Thanks for Reading

Throughout the semester, I have been authoring weekly blogs, aligning with 97.3 The Dial’s weekly theme. Themes were of different music genres, in support of the fact, The Dial radio, features music of all genres from all decades. With each promoted genre we featured a local artist(s), that not only created music belonging to these different genres, but also volunteered in some form in our community. The genres included, Hip Hop, Grunge, Country, Indie Rock, Bluegrass, EDM, Jazz, Classical Music, and Reggae.   

As a digital marketing student, the purpose of blogging first and foremost was a learning experience for myself.  Secondly, to educate our readers, while creating interesting and entertaining content. All the while, reflecting our company’s personality. And finally, to promote and increase brand awareness of 97.3 The Dial, while gaining subscribers, and increasing traffic and awareness to our other social media sites. While projecting a consistent brand image.

This has been a lot of hard work, managing this account and I would like to thank all of you for spending time, reading, and supporting 97.3 The Dial’s weekly blog.

Reggae Music

Reggae music emerged in Jamaica in the late 1960s. A genre derived from Ska and Rocksteady, Reggae, defined popular Jamaican dance music. The word Reggae- evolved from the term, “rege-rege,” which translates to; rags, or ragged clothing. The voice of Reggae was initially about love, then evolving into not only romantic love, but cosmic and spiritual love. Some would say that the word reggae came from a Spanish word meaning, The King’s Music or To The King.

The most influential Reggae musician, (in my opinion) Bob Marley, sang songs about social justice, love, fighting for what you believe in, refugees, religion, and mental health. This genre of music can often be described as being led by drum and bass, with offbeat rhythms, shortened guitar chords, a medium tempo, and engaging relatable lyrics.

This week’s featured artist and studio artist, The Reymons, are the latest band making waves on the area’s local music scene. 

The Reymons are very and are very involved in our community. Owners of, One Love, a local business in the area, sells traditional Jamaican clothing, jewelry, art, and literature. They also teach the youth in the area how to play traditional instruments (some of which are completely volunteer based) and inform the area about Jamaican culture by hosting monthly workshops. They believe this is there way of keeping the Jamaican spirit alive.

Pay attention to the band called, The Reymons, because they put on a family friendly performance no one wants to miss. 

Like our other social media pages to stay current on local band, The Reymons.

Tune in to 97.3 The Dial, The Sounds You love. 

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Sophisticated Instrumental Music

Classical music, often paired with opera is a form of sophisticated instrumental music. Dating back over a thousand years to the mid-evil times, classical music is yet another vast genre of music and one of my all-time favorite genres. Like any other genre of music Classical music tells a story.

Some of the most famous composers of the Classical era such as Johann Christian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart were musical geniuses. Many musicians in our current day spend years learning their work, trying to become the greatness before them. The many eras of Classical music birthed several phenomenal composers, in fact, too many to list.

We are pleased to announce this week are featured artist’s and studio artists, of the Classical music genre, Clear Water Symphony. The 52 member symphony is extraordinary to say the least.

Every year, the group holds a Gala in efforts to raise money to benefit the Arts and Music programs for the area schools. 

All week we will be featuring, Clear Water Symphony, on all of our social media accounts. Like and follow are pages and don’t forget to check out our website so you can score tickets to be a part of our live studio audience.

There is still time so if you haven’t yet, get out there and cast your vote.

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Improvisation Expression

Influenced by Blues and Ragtime, Jazz emerged in the 1920’s in New Orleans. Jazz is not easily defined and the simplest definition I have found still had to be translated. These are my findings; Melodies that are often interrupted with rhythmic stresses where they wouldn’t normally occur. Additionally, Jazz musicians often play independent melodies simultaneously, with intense timbre and pitch. It is not uncommon for a musician to become one with their instrument and perform solos with improvised expression.

This week we are featuring local artists, Mr. Jones and Friends. Originally, from the New Orleans area and influenced by the likes of BB King and Louis Armstrong, a Jazz visionary, was considered the father of modern jazz improvisation. Mr. Jones and Friends, developed their own unique styles of improvisation and are not a show you want to miss. 

We will be featuring Mr. Jones and Friends on all of our social media sites this week. Click the links and like our pages to find out about Mr. Jones and Friends.

