Radio Said Yeah!

Before we get things moving, it must be noted that two new specialty shows were added to the Mediaguide reporting panel (Shout outs to Andy Shal at Mediaguide for the assistant in adding in these new reporters). Former WPLY Philly’s Jim McGuinn returns to the airwaves to heat things up with his new show “Yrock” on WXPN (Philadelphia, PA), while Joe Kinder at KRQR Springfield, MO rips it with “Resurrection Sunday” combining a nice mix of tasty new indie-rock and recurrents. Moving our eyes up to the prize (forgive me for that one), everyone’s fave indie band Clap Your Hands Say Yeah return with the self-released single, “Satan Said Dance” which just barely beats out Peter Bjorn & John’s “Young Folks” (Almost Gold / Sony BMG). KCRW Santa Monica, CA’s Jason Bentley (Metropolis) & KDLD Los Angeles, CA’s Chuck P (Dead Air) have been on that single for months now (you know, the whistling song). Lastly, shouts out to KDLD’s Mister Shovel (Mark Sovel) & Steve Jones for getting behind the new LCD Soundsystem track, “North American Scum” (DFA/EMI)… Heard it on the way to work today and it sounds brilliant on the air. New debut in the Mediaguide Top 20 this week: The Academy Is… (Fueled by Ramen/Atlantic)

Record of The Week: LCD Soundsystem

The Risk AKA Marc Jameson is a one man wrecking machine. This track is the SHIT!
It’s a remix of Matt & Kim’s “No More Long Years” on iheartcomix.
If you’re feeling this and want the song for your specialty show or regular programming, reach me.

Mike Walsh

This week, we interview Mike Walsh from Xfm, who is one of the UK and Europe’s most influential radio music programmers and oversees the content for this rapidly growing alternative music radio brand.

NAME: Mike Walsh

TITLE: Head of Music, Xfm Radio Network (UK)

Give us a synopsis of your career in the broadcast industry.

”I grew up in Liverpool and was virtually raised at the local BBC radio station where my mother still presents. Thereafter, I did lots of student radio in Scotland and ended up running a college station in Connecticut at the age of 20. I came back to the UK where I was a music producer at the launch of Scot FM (Scotland's biggest commercial radio station – now called Real Radio).

In 1995, I was hired at Parlophone Records in the UK (mid–Britpop) and worked promotions for the likes of Radiohead, Blur, Supergrass and a little known act from Liverpool called The Beatles. Before I left Parlophone in 2000, I also had the pleasure of working with Coldplay on the launch of their first album. I left Parlophone to help launch a Chrysalis backed new media project called puremix.com – personalized on–line radio (it was about 7 years too early). In 2001, I move back up North to become Head of Music for Capital Radio Group's A/C Network, Century FM, based in Manchester, where I have lived ever since.

I am now Head of Music for GCap's Xfm Network, which includes Xfm Scotland, Xfm Manchester and Xfm London, as well as our national digital network.”

What is your daily role at Xfm?

”My responsibility includes looking after the station music policy and making sure that all our stations are delivering the best and most competitive music mix and content. I also manage our relationships with the music industry and make sure we are the most musically focused and informed radio group in the UK.”

Elaborate on the challenge of being a national digital network as well as having a terrestrial presence in three key UK markets?

”The challenge is letting people know we exist in a time of tight marketing budgets – especially outside of our FM markets where we focus most of our off–air activity. The benefit is that most listeners throughout the UK can hear us!”

What kind of impact does Xfm have on unsigned artists? Describe the types of programming you have that supports unsigned acts and the impact Xfm has had on new music?

”Xfm takes our commitment to unsigned artists very seriously. All three of our FM stations have unsigned features and we are lucky enough to have presenters like Jim Gellatly in Scotland, Clint Boon in Manchester and John Kennedy in London who are great supporters of emerging talent. Jim was the first person to broadcast KT Tunstall's demo and was playing The View off demo this time last year. It is well known that John was the first person to ever play Razorlight and Keane, amongst many others.

We all have good relationships with UK agents and A&R, so we like to think we can tip off the right people and help things happen for the artists we believe in.”

