The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia • 212

ARTS The Atlanta Journal-Constitution oarts RADIOACTIVE: Surfing soundwaves, online and off SAVE TIME ONLINE All stories and URLs in this column are one click away on ajccomenew Americana fans feeling so blue ACROSS THE DIAL "1ST L2 Sunday, April 8. 200 1 AM STATIONS 1 1 kf 1 nmr ew JOEY IVANSCO Staff Genevieve McGillicuddy directs the Atlanta Film Video Festival. BIGWIG BOOKMARK: GENEVIEVE McGILLICUDDY any song title from the golden age of Top 40 radio, and he can tell you the artist and probably the year the tune was a hit He has built the WMLB WKGE music library to 9,000 titles, going so far as to buy hard-to-find tunes, such as music by the original Tarns, on vinyl at Eat More Records in Gwinnett County. McCarter says management decided to go with the classic oldies format because "there was nobody else in this market doing it." But WMLB Program Director Johnson and fans of Americana music are asking, "Why didn't the new owners give Americana a chance and simulcast WMLB's alternative country on the two stations?" After years of having that format available only in the northern suburbs, a simulcast would have finally brought Americana music within listening range of intown Atlanta. "The audience for that Americana is much smaller than the audience for what we have now," McCarter says.

"In my opinion, it's a great format that's not commercially viable." Too bad we can't have both. As the largest city in the South, Atlanta should be a leader when it comes to exposing Americana. For the most part, these artists make critically acclaimed music that's real country a sound that's being lost as regional identities in the United States disappear. With the growing acoustic scene happening at places such as Swallow at the Hollow in Roswell (whose acts are booked by the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville), there was a great opportunity to boost the format here. The new "Twins" should be applauded for bringing something completely new to the market, and for finally recognizing that people over 50 listen to the radio.

Too bad it had to come at the expense of the richly creative Americana format. Nancy Johnson, program director of Cumming's award-vanning Americana station WMLB1170 AM, woke up Monday morning at her home in Gainesville, flipped on the radio and was stunned at what she heard. Instead of the alternative country music the station had been playing for six years from artists such as Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams and Rodney Crowell it was the Drifters singing their 1963 Top 40 hit "On Broadway." Literally overnight, WMLB had become a classic oldies station. The change caught listeners by. surprise.

Since 1995, the little station in Curnming had earned a reputation as one of the best Americana stations in the country. Its very loyal audience loved not only the alternative country music, they embraced its Mayberry-esque chat on shows such as "Swap Shop" and its church bulletin announcements (now gone). Nashville artists appearing at venues such as Variety Playhouse often stopped by WMLB when they were in town. The station had made a mark. Here's what happened: On April 2, WMLB was acquired by local radio entrepreneur Billy Corey, who also owns WKGE1160 AM.

For three years, WKGE has been broadcasting classic country. But with the acquisition of WMLB, Corey yanked both formats and began simulcasting oldies music, dating from roughly 1950 to 1970. The stations are being called "The Twins: Classic 1160 and Classic 1170." Within the next year, WKGE's signal will jump from 10,000 watts to 50,000 watts, which will mean "the Twins" will be heard all over the metro area. Since oldies station Fox 97 plays only major hits from the mid-to-late '60s, "me Twins" offer music not found on any other station in Atlanta. Driving around the Perimeter ON RADIO MIRIAM LONGINO e-mail: mlonginoajc.com recently, I heard "Palisades Park" by Freddy Cannon, "Galveston" by Glen Campbell, "Chantilly Lace" by the Big Bopper, "Hawaii Five-O" by the Ventures, "Suspicion" by Terry Stafford, "Little GTO" by Ronnie and the Daytonas and "Yes I'm Ready" by Barbara Mason.

I couldn't pick up either 1160 or 1170 in my house (which is inside the Perimeter). Some radio listeners over 50 seem delighted to have found a station geared to their tastes. And, indeed, music on "the Twins" is fun, unpredictable and full of guilty-pleasure tunes you haven't heard in years. "Finally we have two frequencies playing adult standards. It's great!" says Al Hardee of Lawrence ville.

"They have a nice blend of '50s and good '60s, like Peter and Gordon and Dean Martin. I'm sure glad they're making this move." But, as you can well imagine, Americana fans are crushed. "I have lost an oasis on the radio dial," says longtime WMLB listener Ansley Jimmerson. "Some brainchild has taken a unique format and changed it into Muzak. To the person responsible for this, you deserve to.

be tied to a chair and force-fed 'Born Free' all the days of your boring life." That person would be Ron McCarter, general manager of "the Twins." McCarter, 58, is a broadcasting executive who is also a voracious record collector. Name just about When Genevieve McGillicuddy, director of the Atlanta Film Video Festival, isn't hunting down another interesting documentary for Image FilmVideo Center's annual June event, you might find her online in search of her favorite tea bag, from Tealuxe in Boston. "You can only get it on the Web," says McGillicuddy, 29. For this summer's 25th annual festival, McGillicuddy has landed the U.S. premiere of Jeroen Berkvens' "A Skin Too Few: The Days of Nick Drake," a documentary about the musician who did "Pink Moon" from the popular Volkswagen commercial.

