Just 11 days into America’s new administration, it’s obvious that the the cruelty and the overwhelm are the point. For anyone who hasn’t been able to keep up with the barrage of bad news, here’s one that pertains to the music industry: Yesterday, NPR reported that the President Trump-appointed chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Brendan Carr, launched an investigation into NPR and PBS — the two leading American public media broadcast networks via radio and television — for allegedly crossing commercial advertising boundaries and violating federal laws. The executives at both NPR and PBS have, of course, rejected this claim.
NPR and PBS are both publicly-funded, mission-driven, educational resources, working to “create a more informed public” and “to educate, inspire, entertain and express a variety of perspectives,” respectively. Defunding organizations like these is detrimental to knowledge and freedom, as misinformation, disinformation, propaganda, manipulation, and general distrust of the news are all known elements of fascism.
All of this affects music and music journalism, not just because NPR produces Tiny Desk Concerts and PBS shares Great Performances. Public media resources like these hold some of the highest standards of journalistic integrity and are among the foremost champions of the First Amendment. Should public media disappear or diminish, privately-owned media could become more biased and music itself is likely to became suppressed or even censored.
As FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said in a statement, “Public television and radio stations play a significant role in our media ecosystem. Any attempt to intimidate these local media outlets is a threat to the free flow of information and the marketplace of ideas.”
Right now, it is unclear what the public can do to respond to the investigation other than, simply, to stay informed.
Luckily, keeping eyes and ears open is easier when this week also brought news of Alison Krauss & Union Station‘s first new record in 14 years. Arcadia, self-produced by Krauss and the band, is due out March 28th via Down The Road Records.
Prolific singer-songwriter Charley Crockett also announced his maj0r label debut, Lonesome Drifter, due out March 14 via Island Records.
Finally, in other good news, Melissa Carper announced an Arkansas-based nonprofit, Natural State of Being. The singer-songwriter and upright bass player, has deep connections to the region, and hopes that this organization will “provide lodging, rehabilitation, and healing to those experiencing homelessness as well as those with drug addiction and mental health issues.” Learn more at naturalstateofbeing.betterworld.org.
WHAT WE’RE LISTENING TO
Here’s a sampling of the songs, albums, bands, and sounds No Depression staffers have been into this week:
Keyon Harrold – Foreverland
Sierra Ferrell – Trail of Flowers
Joan Baez – The Newport Era
The Yearlings – After All the Party Years
Willow Avalon – “Blue Baby”
Brandi Carlile – “Right on Time”
The Band – “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”
The Tubs – “Narcissist”
Grey DeLisle,-“40 Something Runaway (ft. Cherie Currie).”
Chris Jones & The Night Drivers – “Mama Bake A Pie (Daddy Kill A Chicken)”
The Lowest Pair – “Writer’s Block”