How has Xfm evolved since its initial launch back in 1993 under the ownership of Chris Parry (manager of The Cure) and Sammy Jacobs?

”I think that the output is maybe now a bit slicker, but the passion and the vision and the focus is very much the same. We are the United Kingdom’s No.1 new music network and want to consistently bring the most exciting new music our audience as well as playing their favorite records of the moment and some stone cold classics.”

Describe the long–term goals of Xfm?

”To spread the word about Xfm and to let the audience know who we are and what we do.”

Who are some of the artists you are most excited about from the UK that the international A&R and radio communities should be aware of?

”Where do I start, there are so many really strong bands coming out of the UK right now. Here are just a few names that we are excited about: The Wombats, Cherry Ghost, The View, Ghosts, Air Traffic, The Twang, Jamie T, Klaxons, Pigeon Detectives, Tiny Dancers, The Enemy, Mum–Raa, Sunshine Underground, I Say Marvin, Rumble Strips, Liam Frost and The Dykeenies.

Also look out for a Scottishband called Biffy Clyro who is going to take 2007 by storm!”

‘I Like’ Texas

Texas’ Black Tie Dynasty (Idol Records) has received more tastemaker specialty airplay in North America over the past 2 months than most ‘indie’ artists on majors. The boys’ EP, I Like U is still on the Mediaguide specialty show charts after six weeks of continuous chart momentum. Support has been sick with gatekeepers like Rodney Bingenheimer (KROQ Los Angeles), Elliott Garstin (WNNX Atlanta, GA) & Brian Oake (KTCZ Minneapolis) all giving the boys the nod. Shout outs must also be given to Josh Venable and KDGE (Dallas, TX) for massive support on the record at specialty and in regular rotation. To view the video for “I Like U” (filmed live at KDGE Dallas, TX’s Edge fest [Nokia Theatre]) please gently click here

The Pill / Age:21+ / Cost: $5 / Weekly, Friday

DJ Ken and co-founder Jen Sullivan launched The Pill in 1997 at the Upstairs Lounge in North Station, Boston (across the street from the Boston Garden/Fleet Center). After a decade of dance and a re-location, the club still manages to sell out the Great Scott’s venue every Friday evening spinning a nice mix of Brit Pop, Sixties, New Wave, Electro and beyond. The club has played host to some brilliant UK influenced acts such as: The Dandy Warhols, Protokoll and Elkland (R.I.P.). Records currently reacting on The Pill dance floor are: BM Linx, Young Love, The Knife, The Cinematics, Protokoll & the standard hits; Pulp, Suede, Blur, etc. Pill-promoter-tastemaker-extraordinaire Michael Marotta must be thanked for keeping the club packed and for his correspondence during this hushhush ATTACK! Punter Hush feature. hhA! asked Michael what his most memorable evening was at The Pill and he had this to offer us, “I got into a scuffle with the bass player from The Bravery during a performance by The Information. That was interesting. He was drunk and tried to walk in, and I got involved in his ejection. That's all I should say in the matter, haha. We've since kissed and made up.” Nice one.

KUPD Phoenix, AZ Lopsided World of L” Jonathan L. Saturday, February 10, 2007 6:45am Hour

Fates Warning "Part Of The Machine" from Perfect Symmetry 1989
Front Line Assembly "Search And Destroy" from Millennium 1994
HIM "It's All Tears (Drown In This Love)" from Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 2006
Peter Bjorn and John "Young Folks" from Writer's Block /Almost Gold Recordings 2007
New Model Army "Another Imperial day" from Carnival 2005
Pixies "Is She Weird" from Bossanova 1990
The Higher "Rock My Body" from On Fire /Epitaph 2007
Skid Row "Holidays In The Sun" from Stairway To Heaven/Highway To Hell Comp. 1989
Joan Jett Song Of The Week: Joan Intros: "Bad Reputation" from Fit To Be Tied 1997
Clinic "Gideon" from Visitations /Domino Recording Co. 2007
The Whitest Kids U' Know "Beautiful Penis" from S/T /What Are Records? 2007
New Order "Crystal" from Import single 2001
Mission U.K. "Amelia" from single 1990
The Datsuns "Stuck Here For Days" from Phase Five NZ Music Part 05 -2007