To the editors:
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I was really sad to read Mr. Wyman’s article on XRT [“So Many Records, So Little Time,” November 16], which basically amounted to a free 12-page advertisement for the station. There are several reasons for my feelings toward this article, most of them having to do with Bill Wyman’s embracing the station as a station that has “taken chances” and succeeded, christening them with the status of underdogdom. Unfortunately, when compared to the stations that Mr. Wyman cited in his article (that in his view don’t “carry the torch”), XRT stands behind them in the cause to promote new music. The other stations of similar format and relative size are much more fresh when it comes to new music, where XRT wallows in the poo-sniffing pit of mediocrity.
OK. I’ve come to the conclusion that XRT does indeed suck, and I think Mr. Wyman’s article is equally poo-sniffing in value, so why don’t I just quit complaining and just listen to tapes while I’m driving. The reason I am mad is because XRT has too much influence and power over what becomes big in the music industry; a band’s success is most often seen in terms of record sales, and record sales is directly associated with air-play. In other words, XRT boosts mediocre bands (XRT always supports the safest acts, like the BoDeans, because they are so stinking marginal) into stardom, while other well-deserving bands remain shafted through the refusal of air-play. Partial blame for Chicago’s relatively lame music scene can be placed on XRT as well in this area. XRT is too politically important to remain passive towards them.
