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I was involved in a meeting with Tom, owner of the State Theatre, and he made a comment about the old days. Days when record labels, venues and radio stations worked together to create a solid music community. Venues would set aside tickets for radio stations to give away, radio would plug the venue and shows and so on. But then one day the radio station decided they didn’t want this arrangement and began charging venues for advertising, charging record labels to play music and quickly moved into an arena all their own. But yesterday I was presented with a question that seems obvious, but maybe not so obvious. What’s the value of the radio? Radio in it’s original form (FM/AM).

Here in the DC area radio sucks, our main rock stations still sweat Nirvana and NIN, and if I hear “Jane Says” one more time I’ll boycott. The other stations here play top 40 within their genre, so, whatever. We certainly don’t have the KROQ that L.A. enjoys or the diverse selection the New York rock stations play. With that said, I do find most my music online, whether through suggestions from friends or through iTunes internet radio, and in the car I only listen to news.

I’m sure most everyone will agree that they find all their new music online. BUT, what do you feel would be more affirming of your music: A) To have 1,000 plays in one day online, or B) To hear your song on an FM station—it’s similar to having your CD printed on a vinyl record, it’s totally useless but really official.

Is it that most record labels find more merit in promoting their artists online rather than footing a big bill to get them on an FM station? If so, I can understand why I only hear hits from 95-2000. With the dawn of artists recording in their basements and bypassing the record labels alltogether it only seems appropriate that radio stations would be next-in-line to suffer.

So after reading this, you’re thinking “DUH, Ben, radio died 5 years ago with internet radio becoming mainstream.” Did it? Or does it live next door to Santa in your heart? This is more than just my curiosity as to what is important to local bands but more of a way to get band’s thinking, and questioning, the “old model” of the music industry. We all know that FM radio compared to the internet is not useful, but I think that most band’s would think twice before passing on the radio, even if they had to pay for it.

So, okay, here is the question I leave you with before the holiday break. As a local band, would you pay, hypothetically, $150 to get one song, one time on an FM station? Would that be worth it to you? Or, would you rather spend that money on Chipotle and keep promoting your music online?

Please comment below with your thoughts and opinions. Have a great holiday and we’ll see you all in ‘08