Radio is Teaching Us

Other DJs who put local music on the air.

by John Vettese

With a healthy handful of local music shows on the dial, getting radio play today might not be as trying as it was for Tommy Conwell and The Young Rumblers in the '80s. Nevertheless, the better you present your music, the more likely you'll hear yourself on the air. Most DJs we talked to seemed to agree on a common set of guidelines for submission: First, sending your CD by mail is the way to go, either a professionally pressed copy or a CD-R. (Links to your site on mp3.com are annoying, since it takes time to download the song, burn it to disc and listen to it before deciding whether or not its spinworthy.) Make sure the package and the CD case are clearly identified, and for the love of God, use a full-size jewel case; most submissions wind up being stacked in piles at the station, and if your name isn't on the spine, you won't get noticed as quickly. Suggesting focus tracks is good, but don't send extraneous materials; band photos and press-clipping packets are unimpressive, but bios are a must so the programming directors can confirm you are in fact from Philly. Above all, they say, be patient; stations receive dozens to hundreds of submissions each week, and can¹t possibly listen to all of them right away. Then again, following up never hurts, so be persistent without harassing.

Here's a closer look at some of the Philly area's best local music spotlights.

Show: YNot

Station/Date/Time: 100.3 WPLY, Conshohocken; Sundays, 9-11 p.m.

Website: www.y100.com

This gem occurs in the midst of Y-100's regular alt-rock shuffle of Linkin Park and Dave Matthews Band, and highlights equal parts local musicians and underplayed national acts. Dan Fein, music and marketing director at the station, has hosted the show since 1997 and views it as an opportunity to push the boundaries of its programming. There might be some stuff that's a little more bluesy, like Pawnshop Roses, or a little more singer/songwritery, like Jim Boggia, he says. But if it sounds like [the band] could get themselves on an indie label or a major label, I'll play it. Some of the stuff we play maybe never will, but is really good nonetheless. YNot local bands are often culled from the station's Tuesday Night Music Club gigs at The Grape Street Pub in Manayunk, booked by Stargazer Lily drummer Scooter. Sometimes they wind up getting spun in the station's nightly "Philly File" at 11 p.m. and even go on to gig at the annual Y-100 FEZtival. Fein makes the rounds at Grape Street and says it's a good place for artists to come up and say hi. "It always helps if I ever get to see the bands face-to-face," he says. "If people introduce themselves, I notice I listen to their stuff quicker because the name of the band and the face sticks in my head."

Show: Jon Solomon on WPRB

Station/Date/Time: 103.3 WPRB, Princeton, N.J.; Wednesdays, 7-10 p.m.

Website: www.keepingscoreathome.com

Although this Princeton University-based show, hosted by CP video game reviewer Jon Solomon, isn't exclusively local, Philly-area bands are often featured through in-studio performances. Live sets go on around 8 p.m., but are prerecorded at the station a few days in advance to allow for editing out the dead air. "If someone breaks a string or has to retune, it can get really boring to listen to on the radio, Solomon says. Typically, performances are a half-hour long, but times vary from band to band. Sometimes we'll get garage-rock acts like The Trauma Queens who can go through their entire set list in a half-hour, Solomon says. On the other hand, Brother JT came on and said, 'Yeah, I'll play for a half-hour' and 70 minutes later was still going. But I'm comfortable with whatever the band wants to do. It's their time, I'm just the enabler."

Show: Leicht Lunch

Station/Date/Time: 88.5 WXPN, Philadelphia; weekdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Website: www.xpn.org

WXPN midday host and programming director, Helen Leicht, has regularly featured Philadelphia artists in her Leicht Lunch during the show's five years on the air, but she began spinning them when she came to the station in 1990. A local act is featured every afternoon at 1 p.m., and Leicht feels strongly about giving Philadelphia-area artists prime airspace rather than burying them in the night hours. "Many local acts are every bit as good as national acts," says Leicht. "They just don't have label deals and thus don't get airplay. I think mixing them in is important. If you're listening to Sting and then hear Grey Eye Glances, it raises the bar." Philly artists aren't necessarily limited to her show, since a few -- such as jam boys Townhall and singer/songwriter combo 4 Way Street -- can quickly crossover into Michaela Majoun's morning show and, on occasion, David Dye's nationally broadcasted World Cafe.