Joni has said, rather recently, that she refuses to play the payola game, hence (one
of) the reasons we don't hear her on the radio much anymore. And even though payola
supposedly ended years ago, it apparently still happens.
But, on the other hand, here in Seattle (an unusually enlightened city, I must say),
I've heard Joni on the radio five times in the last ten days, and that was with very
limited listening time...I've heard Free Man in Paris, Sometimes I'm Happy, Dry
Cleaner from Des Moines, Trouble Man (twice), The Man I Love (yes, two of these are
from other artists' CDs, but the announcer always emphasizes Joni). These were heard
mainly on our jazz-oriented public radio station (KPLU), which has a fairly
substantial listenership, and really embraces Joni as a jazz artist. I also hear lots
of cuts from Blue and LOTC, and occasionally newer songs, in the supermarket, believe
it or not.
Bryan