Here are some of McGillicuddy's favorite Web sites: www.cooksillustrated.com What's a chocoholic to do? Bake cookies and brownies. And when not eating, look up the Internet version of Cook's Illustrated magazine. "It's for people who not only love to cook but want to perfect recipes and find out information on how scientific things affect cooking. Plus, the site and the magazine accept no advertising." www.tealuxe.com McGillicuddy's a pushover for Blue Flower Earl Grey tea. She discovered it at WDUN(5S0) Newstalk WDWD (590) Radio Disney WPLO (610) -Spanish WGST" (640) Newstalk WCNN (680) -Sportstalk WSB" (750) Newstalk Sportstalk WAEC (860) -Christian WAFS (920) Christian WNIV (970) Christian talk WGUN (1010) -Variety WPBS (1050) Gospel WFTD (1080) -Christian WWWE(II00)-Spanish WKGE (1 1 60) Classic country WMLB (1 170) -Americana (alternative country) WGKA 1 1 90) Christian WTJH (1260) -Gospel WCHK(I290) NewsTalk WPBC(I3I0) Korean WALR(I340)- Contemporary gospel WAOK(I380)- Gospeltalk WNIV 1 400) Christian WATB (1420) Spanish Southern Gospel WXEM (1460) -Spanish WYZE (1480) -Gospel WDPC(I500)-Gospel WDCY(I520)-Gospel WAZX (1 550) Hispanic WSSA(I570)-Christian WAOS (1600) -Spanish FM STATIONS newsclassical WRAS'" (88.S) Diversified rock (Georgia State University) WRFGV" (89.3) Jazz, blues, Afro-pop, bluegrass, folk, acoustic, latin, Indian newsclassical WREK" Diversified (Georgia Tech) Christian WCLK (91.9) -Jazzsoul (Clark Atlanta University) Contemporaryoldies WZGCV" ()- Classic rock Christian rock WKLS" (96.1)- Rock Rhythmicdance Oldies Hip-hoprap WSB" (98.5) Adult contemporary WNNX" (99.7) -New rock WNSYV" (100.1)- Oldles WWWQ" (100.5)-Top40 WGHR (100.7) -Diverse WKHX" (101.5) Country WGHR Diverse WAZX (101.9) Hispanic WLKQ" (102.3)- Oassic oldies Top 40 WVEE" (1 03.3) Urban Top 40 adultoldies WFSH" (104.7)- Contemporary Christian WMXV (105.7) -70s, '80s and '90s rock WYAY" (106.7)-Traditional country WTSH (107.1) Country WAMJ (107.5) -RAB oldies STEREO "ON THE WEB ON THE WEB: What do you think? Read more and talk to us at: www.ajc.comIinks broader classical horizon Hi i a i a Tealuxe shop in Boston, and the Web is her pipeline to well-brewed relaxation.

"They've got lots of tea accessories and hundreds of kinds of teas." www.hkpop.com "I have this thing for Chinese pop music, especially Saye Wang. She's been a Hong Kong pop star for about 10 years. When I can't find her albums on Buford Highway, I order them here." www.lonelyplanet.com "It's a great resource for traveling to out-of-the-way places. I used it on several trips to Eastern Europe the last few years: Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Germany. It's got a terrific bulletin board and guide series." www.indiewire.com "A great resource to links on current articles about independent films." www.ebay.com "I buy vintage cookbooks by the dozen." She has a collection of about 400 and growing most published between 1910 and 1950.

"It's a reflection of society at that time. Some are really a hoot." One is titled "Recipes Husbands Like." She's also found a cookbook of nothing but coconut recipes. Bob Longino net. Not all the articles in the tabloids are off the wall, though. Stories about Jesse Jackson's love child and the Clinton pardons appeared in the tabs before the mainstream press caught up with them.

But don't expect such breaking news on a regular basis. Like their print versions, the articles in the online tabs rarely live up to the hype of the headlines. To save time, check out Jennifer Mendelsohn's review of the scandal sheets in "Keeping Tabs" on Slate. DonO'Briant www.slate.msn.com redirect1 astentry.asp www.nationalenquirer.com www.starmagazine.com www.megastar.com.uk ENQUIRER KJ (SEP jf I Symphony e-sales For the first time, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is seeing a windfall of season ticket renewals over the Internet. The orchestra has sold one-third of its ticket renewals for next season via e-mail, compared with 4 percent last year, by using a customized process that sends personalized information to subscribers who provide their e-mail addresses.

