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10 Questions with ... Dan Reed
April 26, 2021
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1. How did you become interested in radio?
I grew up listening to radio ALL the time … the typical story – transistor radio under my pillow, etc. I can remember first hearing WEBN in Cincinnati at about age 11 or 12, and I just thought then that HAD to be the best gig in the world … playing records on the radio. I was fortunate to have had a high school with a radio station, and that gave me a tremendous head start once I went to college.
2. What originally prompted you to start the NON-COMMvention when you were still programming in Louisville at WFPK?
Many of us on the non-commercial side were attending the Boulder convention. It was certainly fun – and the music was great – but we never felt the meetings had much to do with our particular issues and challenges on the left side of the dial. The Louisville public radio stations (then called the Public Radio Partnership) had just moved into a brand-new facility, and I was tasked with coming up with some ideas on how we could get the word out about the new building. What better way than to invite others in the industry to Louisville to see for themselves? And so, it began …
3. What was the thought process to make the event virtual this year after you had to cancel it in 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic?
We felt it was important to do it for the community, and for the NON-COMM brand. We didn’t want another year to go by without a gathering of some sort. Last year, at this time, we were, of course, hoping we’d all be able to get together here in Philly, but it was obviously too soon for that.
4. And you are making it free for attendees this year! Tell us about that.
Yes. I am VERY happy about that for sure. Thanks to some outstanding support from record companies, management teams and independent promoters, we are psyched to be able to offer registration free to radio and industry.
5. What is the platform you are using to allow you to do this? Will it be live?
All live, baby, via the Pathable Virtual Event platform … I would just urge everybody (non-comms, and our friends in commercial radio and in the record and promotion industry) to go to The Top22.com (thanks, Paul) and sign up. Free and easy. And live.
6. I imagine there will be fewer acts performing this year.
Yeah … it is certainly a truncated schedule this year. We’ll have noon (EST) performances Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, plus evening music sessions on Wednesday and Thursday nights. I think I was only able to book a dozen or so acts this year, as opposed to 30+ as usual. It made the choosing even harder, but I’m thrilled with the lineup we’re presenting.
They include The Wallflowers, The Lone Bellow, Valerie June, Tune-Yards, Bartees Strange, Deep Sea Diver, Q, Sam Evian Amythyst Kiah, Songhoy Blues, Neal Francis, Tamar Aphek and Jack Ingram/Miranda Lambert/Jon Randall together.
The World Café taping will be with Japanese Breakfast, Plus, Brandi Carlile will be the NON-COMMversation with me.
7. What else will be a little different?
We won’t be physically in the same place, but we’ll be together. In a lot of ways, this is like a totally new thing … I mean we had the routine parts of throwing the usual NON-COMMvention down pat, but it’s a whole ‘nother thing this year. Our great staff will make it work. We’re gonna have some fun with it. But I do hope this is the first and LAST “virtual” NON-COMM.
8. We’ll still have the Music Meeting, right?
Yes! Of course! Sean Coakley (of Songlines) is the music meeting master, and he’s busy gathering tunes to play as I type this.
9. Tell us about the special award you are creating in memory of Rita Houston.
You know, we had to do something. We all miss Rita very, very much, and I think we have a great salute to her and her contribution to the NON-COMMvention this year when we announce our first recipient of the “Rita Houston Spirit of NON-COMM Award” right before the annual Music Meeting on Thursday afternoon May 6th. We are also planning an addendum to the award that will bring a deserving radio staffer to Philly next year (post-pandemic, fingers crossed). Once again, you can sign up and get all the details on everything at TheTop22.com.
10. So, in 2022 when we can all gather again, THAT will be what you consider to be the 20th anniversary of the NON-COMMvention, right?
Yes. This year is the “Virtual NON-COMM.” Next year, when we all re-convene in Philadelphia (once again, fingers crossed), we’ll hoot n’ holler and celebrate the 20th anniversary. I can’t wait to see everybody live and in person!
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