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NPR Debuts “The Latin Alternative” Microstream on NPRMusic.org
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Tagged: Josh Norek, NPR, radioListen to “The Latin Alternative” NPR Microstream Here: www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=131069318
“The Latin Alternative,” the country’s first nationally syndicated public radio show specializing in Latin rock, funk, hip-hop and electronic music, has been chosen by NPR to be a featured stream on its highly-trafficked NPRMusic.org site for two weeks starting on November 8th. With the show already airing on 12 radio stations nationwide, the dedicated NPR microstream (entitled “The Latin Alternative 101”) stands to boost “The Latin Alternative” to its widest listenership yet.
“The Latin Alternative” is co-hosted by two of the genre’s leading experts, Josh Norek (co-founder of the Latin Alternative Music Conference, VP of Nacional Records and frontman of Latino-Jewish rap group Hip Hop Hoodíos) and Ernesto Lechner (contributing writer for Rolling Stone, LA Times, & Chicago Tribune and author of the book ‘Rock en Español: The Latin Alternative Rock Explosion’).
With about 40% of all U.S. Latin Alternative music sales taking place in California, many program listeners are surprised to learn that ‘The Latin Alternative’ originates from the unlikely city of Albany, NY. “I grew up in ‘Smallbany’ and couldn’t wait to get out of there in my youth,” says Norek. “It was not the most culturally open-minded place when I was growing up. Fast forward by a decade, and the city now has an amazing public radio station in WEXT 97.7.” A relatively new station, WEXT launched in 2007 and quickly embraced artists like Manu Chao, Juana Molina, and Rodrigo y Gabriela. Says WEXT program director Chris Wienk, “When we launched the station in 2007, we were surprised to discover that there were no syndicated Latin alternative public radio shows we could pick up to air. So we thought ‘why not create one ourselves? We’ll have Josh Norek host it.”
The music selected for “The Latin Alternative” microstream on NPR Music reflects some of the hosts’ favorite songs in the genre. Selections range from classic global hits like Manu Chao’s “Clandestino” and Los Fabulosos Cadillacs’ “Matador” to newer artists like Bomba Estereo and Mexican Institute of Sound who fuse traditional styles such as cumbia and norteño with electronica, disco, rap and rock elements. “This is a genre that requires no understanding of Spanish,” says Wienk. “As long as you have a heartbeat and even the slightest sense of rhythm, you’ll love Latin Alternative music.”
For information about ‘The Latin Alternative’ & WEXT, please contact Chris Wienk – cwienk@wmht.org – 518.880.3400
For syndication inquiries, please contact Josh Norek – josh@jnmediagroup.com – 323.496.9662
Listen to “The Latin Alternative” NPR Microstream Here: www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=131069318
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Posted on: November 9th, 2010Curation from Tomás
Filed Under: Cultura, Cultura Essentials, Cultura News, Musica, Press Releases
