Blog Radio
By Jason Gordon
Here’s why I’m no longer on Sirius.
While I can’t go into the full details for various legal reasons, here’s what I can tell you.
I am no longer going to be one of the five hosts on Sirius Left of Center’s Blog Radio, a daily program I co-created in 2006 with then Program Director Rich McLaughlin. We would go on to bring such talent as Brooklyn Vegan, My Old Kentuck Blog and Gorilla Vs Bear for the original line-up. The show ended up winning the “Best Specialty Radio Program” at the 2007 and 2008 PLUG Independent Music Awards.
I’ve done sessions and live interviews with The Rapture, A Place To Bury Strangers, Legs McNeil, Laura Marling, Noah & The Whale, Marc Spitz, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!, Cat Power, Takka Takke, Okkervil River, Big Sleep, Razorlight, Looker, Health and so many more wonderful acts.
After Rich left for the greener landscape of WFUV, the program was taken over by a new Director and that’s when the trouble started for me. We had numerous differences and it came to a head when he wouldn’t let me play Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have A Dream” speech on it’s 45th annivesary, which also happened to be the day of Senator Barack Obama’s historic acceptance of the Demoratic Party’s Presidential nomination.
After that, things seemed to go downhill with them very quickly. When I killed off Product Shop NYC to start Stories in High Fidelity, I thought they’d be happy as the new site is all about music and the old one had become a political website. Apparently, the new Program Director thought differently and after some unpleasant back and forth, they decided to let me go. No final show. No farewell. No respect.
No real regrets from my end. I still love Sirius. Today they announced that Left of Center is officially merging with XM’s indie channel to create XMU. Blog Radio will continue on without me and I’m really proud of that.
Anyway, thanks to everyone who has lsitened to the show and written me such kind letters over the years about the show. Most of the time, I truly enjoyed doing the show and felt you deserved to know why I am no longer doing it. I will be back on radio very shortly. More details to come about that.
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Dearest Jason,
I wish to throw my opinion into this bitching and complaining rant that you have created. First off, Dr. King’s speech was made in 1963, not 1943…that was just bothering me. Second, who is the Demoratic Party? You sir, are a bag of douche, and I honestly don’t think anyone will miss your show. As for the future, there is no need to update us on your newest radio ventures.
Yours Etc…
Zuke
Jason,
I, for one, will miss your show. I was a bit thrown off wen I turned on the radio yesterday and heard MOKB during your slot. Sirius did a major, major about face this week with all these changes, and are pissing a lot of people off. Theres a lot of really good programming being taken off and sadly, its a lot of my favorite stuff. Keep up the good work and I’m looking forward to your next radio gig!
Yours was a show I looked forward to - I’m very sad to hear this. I’ll be interested to hear where you end up. Catch you there…
I enjoyed everything you had to say and the music you had to play. I listened to your show every week and I’m really sad to hear you’ve gone. It’s an amazing accomplishment to have created such an awesome radio program and to have it win awards is even better. Hats off to you and good luck with any future ventures.
Geoff
Thanks for posting this. I will miss the show. Especially since the replacement “host” is a bit annoying.
As for the details of your departure, just another reason to hate Sirius. Not cancel, mind you, for it’s still the best option out there. But they continue to piss people off by changing programming and dj’s seemingly without anyone’s o pinon or feedback at all. Bring back Boombox already assholes!
Good luck to you.
I finally got off my fat butt to figure out where you went. I’m sorry you aren’t on my radio any more, and doubly sorry that “Hipster Runoff” has filled in the slot–he is definitely no replacement.
If anyone else is miffed by certain programming changes (evening DJ on channel 26, Sirius Disorder axed, Jazz station sucking, etc.), you can email Samantha Bowman, Music/Entertainment Media Relations, sbowman@siriusradio.com . Lest anyone think I’m a plant, that info is on sirius.com and I was directed to it by a nice lady on the customer service line.
If Samantha is the wrong one to contact with constructive criticism, please let us know…
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