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I was wondering the same thing...

SHUT UP!

Maybe this has been discussed here before, but, why are my tax dollars being used to pay for a music station? I mean, I reluctantly bought into the concept of public radio considering their mission seemed to be solely public discourse, but music? Why aren't they competing in the advertising-supported music station marketplace like everyone else? So it's only 11% ... it's still millions. We could be feeding the homeless or something with that money, instead of paying pretend business people big salaries.

Moreover, the primary function of the Current, beyond playing cool music, is to loop a new, younger audience into public radio and, ultimately, the public discourse it generates.

Ah, I thought so. Kind of like Radio Free Europe, eh?

The goal is to spread Liberalism...on your dime Mazaspaza!!!

As far as I know, Bill DeVille is still there. Ever since the station started, he's been the master of odd jobs, taking all sorts of strange time slots. Heh, he probably should have stayed in a single time slot, but he's still got a regular weekend spot and probably is the first person to fill in when others are out for one reason or another.

I don't know why Thorn left other than the fact his contract was up. I liked his stuff, but he did have some pretty strange/marginally offensive things pop out of his mouth sometimes. I know there was one moment that I figured was a cannable offense, but MPR's official response was "we don't comment on personnel issues," so I can't say if that was the reason. But, he also had some very funny moments too. My favorite occurred once after playing a techno/trancey tune—he came on after it and said "Oops. Dropped my glow-stick."

Maybe you had to be there...

But the Current isn't really going for the early 30's crowd. I would guess they are going more for the "Indie" crowd, which really encompasses a wide range of ages.

Oh, for sure. I'm just talking about the 9-12 timeslot. I find myself, 22, liking Mark Wheat's playlist better than what they play during the workday. And I think it has something to do with the timeslot, more than the DJ.

But I agree with you on the wide range thing. My parents love The Current.

mark what bugs the shit out of me. he drops a pause inbetween every... single.... word... he... utters

And now fundraising. It begs the question whether the Current is worth the money compared to satelite, online, or even commercial radio. I'm not a member because I don't think it is.

Hmm. Well, commerical radio, in this town anyway, isn't so great in my opinion. Unless you like hearing the Red Hot Chili Peppers played every hour on the hour, and it doesn't make you cringe to hear Arcade Fire back to back with Sugar Ray. And then there's the commericals, which are loud and aggressive and occur way too often. Oh, and the screaming deejays and their terrible jokes and stories.

Online is good--I listen to a lot of online stations: WOXY, WFMU, KSYM, SOMA radio and others, but they lack the regional content of the Current. When I'm in Minnesota, I like to know what's going on in Minnesota news, culutre, and politics, and I like to hear Minnesota bands thrown in the mix.

Satellite is nice if you're on a cross-country drive, but it's just too strerile for me when I'm at home. Again, I find it lacking in regional content--it makes me feel like there's a huge disconnect between the station and my life. It feels, literally, like radio from outer space.

Again, all just my opnion, but regional radio that is not beholden to a commerical market and all its trappings--and locally that includes MPR, KFAI, Radio K--is very valuable to me and worth the $5 or $10 I otherwise wouldn't miss disappearing from my checking account every month. When I think of what I shell out monthly for DSL, cable, and other services I use, I don't think paying for stations I listen to daily is a lot of skin off my back.