stu- dents, but all of the residents of Washtenaw County. Hughes cites WNRZ's expanded 1 o c a l news coverage as an example of community oriented services. The university's progressive rock station is WCBN, which al- though it is 24 years old, is fairly new to listeners as it was heard only in dormitories until recently. John Blattner, WCBN's music director, notes that the station does have a. specific format. Cer- tain types of music are sched- uled for specific time slots. For example, only folk music can be played daily from four to seven. WCBN-FM is financed by the regents. It carries no ads, and is non-commercial. Currently, about 100 students are affiliated with the station, located in the basement of the Student Ac- tivities Bldg. Besides its public service pro- grams, WCBN features m u c h local news on its newscasts. Finally, there is CJOM, a new station on the Canadian side of the Detroit river. Slightly under one year old, this station appears to be a truly progressing rock station. Mike Lindor, station manager, a 25 year old former resident of the States now lives in Windsor, Canada, where he has helped nurture the station to its present high level of acceptance a n d popularity in the Windsor and the Detroit-Ann Arbor area. Lindor expressed the station's goal: "We're attempting tc. bridge the gap between totally commercial radio and non-com- mercial radio. We're trying to increase levels of consciousness with very tastefully done radio." The most unique thing about CJOM it its commercial policy. No more than six are aire: per hour, and no more than two are run together. On Sundays and on the all night show, no com- mercials are allowed. Because of the limited com- mercial policy, along with ad rates of only $15 per minute, ad revenue to the station is mini- mal. But Lindor states that the staff of nine is happy to just break even, which they have suc- ceeded in doing. Concerning CJOM's format, Lindor states that "We program to a certain extent . . . we prc- gram by whom we hire." In other words, before anyone is hired, the management is sure that the individual is reliable and good for the position. Lindor and his staff meet every Monday with each other for a rap session. Grievances and comments are exchanged. This is the method used to iroa out problems at the station. FCC censorship rules do n o t cover the Canadian Dased sta- tion. thus it is not surprising to occasionally hear a record played on which the four letter words have not been bleeped. "We ask ourselves if what we're playing is of social import- ance, and in the interest of good taste. If so, we'll play it," states Lindor, citing the, social satire of Lenny Bruce as an example. CJOM's community involve- ment is extensive. The station is currently financing several Windsor coffeehouses, and help- ing new young artists to get them started. Lindor personally is involved with the D e t r o i t People's Ballroom committee, and also works with the R a d 1 o Resource Center in this lity. Wednesday and Thursday, March 29 &,30 DEPARTMENT OF SPEECH STUDENT LABORATORY THEATRE presents THE CONFEDERACY by SIR JOHN VAN BRUGH and THE CENCI by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY ARENA THEATRE, FRIEZE BUILDING Promptly at 4:10 P.M. or earlier if the theatre is filled. ADMISSION FREE PHASE HI ALL DRINKS 10c Except Black Coffee 8c HOT CHOCOLATE LEMONADE ORANGE JUICE COCA-COLA ORANGE SPRITE STATE AND PACKARD STORE ONLY DUNKIN DONUTSWI To your houme from ours Fresh every four hours. "The difference is freshness" OPEN MONDAY-THURSDAY 7:30-9 P.M. FRI., SAT., SUN. 7:30-3 P.M. This offer expires April 17th Try Daily Classifieds 'CBN kicks it out in the SAB name twice an hour? Penthallow states that he feels the need to express himself, but also feels the need for money. At $201 a week plus overtime, he intends to work at WRIF. as long as possible until he is eventually big enough and financially able to do what he wants; which is perhaps to have his own radio station. "My job is just a stepping stone to my next gig," he says. Penthallow believes that WRIF is going in the right direction to achieve their goals. The prime emphasis of the