Just learned of a micropower FM station operating out of Richmond, Michigan (which is maybe forty miles northeast of downtown Detroit) called Echo 98.3. It's focusing on Detroit-based performers, with a few national acts thrown in to round things out. If you happen to be within shouting distance of the town clock in Richmond, you can probably pick it up over the air. But if you're from the rest of the world, they're streaming on the Internet at http://www.playmysong.net/index.html.

The tip to this for me came from an article in today's Detroit Free Press, LOCAL MUSIC: Local stations showcasing area musicians need help. Stations WDET and WHFR are raising funds and hosting local music shows to help do this.

Speaking of WDET, their general manager is embroiled in a scandal involving keeping freebies given by sponsors of Michigan Public Radio, where he used to work. That sort of thing is called embezzlement, since radio folks aren't supposed to keep such gifts. Here's the article in today's Free Press: Scandal shakes public radio: Men kept freebies meant for station, prosecutors allege. WDET is already in hot water over the programming changes they instituted last year, dropping the eclectic music for more NPR-like programming.