"It's made getting to us easier," says Charlie Wade, the ASO's vice president for marketing and communications. It also has saved the organization about $2,000 in printing and mailing costs. Wade knew something was clicking when the orchestra received about $20,000 worth of ticket purchases the first day it offered renewals online. "It's easier to respond to us. People just seem to like it a lot" As for overall sales for the 2001-02 season, Wade says the orchestra is "running well ahead of last year." Tom Sabulis www.atlantasymphony.org YOUR GUIDE TO THE INTERNET: WEEK OF 4.08.01 BEST SITES OF THE WEEK Surfing to a Metro Atlanta classical music fans aren't exactly spoiled for choices when it comes to radio.

Public radio and weekly shows on college stations are about the extent of it. Online, it's a different story. The classical options don't exactly rival the pop offerings, but there's a much wider selection on the Web. Here are some of the more interesting sites for the classical aficionado. Beethoven.com (www.beethoven The playlist looks a bit unadventurous, but this Internet-only station must be doing some- -thing right It topped the December Arbitron Webcast Ratings.

We get large helpings of the station's namesake, along with Bach, Mozart and Tchaikovsky. PachelbeFs overexposed "Canon" and Barber's "Adagio for Strings" are typical fare. The selections are nice and familar. If that's what you're looking for, this is the place to turn. KING-FM (www.king.org) Seattle-based KING was the Northwest's first FM radio station, originating more than 50 years ago; The shows are mostly of local origin, including broadcasts of the Seattle Opera.

"Command Performance" (noon-4 p.m. Sundays) takes requests via phone and e-mail. BY JON IUDWIG SPACE! plete with a "final four," just like the similarly named competition involving dribbling college jocks. The final four here: Bach, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and, strangely enough, Haydn, his strong showing due to an early-round loss by Mozart. BBC Radio 3 (www.bbc.co.uk radio3) Britain's Radio 3 resembles American public radio in its mixture of classical music, jazz and high-culture magazine-type programs.

On the other hand, Radio 3's musical lineup is both forward-looking and history-conscious. U.S. public radio has rarely been accused of being forward-looking in its musical offerings. WQXR-FM (www.wqxr.com) For more adventurous programming on this side of the Atlantic, head over to New York City's WQXR. In the overnight hours of a recent day (March 31), the music included Russian Anatoly Lyadov's 1910 tone poem "Kikimora" and 20th-century Briton Sir George Dyson's "Concerto da Camera." The next morning dawned with a Mozart sonata alongside Dutchman Cornells Doppers Symphony No.

7. Though WQXR, like many classical stations, can be heavy on the pastoral, it has a more interesting mix than most. tot, P'l'T'vc' Tickets on sale now! Donald "In Light: Southern Jazz Is one art forms and has been Mb Ellington clmographer Investigation Saturday, ON WEB RADIO SHANE HARRISON e-mail: sharrisonajc.com Checking out playlists turns up a day apparently dedicated to celebrating composers whose last names begin with This Friday, you can hear pieces by Zelenka, Zarebski and Zavateri, along with other lesser-known composers and the inevitable Tchaikovsky. WGMS-FM (www.wgms.com) This D.C. station is big on the war-horses of the classical repertoire, judging by last Tuesday's offerings.

There's Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 the New Mozart's "Eine kleine Nachtmusik" and more Tchaikovsky than can possibly be good for you in one sitting. That day marked the finals of the station's NCCA (National Classical Compos- ers Association) Tournament, com Join some friendly ETs for a fan-filled tour of the cosmos. April 12 thru June 9 Gall 404.873.3391 for tickets. Advance purchase recommended as many shovo sell out 1404 Spring St, Midtown www.puppet.ory ita Corfctitutjon 4 TV: Early-bird Easter You can preview the Discovery Channel's Easter special, "Jesus: The Complete Story" (8-11 p.m.

April 15), at the cable network's Web site. The show takes a different look at the life of Christ and already has spun off photos of a new likeness of him. You can view that reproduction and several others by clicking the "Faces of Jesus" link. You also can e-mail questions to biblical scholar James Charles-worth of Princeton Theological Seminary, who is featured in the special. Answers will be published on the Web site April 18.

The site also offers live images of Jerusalem via the Western Wall cam. John Druckenmiller dsc.discovery.comconvergence esusjesus.html TABLOIDS: The creative press No longer do you need to suffer the embarrassment of getting caught reading the tabloids while waiting in the grocery checkout line. Now you can catch the latest gossip and rumors about the plot to kidnap Russell Crowe or the story behind the alien abduction of Elvis on the Inter BEST LIVE EVENTS I sippi presents a 3 Merle Haggard. presents a ton of hits. 3 p.m.

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