Texas Radio and the Big Beat

There's something interesting happening with radio in Texas, and it has nothing to do with college or or public stations. We're talking full on big time commercial radio. Clear Channel even.
It's Lonestar 92.5 and it used to be DFW's go to classic rock station. A few months ago though, they did a format tweak that some would call an overhaul. Now they play outlaw country, alt country, rock, classic rock, folk, singer songwriter and according to Willie's voiceover on the website, "a lot of other names that don't make any sense."
And they do it all without commercials. Kinda.
The sponsors buy time by the hour or so, and the DJ's work in their name and advertisements on the air in the small breaks they do take. It's a small price to pay for the amount of diversity in the playlist. Here's the last ten songs they played just now...

I THINK I LOVE YOU TOO Jeff Healey Band

Against the Wind Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band

BANG MY HEAD Cross Canadian Ragweed

Can't Find My Way Home Blind Faith

BIG TEN INCH Aerosmith

Peace Pipe Cry of Love

Down Home Girl Old Crow Medicine Show

Slow Turning John Hiatt

PAY NO MIND IAN MOORE

Dear Mr. Fantasy Traffic

....
Traffic to Old Crow Medicine Show in less than 4 steps. Plus they play a lot of some of my favorite bands that I never thought I'd ever hear on the radio. Like the Drive By Truckers, and Wilco. Not exactly obscure stuff...but that's the point. There's tons of music that is by no means underground, yet is consistently relegated to college radio.
So does this equal a sea change for the face of radio itself?
Probably not.
The on air commercial announcements have increased slightly since I first started listening, and the station promos are fairly heavy as well. But they probably just want to remind people who they are listening to...those same people that complain that their classic rock station has "gone country." Even if that country is inhabited by Willie, Waylon, Billy Joe and everyone else that makes or has made some of the best music to come from our great state.
Not to mention the bands that even non-hillbillies might enjoy despite the ill-fitting labels. Bands like Son Volt, the aforementioned 'Truckers, and Todd Snider.
Oh well, you can't force feed people good music. Even if it is in your own backyard.
So goes the cardboard, vapid population of Dallas.


GoForth, Texas...and ROCK!