An Appeal to Songwriters –
Encouragement for Creating and Sharing Timely Songs in a Timely Fashion

Putting on my folk radio host hat, I’d like to share some thoughts for my songwriting readers as well as lovers of good songs. Over the past few weeks, I have been lucky to hear a few friends perform brand new songs that really moved me. They were sung in public at festivals and concerts and have not been recorded or “officially” released, save for a couple of rough YouTube videos. While the songs are topical in nature, I would not exactly consider them to be what Tom Paxton calls “short shelf life songs”. Tom’s version of “short shelf life songs” is geared to “in the moment” songs based on specific current events. They are not songs that would be considered relevant if released months (or years) later on a recording. The songs shared by my friends were songs that certainly dealt with current affairs, but they also carried a message of timeless (unfortunately) social issues. I feel those songs deserve to be heard by a much wider audience beyond a concert or festival venue. For folk radio, this can represent a greater opportunity to grow our audiences and perpetuate our folk community. Sharing a brand new song prior to, or in place of, an “official” recording is something unique that radio can offer.

This year, there is no shortage of current events and subjects begging to be captured in song, for either a short shelf life offering or a more timeless variety. Immigration issues, changes in environmental policies, racial issues and the tweets de jour of Donald Trump are all worthy of song. I want to encourage artists to not only write about such topics, but also to examine all their music and think about getting a recording of a single song made in a timely fashion so it can be shared while the subject is current and can help shape people’s opinions.

Not everyone has access (or finances) to get into a studio and make a full-blown recording, but I would suggest thinking about ways to make a simple and radio-worthy recording. Just you and a guitar with a couple of decent mics and some software can enable the average singer-songwriter to create a broadcast worthy file. You are not aiming to win a Grammy for this effort, but you will be getting your songs before ears that need to hear what you have to say. A number of artists have done exactly that in the past, and the songs they sent were well received by my radio audience.

I realize that many artists shy away from topical songs out of fear of alienating their audience or losing bookings. I do understand and respect those concerns, but my thoughts are geared to those willing to take chances in order to create songs that will serve a wider purpose. It could lead to more airplay at least on stations and outlets that are also willing to take chances. These songs can help start conversation, open minds and give support to those who need it. Even just preaching to the choir is a good thing since everyone needs inspiration to help make change.

A new topical song from Christine Lavin, co-written by Tom Toce

In the “good old days” of the folk revival, an artist would write a song, sing it in a coffeehouse and then it would be shared by other artists at different venues. “Blowin’ in the Wind” is an example. Dylan wrote it back in April 1962 and handed it to another folk singer to perform at Folk City. The song was published in Broadside magazine in May of the same year and in Sing Out! that June. Soon the song spread, with some additional help from a few savvy song pluggers. Dylan himself recorded it in July of 1962 but his album containing the song wasn’t released until May 1963. Peter, Paul and Mary also recorded it and in August 1963, sixteen months after the song was written, their version reached #2 on the Billboard pop chart and it became part of the soundtrack of the era.

We can debate if the song would be as successful if written in 2018, but with access to contemporary methods and technology, could a song reach success much faster? Admittedly, folk radio in 2018 does not play to the huge market the national pop charts served in 1963, but folk radio shows are heard by the audiences the contemporary folk songwriter is looking to reach. The music industry (or what is left of it) still works on the model where an artist feels compelled to record a full album of songs, but is that still important in this day and age? Could issuing a file of a single song instead of producing a full-blown CD be a better workflow to spread contemporary folk music in 2018? By creating and distributing a new and relevant song via a file to folk radio, an artist might also find that their music is being heard by more ears and audiences will begin to explore them in more depth.

Let me speak now to my folk radio peers. Of course, folk radio has always prided itself on sharing new recordings and introducing new songs and artists to the public. Can we do a better job of this and help our folk community as well as our shows? Can we deliver the songs “faster”?

I know some of my colleagues will not (or cannot) accept files and only want fully produced professional CDs mailed to them (without the shrink-wrap because heaven forbid we spend two seconds to remove it!). The thought of airing something that might be unpolished is abhorrent to many. Well, I think we might be missing the boat with those standards.

For the past 15 years, critics have been saying CDs will disappear in 5 years. While CDs might be suffering a prolonged death, the need for good songs is not. Faced with current technology and alternate delivery methods available, radio is in danger of becoming a dinosaur and holding fast to old formats will only hasten its extinction, in my opinion. Timely songs delivered quickly as a file might present radio with an opportunity. Yes, there will be some loss in fidelity when broadcasting files but it is debatable how much will be lost in a radio environment. FLAC files are lossless, but unfortunately, the broadcast industry has been slow to adopt them. Although they do take up more space, WAV files are ideal, and the cost of storage has dropped dramatically. MP3s and M4As have improved significantly, vastly improved in recent years, and while there is some compression a well-recorded MP3 will not offend the ears of the average listener. Although not pristine, a quality MP3 will still give the artist’s music a respectable representation over the airwaves. Commercial radio stations have long since switched to files for their broadcasts, but many of the public radio stations and shows have been slow to adapt.

Please note – I am not saying we should broadcast any file that comes over the transom. We need to maintain quality. A poorly recorded file will get audiences reaching for to switch that dial, although most radios no longer have dials. Artists have it within their means to make a broadcast worthy file without distortion or hum and where the words are clearly understood.

To twist Marshall McLuhan’s well-worn phrase around – the message should be the medium. Radio can be the place contemporary audiences turn to when looking for that message. That message can be an opening for new ears to experience contemporary folk music. To remain relevant, we need to adapt the way we produce our shows. We need to become THE resource for brand new songs that speak to the current conscience. This can be a tool that will help us survive. Radio hosts are curators, not merely jukeboxes working by algorithms. We paint aural pictures and deliver messages that an iPod or streaming service cannot match. To perpetuate folk music, we need to always be cognizant of this.

Just a few early morning thoughts fueled by a single cup of coffee and a passion for sharing this music with a wider audience. Thinking about how we do business and how we can utilize the tools around us could lead to wider recognition for the music we love. Folk music is unique, and we need to explore ways of getting the music out faster when it comes to songs dealing with current events to meet the needs of our audience.

Singer-songwriters who wish to submit topical and new songs for airplay consideration on Ron’s show can write to him by clicking [email-obfuscate email=”wfdutraditions@aol.com?subject=Song%20Submission%20for%20Traditions” link_title=”HERE!”]