station is on music that the masses want to hear, and WRIF bases its play- lists on record sales and re- quests. WRIF still features occasional community oriented projects. Some free concerts are being planned for the summer, and weekend baseball games between station personel are being plan- ned. Also, WRIF broadcasts sev- eral community oriented p ro- grams on Sunday night, such as Peter Werbe's Spare Change pro- gram. John Detz is the general man- ager at WABX, which is De- troit's oldest progressive rack station; four years old as of last month in fact. Detz proudly stat- es thatWABX is still free form. "No playlists, no slotting of records. DJs can choose any cut from the library," Detz beams. The ratings give Detz good cause for a show of pride. The latest ratings of the American Ratings Bureau established WABX as Detroit's number one Rock FM station. It is also the number two over-all rock station (behind CKLW.) Besides its music, WABX is well known for its community in- I JOIN Jerry DeGrleck in opposing the Ashley-First 1 I DIAL 5-6290 3 SHOWS DAILY 1:00-4:30-8 P.M. I FLARES Your Choice $5 reg. to $24 (Packard - Beakes bypass, 1st Ward City Council which will benefit downtown merchants, but will divide and disrupt the Black community. Vole "NO" on Ashley-First Human Rights Party , r i I Grads, Undergrads, & Professional Students PARTICIPATE! " Resource Allocations (2) a U-M & State (1) e Committees on Communications (2) * Academic Affairs (1) . Civil liberties (3) . Unversity Relations (2) *Intercollegate Athletic Board (2) " Intramural Athletics Board (2) " Student Health Service Planning (4) APPLY NOW-SGC OFFICE at 3-X Michigan Union-Ask for a P.I.B. form the ann arbor film cooperative presents one of Francois Truffaut's very best and newest films BED AND BOARD Now is your chance to see this film which was yanked from a very brief local theatrical run last year, disappointing so many. The last in a series with Jean- Pierre Leand (400 Blows, Stolen Kisses). Ends with a delightful couple, very much married and loving every minute of it. "'BED AND BOARD' will turn out to be one of the loveliest, most intelligent movies we'll see in all of 1971."-Vincent Canby, N.Y. Times. "The best Truffaut in years."--Judith Crist, New York Magazine. FRENCH DIALOGUE-ENGLISH SUBTITLES Extra-added attraction: THE MYSTERY OF THE LEAPING FISH (The so-called "Cocaine Comedy") with Douglas.Fairbanks, Sr. Written by Ted Browning. (Silent) TONIGHT!-March 28th-ONLY! auditorium a-angell holi--Color--7 & 9:30 p.m.-only 75c Tickets for both shows on sale outside the auditorium at 6 p.m. COMING THURSDAY-Arthur Penn's ALICE'S RESTAURANT with Arlo Guthrie NEXT THURSDAY-Sam Peckinpah's THE WILD BUNCH (by the director of STRAW DOGS) 0 MON. thru THURS. $1.50 until 4:30 Then $2.00 FRI.-SAT. eves $2.50 ALL DAY SUNDAY $2.50 CHECKMATE 1 State Street at Liberty .. , T,,. «,,.. T, .. . r. ., M , , +m+ r+ yrre ++ *r. rr 4rre C C ( { r, T HE SCHOOL OF MUSIC presents f Verdi's Opera FAL STAFF (IN ENGLISH) Two Performances Only: April 6 & 7-8 P.M.t Power Center for the Performing Arts $3.50 and $2.50 ($1.00 tickets for U-M students with ID cards, sold at the Box Office only, no mail orders) Conductor JOSEF BLATT Stage Director: RALPH HERBERT TICKET INFORMATION: 764-6118 MAIL ORDERS: Falstaff, School of Music, University of Mich- igan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105. Please enclose self-addressed, stamped envelope. Box Office Opens April 3rd at 12:30 P.M. Green APPEARING NOW Q at the golden falconC just a great place to get together fine food, drinks c us gra(pccht ekoth r % r stimulating atmosphere golden hour 4-6) reasonable prices tN 5 -§GA G44b 4 -4 -Ah ~b AA6 dA 4 od ' *' SHOP TONIGHT UNTIL WEDNESDAY 9:30 A.M. TO 5:30 5:30 P.M. P.M. ikwiJ , adL"e . tl r'V It U of M Folklore Society presents The Blues Power concert of the year Mance Lipscomb, Son House, Robert Pete Williams 8:00 P.M. SATURDAY, APRIL 15 at the POWER CENTER All seats reserved All seats $3.00 Photo by David Copps ROBERT PETE WILLIAMS "Mance Lipscomb, Son House, and Robert Pete Williams are Nraa o f ha nrarwfcf rnirnfrv MANCE LIPSCOMB smooth as can be,