First, let me start this entry by saying there is nothing in the works to remove TRADITIONS from the airwaves on WFDU-FM. Bill Hahn and I are hoping for another successful fund drive in month and barring a catastrophe, we fully expect to keep the diverse sounds of folk music traveling through the ether on Sunday afternoons. I will admit I am a bit concerned about THE SESSION as our past fund drives have not done as well, and we are now in a new time slot.

The management of WFDU and Fairleigh Dickinson University has always been supportive of the notions behind public radio. Since I first set foot in the door back in 1975, the atmosphere of the radio station has been one of creativity and serving the best interests of the public. We offer something special, often “niche” programs that have limited audiences who turn their dials to 89.1 once per week for their favorite program.

In this day and age, there have been changes in public radio across our nation. Public radio was set up to provide an opportunity for radio stations to serve the public with just that sort of programming. Communities could rely on their local public radio station for ethnic programs, educational fare, and shows that dealt with issues in their region. President Johnson signed the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 which led to the creation of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting – with the thought that public radio needed support and encouragement.

Starting with deregulation of the FCC during the Reagan years, and with changes in structure at CPB, the climate and sound of public radio began to change. Add to the equation “consultants” whose job was to advise management on ways that they could reach the most ears – often suggesting consistent programming 24/7 to keep audiences glued to the station day in and day out. The listener who would tune in for an hour of ethnic programming would find their shows cancelled. I can think of one radio station in the NYC area (a station owned by a New York university, appropriately with “FU” in their call letters) that dropped a long-running polka program and a German language show seemingly because it did not fit their plans.

Over the past few years, long-running folk music programs have been targeted. The Los Angele’s based “Folk Scene“, hosted by Roz and Howard Larman since 1970 , was removed from the airwaves for a short time a few years back when their station tried to take over the program and replace the hosts. After audience protests, they returned and continue to offer their landmark program. Matt Watroba, a icon of folk music in the Detroit area, found his show cancelled when his public radio station changed formats. He found a new home and continues to offer fine programs.

Earlier this month, WFCR cancelled Susan Forbes Hansen‘s popular program “Valley Folk“, a program that she inherited from Mary des Rosiers in 1985. The New England station chalked it up to “budgeting problems”. (Susan continues to host another folk show on WHUS at the University of Connecticut.)

The latest casualty is a show that has served Washington DC for 32 years “Traditions” hosted by Mary Cliff on WETA. The program, and Mary Cliff, are institutions in our nation’s capitol.

When I started a show called TRADITIONS on WFDU-FM in 1980, I had not heard of Mary’s show. These were pre–internet days! About 10 years ago I met Mary for the first time and discovered what an amazing program she produced, as well as what an amazing and energetic person Mary is. She is a treasure, and the folk music community in the Washington DC area suffered an incredible loss with the cancellation of this show.

Mary began her career in radio back in 1966 as the host of progressive rock programs in the DC area. She joined WETA in 1972 as a weekend classical music announcer and soon began a four hour Saturday night folk music program called TRADITIONS. Folk music was a natural for Mary, she was a folksinger herself and worked at the DC nightclub The Cellar Door, taking reservations at the historic DC folk music mecca. Another radio folk music legend, Dick Cerri, called the Cellar Door one day and thought Mary’s voice was a natural for radio.

Over the years, Mary’s show has become a focal point (no pun intended) for the folk music community. Mary’s weekly on-air mention of the extensive folk music calendar helped build audiences at various clubs and festivals. Mary also became a fixture as an emcee for folk music events. I’ve had the honor of working as an emcee alongside Mary and Oscar Brand at the Eisteddfod Festival.

Mary’s station, WETA, was a public radio station that specialized in classical music for decades. The station still found a home for Mary and other interesting programs. Two years ago, the station dropped classical music to focus on public affairs and news, yet they kept Mary’s folk show along with A Prairie Home Companion.

This week, WETA dropped a bombshell when they announced that they were returning to classical music. A commercial radio station in the DC area had decided to drop their classical music programming and made arrangements so that WETA would receive their library and the format. “Classical WETA” will now be a 24 hour a day classical music station, and Mary Cliff and Traditions was shown the door – along with a few other programs including A Prairie Home Companion.

WAMU quickly announced that they were picking up A Prairie Home Companion, and it is believe that they are considering offering Mary a slot.

In the meantime, the radio and folk music community is outraged at this loss. Letter writing campaigns, notes posted on WETA’s blogsite and other complaints are questioning the reasoning behind this move. (For more on this story, please click the links for stories in the Washington Post and Washington City Paper. )

I have come to know Mary and words alone do not do her justice. I had the pleasure of sharing a train ride to Montreal with Mary a couple of years ago as we traveled to a Folk Alliance Conference. Her love of folk music is deep. I often see Mary at conferences and her knowledge, love for the music and stamina are amazing. Artists will showcase into the wee hours of the morning, and Mary is one of the last folk DJ’s to be seen wandering the halls in search of music. While the rest of us have lost our energy to hear more music, Mary is still listening for artists that she can share with her audience. Mary is one of the few folk radio hosts that understand and offer TRADITIONAL music as well bringing contemporary sounds to her audience. She understands the diversity and beauty of the music, and she sets an example for the rest of us. Mary Cliff is the real deal.

Does Mary’s cancellation on WETA spell doom for the rest of us? Well, as a folk music radio host, I really worry when these events occur. I do believe that we live in a different age and that satellite radio, iPods, the internet and other forms of entertainment offer us new opportunities to share music. Yet, we lose something important as public radio changes. The local connection that Mary has with the DC community will be hard to replace on a national satellite program. An iPod program will not be the first place to turn to for a calendar of music events. Saturday night will not be the same in DC for a folk music fan.

I also realize that stations are operating under different rules and parameters in 2007. Finding an audience is crucial for success. Operating costs are going through the roof and keeping a public radio station on the air is not an easy task. That is one reason why you hear more “underwriting”announcements – organizations donating larger sums of money to keep the program on the air, and it helps keep the corporations name in front of that audience. For corporations to donate money, they need to know that people are listening. It has become a Catch-22 of sorts – public stations survive and serve a unique market, but the “little guys” are often shoved aside for programs that appeal to a large audience. I’m not sure if that is what was in mind when the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 went into effect.

As for WFDU–FM’s TRADITIONS, we have high hopes. Our support comes from the listeners, and as TRADITIONS celebrates 27 years on the air, we are hoping that our situation will help reverse the trend and show that folk music can still thrive in major markets. We look to you for your help. The fund drive starts on February 1, and I will be asking for your help for THE SESSION on Friday Feb. 2 and then Bill and I will be in the studio on Sunday Feb. 4 for TRADITIONS. Please show your support! You can keep folk music alive on the radio.