Click on the above link to be taken to a song called “Broadcast Blues”. The singers are anonymous.
Here’s why: Sue Wilson has made a movie of the same name, Broadcast Blues. I haven’t seen the film yet, as it has not been released, but it has had great success at various film festivals, and I’ve listened to her interviewed (click here, scroll down to October 11). As I understand it, the film is a riff on AM radio in America, a one-note tune if ever there were one, and dominated by right-wing giant Clear Channel.
Clear Channel owns 58 “blow torches” (50,000 watt stations) in the largest markets in the U.S., and over a thousand stations in total. It is the reason why the right wing dominates the airwaves. It is not popular demand. It is monopoly ownership.
Originally, before release, the theme song for Broadcast Blues was going to be Bruce Springsteen’s “Your Hometown”. Wilson had written permission to use the song. However, the Boss had released a new album and was embarking on his 2007-2008 Magic Tour, and backed out of the deal. His people told Wilson that if Bruce played in her movie, he would risk pissing off Clear Channel.
Clear Channel, in addition to controlling most radio stations in the country, also controls most concert venues. With that kind of power, they cannot resist flexing the political muscles (power corrupts …). Just as they shut down the Dixie Chicks for being politically impudent, so too are they powerful enough to shut down The Boss.
Of course, Springsteen is no profile in courage. I’ll never hear him again with the same ears. “Born in the USA” was a great song. Maybe The Boss is just a dog who’s been beat too much.
Wilson searched around for another song to replace Your Hometown, but could not find another artist willing to take on Clear Channel. In the end, she found several volunteers who were willing to record an original tune, but only anonymously.
Piece of Mindful 