Brenda wrote:

> I'm guessing the schedule is in no small part related to Croz's health.  I
had the great fortune of
> working with CPR for a short time in '99 and I can tell you, it was a
struggle for him to
> walk half a flight of stairs.

How wonderful you worked with CPR! I remember '99 being a particularly good
year of shows for them.  I worry about Crosby's health - especially when I
hear that he is going on a long, extensive tour.  I don't know how he does
it along with everything else he does.  The music must sustain him.

>Clear Channel's dominance of live music promotion,  club ownership and
radio station ownership is probably the most >egregious and dangerous factor
effecting the music industry today.  Forget about recordable cd's,
> mp3's and major label distribution dominance.  Clear Channel is not only
looking to
> take over the music industry but it is run by coercive idiots.

There have been other groups over the years who have also monopolized - and
in sometimes scarily coercive and/or illegal ways.  But no one turf lord
held it all. CC's monopoly seems so hideously all-encompassing. I'd be
interested to know if there are any answers to the situation, besides
artists going indie and doing it themselves.  Even with that, we still have
the problem of the air waves monopoly.  As you know, all we really have in
L.A. as alternatives are KCRW and KLON, both dependent on public financial
support.  I appreciate KCRW but there are simply not enough hours of music
being played there so I spend most of my time now listening to KLON which
seems at least seems to be 98% (great) music 24/7. However, KLON is mostly
blues/jazz oriented and not breaking new artists outside those genres.  I
remember reading a few years ago about small local "micro" stations cropping
up but recall they were being scrutinized by the FTC. How do we get back the
radio stations?  Back in the 60s you had people like Herb Alpert and Jerry
Moss who started the artist-friendly A&M and you had the underground FM
stations that arose to provide an alternative to the Top 40 AMs.  Is it
possible to break through the current monopoly or do current regulations or
other factors keep hands tied?

Kakki

NP:  Beatles - Nowhere Man

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