Arkansas Traveler (radio show)
Encyclopedia
Arkansas Traveler is a long-running bluegrass
show that can be heard on WDET
101.9 FM out of Detroit, Michigan
, United States. Its host is Larry McDaniel, a passionate fan who has an encyclopedic knowledge of the genre. A transplant from Arkansas
, McDaniel has been broadcasting bluegrass over the Detroit airwaves since 1977. Arkansas Traveler is one of the longest running bluegrass shows in the country and the only show of its kind in southeast Michigan.
"Bluegrass is our music," says McDaniel. "It's American. It's like blues or jazz. This music is about roots." (Press Release, Wayne State University
, October 4, 2002).
In September 2004, WDET canceled the program when they experimented with several formatting changes. According to McDaniel, a consultant to the station expressed that although Arkansas Traveler had high Arbitron
numbers, it caused "audience churn", meaning everyone would tune in for the show, and then turn it off again (source). However, after listener pledges dropped significantly through 2005, WDET hired new general manager Michael Coleman, who returned many of the canceled programs to the station. Arkansas Traveler went back on the air on December 17, 2005.
Almost exactly four years later, WDET again canceled the program, citing the program as a "fringe" and "specialty" program. Even though The Arkansas Traveler was at an all time high for both ratings and fund-raising dollars, WDET leadership felt the show sounded too different from their other offerings and therefore had to be eliminated from the broadcast schedule. (http://www.folkslikeus.org/wdet.htm)
On December 19, 2009, WDET "Arkansas Traveler" again aired its final show. (http://www.freep.com/article/20091219/ENT07/912190336/1035/RSS04)
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
show that can be heard on WDET
WDET
WDET-FM is a public radio station in Detroit, Michigan. Licensed to Wayne State University in the city's Cass Corridor neighborhood, about a mile south of the New Center neighborhood, WDET broadcasts original programming as well as shows from National Public Radio, Public Radio International and...
101.9 FM out of Detroit, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, United States. Its host is Larry McDaniel, a passionate fan who has an encyclopedic knowledge of the genre. A transplant from Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, McDaniel has been broadcasting bluegrass over the Detroit airwaves since 1977. Arkansas Traveler is one of the longest running bluegrass shows in the country and the only show of its kind in southeast Michigan.
"Bluegrass is our music," says McDaniel. "It's American. It's like blues or jazz. This music is about roots." (Press Release, Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
, October 4, 2002).
In September 2004, WDET canceled the program when they experimented with several formatting changes. According to McDaniel, a consultant to the station expressed that although Arkansas Traveler had high Arbitron
Arbitron
Arbitron is a consumer research company in the United States that collects listener data on radio audiences. It was founded as American Research Bureau by Jim Seiler in 1949 and became national by merging with L.A. based Coffin, Cooper and Clay in the early 1950s...
numbers, it caused "audience churn", meaning everyone would tune in for the show, and then turn it off again (source). However, after listener pledges dropped significantly through 2005, WDET hired new general manager Michael Coleman, who returned many of the canceled programs to the station. Arkansas Traveler went back on the air on December 17, 2005.
Almost exactly four years later, WDET again canceled the program, citing the program as a "fringe" and "specialty" program. Even though The Arkansas Traveler was at an all time high for both ratings and fund-raising dollars, WDET leadership felt the show sounded too different from their other offerings and therefore had to be eliminated from the broadcast schedule. (http://www.folkslikeus.org/wdet.htm)
On December 19, 2009, WDET "Arkansas Traveler" again aired its final show. (http://www.freep.com/article/20091219/ENT07/912190336/1035/RSS04)