...what on earth next? A weekly electro show across all US stations? Perhaps a gothic-disco show on a Sunday night? Who would have though aye? They're starting to feel the heat.

Wall Street Journal 13/9/2005---------

Clear Channel Communications Inc. is launching a program that will use its radio stations' Web sites to highlight the work of little-known and unsigned musicians across a variety of genres.

DJs will talk up the programming on air, directing listeners to a local Clear Channel radio Web site to hear it. Some stations also may play the music on air.

In recent years, radio has come under fire for tightening playlists and too much repetition. But Evan Harrison, head of Clear Channel's Online Music and Radio unit, says the move is less a response to criticism than it is an expression of a personal goal of his: to spread the word about new music. "I decided I needed to do something with developing artists, both for the music community and our listeners," says Mr. Harrison, who spent several years early in his career promoting artists at record label BMG.

The program, called New!, will offer on-demand music from more than 80 artists every three months. About 16 artists with record deals will get plum positions online, including an artist-produced home video, five streaming tracks, and a link to their own Web site. An additional 20 or so artists with record deals each will get one track.

About 50 unsigned artists from the Web site GarageBand.com each will get five streaming tracks and a link to the GarageBand.com site for more information. GarageBand helps promote new music by letting musicians submit material to the site for review by other musicians and the site's members.