Pop Vultures, R.I.P.

I love love love Pop Vultures (as I think I have previously blogged, but I can't find the post so I may have imagined this).  Listening to Pop Vultures is like eavesdropping on random collection of friends who are passionate, knowledgeable and opinionated about music and the kooky culture that swirls around it.  For example:

Pop Vultures #5: The Foo Fighters & Chingy
Kate and her guests debate the merits of Dave Grohl, former Nirvana drummer, current Queens of the Stone Age drummer, and leader of the Foo Fighters. She also talks to Eric, a special correspondent from St. Louis, about hometown heroes Chingy and Nelly.

Pop Vultures #13: Award Shows & Beyonce
Kate and her guests discuss the pitfalls of being rewarded by the critics. Speaking of people who are always getting awards, we'll also discuss Beyonce Knowles, the most current overachiever of the industry.

Pop Vultures #22: Missy Elliott & Pretty Girls Make Graves
Missy Elliot is a non-stop hit making machine, and we wonder what her secret ingredient is. We also learn about an indie band that Zoe loves with all her heart.

It's unlike anything else on radio.  It's fresh, it's irreverant, it's sexy, the tone is conversational, and it never fails to make me happy.  It's also dead. Done. Cancelled. 

Earlier today I recommended the show to Jessamyn and then decided to visit the blog of wunder host Kate Sullivan. That's where I discovered this sad news.  Garrison and his minions--or maybe American Public Media--pulled the plug.   

I don't understand the logic in removing Pop Vultures from this earth. 

After doing some digging, though, I have to conclude based on pure speculation that Pop Vultures just wasn't fucking sanitized enough for public radio. 

The PV catalog is available, for the time being anyway, on the Public Radio Exchange which is a place where public radio programs get distributed digitally and industry insiders can weigh in with their opinion.  All of the PV shows score pretty well, but when you dig into the comments the great divide in opinion becomes obvious.  There are fans like me who rhapsodize about PV, but then the suits show up:

"There is no introduction as to who these people are and why I should be listening to them. I can't find on the Pop Vultures Web Site how the host came to be a pop music critic--listeners will want to know how she came be expert enough to have a show on their favorite radio station. In fact, in the CD version, the names of the people speaking are not mentioned until the closing credits. That's a plain lack of using accepted radio practices. Why are these folks experts worthy of being taken seriously?"  Exactly.  I don't need any more "experts" on the radio, I liked hear people who were passsionate.  Music experts are boring. And on the subject of "credibility" who the hell does Ira Glass think he his telling me about what "This American Life" is about? What are his credentials.

"I was really excited about listening to this program because there's such a buzz about Pop Vultures. I've listened to a number of these programs and I'm left feeling disappointed. While the style and approach is fresh and different from anything else we're served up in public radio and I applaud the persuit of different production styles, I do not feel this program respects the same core values that our listeners expect, values like substance, credibility, purpose and authenticity. Who are these people? What are their credentials? Why should we care what they think? Why should we keep listening to a bunch of people who we don't know and who barely identify themselves? Also, I understand that this program is hosted by and aimed at the younger end of our demo, but attention to detail in the use of language is important to our listeners. I have a hard time getting past the "ya knows" and "likes" and "whatevers" in the banter. I'm afraid that, while this program might attract and entertain a younger audience, it would allienate our core audience."  How shocking that we'd have a cultural product that actually sounds like people talk.  And "core values"? Well I've never heard a more "authentic" show and it has purpose and substance--I learned all I know about breakbeats from PV--and for me credibility is something PV earned quickly.  It's not about credentials (see above.)

"I think Kate should get over her teenage celebrity crushes and move on to more mature subjects... She's the kind of voice I want to hear hosting ATC!"  While I can back the notion that Kate needs to be on the radio, how is pop music and an obsession with an artist or an album or a song not "mature"?  I don't need no more MarketPlaces or All Things Considereds.

"Ultimately and sadly, I conclude that Pop Vultures-in its current form, for my listeners, would sound more like a parent eavesdropping outside their college aged children's dorm room just before a surprise visit. You hope by senior year their arguments are become more reasoned and insightful." Of for fucks sake, I'm neither in college nor a parent and PV does me just fine.  C'mon.  What I love about PV is the fact that it has an unabashed POV and isn't afraid to be intimate and goofy.

Public radio is a business.  They have to make choices.  They made the wrong choice here, cutting off oxygen to a fresh voice that was obviously getting her legs under her and was producing 30 minute audio experiences that I planned my week around.  Shows that I scheduled dinner around so I could be sure to listen to it with Dia, glass of wine in hand laughing, smiling, and sharing memories and moments that the music and the banter provoked.

Kate, you did real good. I hope you're proud of Pop Vultures and I'm sorry you weren't given a longer leash.  I can't wait to see/hear what you come up with next. Thank you.

Update: I've taken my case to MetaFilter.

Comments

[honda-radio]

Thx! :)