Shine On You Crazy Diamond!
This is a love letter to classic, terrestrial radio.
I turn 40 in 12 days so that means the only option I had for radio when I was a kid and teen was the regular old free stuff. I preferred FM thanks.
My drug of choice was always WEBN, “the lunatic fringe of American FM – broadcasting live from high atop Frog’s Mountain in Cincinnati.”
I listened to WEBN nonstop in my room and in the car (when I could control the dial of course).
During the course of my normal workday yesterday I decided to pop a classic rock mixed playlist. I wasn’t even particularly paying attention to what I was listening to until Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb” came on. The Wall was released in 1979, the same year I was born.
I don’t know what it was but I was taken aback, nearly breathless at the flood of memories. WEBN played Pink Floyd constantly when I was a teenager. Remember, that was "classic rock" even back then! The Wall is a seminal rock album, so of course the station always had it on heavy rotation – the listeners demanded this.
I have so many found memories of WEBN – back then I don’t think the commercials even bothered me so much. I just remember thinking the station and the on-air talent were all so cool. I loved going to concerts at Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati and WEBN would be there. When my parents took me to see Van Halen, WEBN was broadcasting about it all day to get people hyped. My mom was all freaked out and said “How big of a deal is this show anyway?” I think they were worried there was going to be riots or something (nothing happened of course).
Like print newspapers and television stations, terrestrial radio has gone the way of consolidation. The media landscape in this country is the pits now. I would never advise anyone just starting out to study journalism or broadcasting anymore. Even long tenured, famous journalists are summarily being let go for “cost containment” issues.
When most people choose to listen to satellite radio and avoid commercials (and I’m one of them, I won’t lie) how can regular stations compete?
I don’t know how long it has been since I’ve listened to WEBN. In my car, I solely listen to WYSO to get local news as I refuse to watch the television stations here. I used to work at two of them so I know how the sausage is made, thank you very much. In Eric’s car, he only listens to the XM radio to avoid commercials. We typically hang out on the 80s, 90s and Hair Nation stations. I’ll do Classic Rewind once in a while too.
Thinking through all of this makes me feel a little guilty. When I hop in my car for my commute, I think I’ll pop WEBN on and have a listen. I know the classic rock I prefer has been pushed out for more modern stuff plus a ton of grunge, especially Nirvana. Heck maybe they will play “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” (all of it!) – imagine if other radio stations did that these days. It’s unthinkable to hear such a long song on the radio now. But I remember hearing it as a teen, over and over again.
The vast love I have for classic rock today is straight from WEBN and for that I am so thankful.
