Attention recording artists, label reps and music aficionados! Hello!
As you may have read on my Equipboard author page, I host a radio show called The Holtz Effect on WZBC, 90.3 FM in Newton, MA. Run by students at Boston College, WZBC broadcasts to the greater Boston area and are always on the hunt for gems new and old. This includes you! If you or a friend have any music you would like to submit for air play, whether that be your own or someone else's, drop it here in the forum or reach out to our music directors at [email protected] (rock, jazz, electronic, folk, reggae, and other pop ilk) or [email protected] (musique concrète, experimental).
Besides standard FCC regulations (no obscenity, indecency or profanity), we have one criterion for air play. In keeping with a tradition of a focus on underground music, I simply ask that you submit music that is not considered "mainstream". I understand that is a very relative word, so I will give some examples of artists who are considered by WZBC to be "too big to play":
- Artists with at least 5 songs that have 1M+ streams on Spotify
- Artists who have not yet achieved 1), but who had equivalent success in a period predating Spotify
- Artists whose success is equivalent to 1) and 2) through other media (e.g. acting, comedy, sports)
Note that in the event of a direct song request via phone (617-552-4686) or live chat, the above is overruled and we can play whatever song you want, provided it meets FCC regulations.
Some Quick Station History
WZBC has been around since 1973 and has always been about underground music. Ironically, the station has been host to some of pop music's most pivotal moments. In early 1981, R.E.M. finished editing the original "Radio Free Europe" radio single there after an interview. They later met DJ Jim McKay (now a prominent director and a longtime R.E.M. collaborator) that same year. In 1991, Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic were interviewed at WZBC on the night Nevermind was released. In 2009, at the request of Animal Collective and Domino Records, WZBC (through Newbury Comics) was among the many stations to host an official listening party for Merriweather Post Pavillion.
Here's a partial/incomplete list I've put together of some of our other guests:
On-Location Guests
- The Police
- The White Stripes
- Sufjan Stevens
- Greg Hawkes (The Cars)
- Stereolab
- Sigur Ros
- The Legendary Pink Dots
- Interpol
- Low
- A Place to Bury Strangers
- John Zewizz (twice!)
Remote Guests
- Antibalas
- Becca Stevens
- A-F-R-O
- Michael Imperioli
Notable DJs
-s.webp?v=1783318437 "Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer")
-s.webp?v=1783436227 "Roland SH-101")
-s.webp?v=1783436217 "Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer")
