4th anniversary of WGBH killing the peoples' music

Today we mark the fourth anniversary of the day the peoples' music died on so-called pubic radio WGBH, Boston. WGBH management terminated "Folk on WGBH" and "Blues on WGBH" at the end of November, 2009, betraying its public mission as well as all members of the folk and blues communities.

"I can only assume this has something to do with the almighty dollar. Isn't this supposed to be public radio and aren't we the public. Folk music has been a mainstay on WGBH for as long as I can remember. Acoustic artists are as popular as ever and in some ways even more popular then in days gone by. I don't get it. WGBH should be ashamed of itself. Well, as Ma Joad said, "We're the people and you can't stop us and you can't lick us. We just keep coming, 'cause we're the people." -Jim Kweskin, 11/11/09

You can learn more at WGBH Drops Folk and Blues Programs from this blog.

You can stay in touch with fellow community members and learn what actions you can take to restore the programs through a discussion group.

Remember WGBH's action when you receive that solicitation envelope or phone call or email. Refuse them! Return the envelope marked "refused, you killed the peoples' music." Tell the paid phone solicitor why and ask your name be removed from their call list and database. Remove yourself from the WGBH mailing list. And it would not hurt to write a letter to the WGBH Board of Trustees, tell them public radio and the airwaves belong to the people, not the bluebloods.

Then consider supporting a community or independent college/community radio station where the volunteer producer/hosts, not the corporations that pull WGBH's strings, determine their program content.

Massachusetts community stations:
WBCR-LP, Great Barrington
WCUW, Worcester
WMCB-LP, Greenfield
WOMR/WFMR, Provincetown
WXOJ-LP, Florence

See a listing of others, including independent college / community hybrids, here.

Share this blog post and a related Facebook event with friends.

More personnel changes at UMass Boston's WUMB

In Towards Independent College / Community Radio WUMB

member Carol Lashnits reports:

Carol Lashnits 

Why is Dave Palmater doing Acoustic Sunrise today and not Naomi Aronberg? Is this a case of another disappearing UMB staff member? I hope he's just filling in today!!Like · · Yesterday at 11:26am
View 1 more comment

Towards Independent College / Community Radio WUMB I was away and did not listen. Was it scripted or did Dave have free artistic license?
2 hours ago · Like

Carol Lashnits Naomi was laid off for financial reasons. I'd say scripted...not what Naomi and Dick before her were playing. I expressed my distress over that decision in an email just now to Patty Domeniconi. Not that it matters to them.
2 hours ago · LikeTowards Independent College / Community Radio WUMB I was away and did not listen. Was it scripted or did Dave have free artistic license?2 hours ago · Like 

Carol Lashnits Naomi was laid off for financial reasons. I'd say scripted...not what Naomi and Dick before her were playing. I expressed my distress over that decision in an email just now to Patty Domeniconi. Not that it matters to them.2 hours ago · Like 

At the time of this posthttp://wumb.org/programs/announcers.phpshows Naomi as a staff member.

Towards Independent College / Community Radio WUMB At the time of this posthttp://wumb.org/programs/announcers.phpshows Naomi as a staff member.View 1 more comment 

WUMB Radio - Announcers - Naomi Arenberg
wumb.org

I sincerely hope this was not the case, Naomi is a close friend, a very talented producer/host and victim of past NPR affiliate lay-offs (WGBH and WCAI).



Screen capture of http://wumb.org/programs/announcers.php taken at 3:56pm:

ANNOUNCER:
Naomi Arenberg 

SHOWS:
Acoustic Sunrise 
Sunday 8:00 am

Contact

Radio and music have been my treasured companions throughout most of my life. There’s nothing more satisfying than sharing great music, and radio provides a way to do that on a regular basis.

I was lucky enough to attend a high school where one of the extra-curricular activities was “The Folk Group.” After a year of performing with this ensemble, I was hooked on acoustic music. Then, attending live performances by Odetta, Steve Goodman, and Joan Baez sealed my devotion to folk and traditional music.

From 2004 to 2009 I co-hosted “Folk On WGBH,” which was the sequel to Dick Pleasants’ “The Folk Heritage.” From 2000 to 2011 I was the local host of “All Things Considered” on WCAI, the Cape and Islands NPR Station. From time to time I sing folk, blues, or jazz in concert.

I live in southeastern Massachusetts with my husband, son, and several cats. The beach and the garden are always close at hand.

Update February 1, 2013.

In the weekend program schedule, "Acoustic Sunrise" redirects to Dave Palmater's profile - http://wumb.org/programs/announcers.php?AnnouncerID=7

And Naomi has been remomved from the announcer list:
Marilyn Rea Beyer
Gail Gilmore
Brendan Hogan
George Knight
Jay Moberg
Albert O
Dave Palmater
Marcia Palmater
Perry Persoff
Sandy Sheehan
Dana Westover