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The Electronic Dance Music Wave

Emerging in the late 80s and 90s, Electronic Dance Music (EDM) is a subgenre in a wide spectrum of Percussive Electronic Music genres. For example, house, techno, trance, drum and bass, dubstep, and all of their subgenres, belong within the Percussive Electronic Dance Music genre.  

Produced for the pleasure of our dancing-based, club scene entertainment. This type of music is either a playback, which means, the original DJ or DJ’s that have permission, play the previously recording mix. Or, sometimes spectators are lucky enough to be at a club or festival when a DJ produces a live set of their own dance music and mixes all of our favorite songs with the type of beats we like to dance to.

Our featured artist and studio artist, DJ Cumulus, is making a name for himself on the local music scene. Editing mixes for many local establishments to play on their busiest nights. DJ Cumulus, born and raised in the Eau Claire area, found his passion for music the first time he went to a professional baseball game and heard an EDM based instrumental used to pump up the crowd.

Today DJ Cumulus is the most requested DJ on the night life scene. Whether a live performance or a playback, DJ Cumulus mix’s popular mainstream songs, with energized beats and flawless audio transitions to create continuous tracks.

This week we will be featuring DJ Cumulus on all of our social media sites, follow the links and like our pages to stay current with all things DJ Cumulus.

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Have You Noticed a Pattern?

Mountain music, rooted from Ireland, Scotland, and England, in the 1600s, evolved into what is now considered Bluegrass. In the 1939, the father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe formed a band called, “Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys.”

Today’s bluegrass music is usually played on acoustic string instruments. Specifically, the fiddle, banjo, guitar, bass guitar, and the mandolin. The Bluegrass genre is widely diverse and can range from Jazz to Celtic music, and is influenced from traditional Country Music, mainstream, or Rock and Roll.

I don’t know If our readers have noticed a pattern or not yet. We like to feature local artists that are involved in the community. It is a lot of work to continually improve our community and we appreciate all that our featured artists accomplish, beyond creating soul satisfying music.

This week we are featuring, local artists, Wispy Mallow. Influenced from the father of Bluegrass himself. Their harmonious vocals and acoustic vibrations flowing from their stringed instruments will get any crowd moving. Not only does Wispy Mallow create this ear pleasing noise, they volunteer at the nursing homes in the area. Playing tunes for the residents and hosting game nights that are, according to the residents, the highly anticipated event of the week. We at the Dial love the idea of helping our older generation continue to have joy in their lives.

Tune In to 97.3 The Dial, The Sounds You Love. 

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Can you Differentiate Indie Music?

Indie Rock is a vast genre and is generally referred to in sub-genres, like, Indie Electronic, Indie Folk, Indie Rock, and Indie Pop. A major trait that pertains to Indie Music is the ability of the artist or band to remain independent. A do-it-yourself mind set, and low-budget labels can be translated as “independent.” As ample as this genre is, so is the range of what each artist or band can do and because of this the flexibility bands don’t always appeal to mainstream audiences. Thus, keeping them non-corporate, or in other words, independent.

Indie Electronic became popular in the early 2000’s when home recording software and soft synthesizers (softsynth) became favored. Softsynth is a computer program or plug-in that generates digital audio, most often for music.

Inspired by folk music artist’s like Joni Mitchell and Pete Seeger, Indie Folk rise was in the early 2000s. Examples of Indie Folk groups are Lumineers and Mumford and Son’s. The wide variety of the sound is a trait in this subgenre, from acoustics to electronic beats from the softsynth.

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Indie Pop is the most melodic of the Indie sub-genres. The softer side, which emphasizes on harmonies, arrangements, and the overall craft of creating a song. A mix of instrumentals from orchestral classics to the hip and funky sounds of pop. Bands like MGMT, Fitz and Tantrums, 21 Pilots, and Alt J reflect this sound.

Indie Rock stems from the punk-rock or grunge genre’s approach. The sound can be described as distorted guitar riffs, intense drumming, emotional lyrics, with harmonious vocals.

The weeks featured artist’s, Obsolete, tend to drift towards the Indie Pop group. With soft melodies flowing from the acoustic guitar, harmonious vocals, rhythmic drumming and softsynth beats make any listener start to sway along to the music.  Born and raised in Eau Claire, band members of Obsolete, met at the EauX Claire music festival hosted by non-other than Eau Claire’s, Bon Iver. Moved by their experience and passion for music the four members started a music group and have taken off, creating a buzz on the local music scene.  Don’t miss your chance to watch this group perform, because we are almost certain they will become a favorite.