Sturgis native David Hersrud brings his years in the music industry and lifelong interest in discovering new music to this episode of Fresh Tracks.
We've reached a point where commercial radio stations won’t play music that’s not popular. This presents a catch-22 situation for artists. How can artists get popular if no one will play their songs?
This is where public radio steps in.
In January, Billboard magazine published an article called "Public Radio's Winning Strategy: Music Discovery."
It covered how AM and FM radio listening was trending downward, but public radio appeared to be bucking that trend. KUTX in Austin, KEXP in Seattle and KCMP in Minneapolis are leading the way.
More and more listeners are turning to high-quality and diverse public radio alternatives. They're depending on those stations to discover new music.
On today's episode, Hersrud and Larry Rohrer discuss the public radio phenomenon. Plus, if you'd like to discover something new, they have these suggestions:
SZA: SOS
SZA's album is once again #1 on the charts. This is the 10th week it's reached those heights, although those weeks aren't consecutive.
The album is unique for a couple reasons. One, it's a blend of hip hop, R&B and pop. And two, the album is available only as a digital download. It's currently not offered on vinyl record or CD.
Peter Gabriel: Panopticom from his album i/o
I/o will be Gabriel's 10th studio album and his first since 2011. He plans to release songs to coincide with each month's full moon. It's unknown when the album will get a full release.
Gabriel has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice. His first time was as a member of the band Genesis before leaving the band for a solo career. His second time was as a solo artist.
Metallica: Screaming Suicide from their new album 72 Seasons
Metallica needs no introduction. The iconic heavy metal band has sold over 125 million albums worldwide. One of their most popular songs, Enter Sandman, from their fifth album has been streamed over a billion times.
They're not just a favorite from the past. Metallica is still touring and creating new music to this day.
After a seven-year hiatus, they've returned with a new album called 72 Seasons. And they're wasting no time in going on the touring circuit. Metallica's tour will last two years with two concerts in each city they visit. They've promised that the set lists for the two concerts will include no repeats.
