Radio active

There might be people who do, in fact, remember real rock 'n' roll blasting out of their FM radios, but their numbers are dwindling due to the current state of radio. What used to be a powerful forum for the exchange of music and ideas has devolved into an audio assembly line of No. 1 hits. Radio used to be where people could hear a variety of music that they could use as a stepping stone to new musical and, to a degree, ideological horizons. \nOn the surface, there doesn't seem to be a difference between a song on the radio and a song on an iPod, but the sound of music on the radio has the ability to transcend its own medium. It's sudden, loud, unexpected and fresh. There is also a sense of satisfaction gained from knowing that many are listening to the same music simultaneously. \nRadio is a communal experience but, at the same time, a private one. And that is what music is: an experience. Radio today has essentially stripped music down to its basic state as pure audio entertainment -- not an audio experience. Songs are presented repetitively, in the same numerical order. Radio stations are often devoted to the current hits and little else. \nBut why shouldn't we want to hear the hits? Those are the songs that have the greatest resonance with us, the songs that ellicit emotion when we hear them. But maybe that isn't what we need. Maybe we need new sounds rather than generic pop hits. The problem that arises with the instant gratification mindset of our culture is that we have short attention spans. A new smash hit quickly gets sent out with every other pop-culture anomaly, only to someday reappear on some contrived VH1 show along with Pogs and Tamagotchis. \nThis begs a question: If a so-called smash hit is really so great, why are we so quick to dispose of it? A great song, like any other type of art, should not be instantly forgotten. So what is the answer to our problem? A police state. But in case that doesn't work, perhaps the resurrection of real rock 'n' roll can be achieved through something similar to the offering of satellite radio. On satellite radio, there are channels for all music genres, allowing stations the opportunity to play music that otherwise may not be heard. Unfortunately, satellite radio lacks one key attribute: It isn't accessible to everyone. But would a public, satellite-style radio solve the problem? Trends tend to dictate our culture -- whether in music, clothing or television. Thus, maybe it would be good for everyone to embrace diversity in all aspects of life. \nBy keeping our minds open to new styles of music and thinking, we have the ability to improve ourselves and our society. So next time you are listening to the radio, explore the full range of your FM receiver. If nothing else, at least you'll know your radio still works.