Barnes storm

More trouble in Boston radioland. Barnes Newberry has left “Highway 61 Revisited” on WUMB (UMass Boston), a Folk-Rock program that he created. I added a comment to the post at the link below:

http://keeppublicradiopublic.com/wumb/

DOuG pRATt, on May 31, 2010 at 4:32 pm Said:

WUMB reception is marginal where I live, so I was listening to “Highway 61 Revisited” on an Internet Wifi radio.

Feeling that I should pay for the privilege of listening to Barnes online every Saturday morning, I sent $100 to WUMB. Two weeks later he was gone. I won’t try to get my money back, but I won’t be giving any more money to WUMB.

Listening to Barnes was part of my Saturday morning routine, and I had wondered for a couple of weeks why former WBCN jock Albert O. was at the helm. I don’t know what led to Barnes Newberry leaving WUMB, but the show was his baby, I enjoyed it, and I miss him.


Follow-up: Lia Pamina comes through again! Thanks to Lia, I am a Facebook friend of Margo Guryan and, as it turns out, so is Barnes Newberry. I’ve written to Barnes and I’m hoping to find out what the heck happened.

19 thoughts on “Barnes storm”

  1. So, now I know. $0.00 for umb from me henceforth. albert o sucks. his show sucks. change the bloody name; you just don’t know.

  2. Jan — Thanks for sharing the letters. Barnes is in DJ limbo for the time being. When he lands a new venue he’ll announce it on Facebook and I’ll post the news here on my site.

  3. This is a letter I wrote Barnes back in 08/07 and his reply below:

    Hi and good morning! I’m writing to thank you all ever so much for the best radio on radio! This past Saturday, I was on the road and of course tuned in to you and I just had to call and compliment the DJ Barnes for the honest-to-god best play list I’ve heard ever! I mean, really, song after song just thrilled me, gave me the chills and brought me way back to a kinder time in all of our lives. Granted, he was celebrating the anniversary of Woodstock and reflecting that celebration in his play list; but Woodstock or not, again what a show!!!!! I enjoy this program so much, am faithful to it; support it when I can, but I just had to send my compliments (although a week late) and let you know that because life is hard, I rely on your Saturday morning show to remind me of how great this all is. So, again, thanks ever so much and although I wanted to tip the DJ for his great work and Saturday morning show, I have put that $50.00 tip aside for this Fall’s campaign and hope that I can actually give more then. Again, thank you, thank you, thank you for making this hard life easier in what seems little ways, but are not. I support your station, listen faithfully through the week and can’t imagine this hectic life without the luxury of your radio programming. Will miss Marilyn, but know that you will continue to give me the best radio on radio! Really, love it all, thanks again Barnes for last Saturday and for each Saturday’s reminder of the richness of past folk rock. Rock on!
    See you this Fall,
    Jan Rentel
    His reply
    Jan:

    Your email to WUMB was just forwarded on to me and I have to say if I ever decide to run for public office, you will be tabbed to run my campaign! Goodness, what a nice, thoughtful email. I am very honored you feel that way about the Saturday morning music choices and it makes me feel particularly chuffed that my selections have had such a positive effect on you.

    What folks do not know is that each and every Saturday the music they hear is not random; in fact, there is a lot of thought that goes into the planning during the week. That music means a lot to me too, and so I feel that it is my duty to present it reverently and lovingly. That isn’t to say, of course, I don’t change my mind during the broadcast and add and delete, but it isn’t just a haphazard delivery. Some songs will resonate with some and not with others, but that is the wonderful nature of music, and especially THAT music we grew up with.

    I really appreciate your note. This public radio work is usually a labor of love that certainly does not see great financial rewards, but the trade off is to get something heartfelt from a listener such as you. I am deeply thankful!

    Thanks too for mentioning the “tip.” You do what you can only when and if you are able. It is also good to see that the boss now knows I am not soliciting handouts!

    Best wishes for a great fall, Jan and it is good to know you are out there tuning in when you can!

    Indeed, rock on!

    Barnes Newberry

    So, now it’s 2010 and where is Barnes? Anybody know if he’s DJ somewhere else, I’ll follow his show if I could find it.
    Awful loss in the folk community and just terrible for public radio.
    🙁 sad, sad, sad

  4. I’ve decided the best thing is for WUMB to continue as it is. If the station succeeds, then fine, but if it doesn’t then UMass will have to replace the present management, the way Jane Christo was forced out of WBUR.

  5. Behind closed doors, she is an arrogant tyrant who has been abusing her staff for nearly 30 years. She accepts nothing less than complete submission from all employees at all times. There is no discussion of issues with her. If an employee disagrees with her, or says something that she doesn’t like, they’re gone, regardless of the quality and popularity of their program, how much pledge money it raises, etc…

    As long as she continues to program the station with her personal vendettas against employees more important to her than what the listeners want and support, and remains completely unwilling to negotiate any differences with employees, the station will continue on its slide downhill and its diminishing listener support. I don’t know how much farther that the grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and bailouts from U. Mass (who don’t want to confront her, and give her carte blanche) can carry the station.

    I’m hoping that it finally implodes under her regime, forcing her to finally give up her tyranny, and that then U. Mass allows the station to become a true community station rather than a fiefdom for an alumni who created it essentially for her own livelihood and a domain to rule. (And, no, I’m not Barnes).

  6. I always pledged to WUMB during Barnes’ show – for 10+ years! I moved away from the area but try to be at my cmputer on Saturday mornings. I’m listening now and feel that Albert O is doing a fine job. But I was curious as to what happened so I just found this blog. I hadn’t heard of Albert O before (my WBCN listening days ended in the 1970’s when I discovered the old WCAS) but I don’t blame him for whatever happened with Barnes.

    I am also a huge fan of Dick Pleasants who has an afternoon show now after many, many years on WUMB in the mornings. Glad he isn’t forced to have a cohost as was imposed on him in the morning.

    I guess Pat Monteith is a good manager although I cringe when she’s at the mic.

    Thanks for giving me a place to share my thoughts about WUMB!

  7. Kay — Barnes told me that he quit WUMB. He could have stayed if he wanted.

    After the puff piece on WUMB that ran in the Boston Globe a week ago last Friday, I decided to simply let go of WUMB. If they really are going in the wrong direction, they’ll see it in their donations. Meanwhile, Barnes is looking for another venue where he can showcase his music collection, and wherever that is, I’ll be there.

  8. I deliberately made my pledge during HW61 only to find that Barnes was relieved of his position extremely shortly afterward. I felt like I’d been “had” so today I sent them a note along with the coupon for my pledge and told them exactly why I’ve decided to rescind it. I STRONGLY dislike Albert O on WUMB and find that I change channels in irritation or play CDs instead. See no reason to spend my $$ on something I will not listen to. This includes Acoustic Sunrise on Sunday a.m. Too bad WUMB. You did have some good things happening there.

  9. Highway 61 and Barnes were my friends for about 5 years on Saturday AM. I’ll miss him. Like you I sent WUMB money about a month before he left, but like you also, that will be the last $ they see from me. The new show on Saturday AM has not been nearly as good.

  10. Barnes’ departure is just the latest incident in a long line of WUMB mis-management. Glad to finally see some public discussion about this publicly funded resource. Wish there were more, like a Facebook group.

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