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From News Wire: Classic rock radio assists to enslave laborersLynard Skynard's "Free Bird", The Eagle's "Hotel California" and Steve Miller Band's "The Joker" - these songs are often played more than three times each day on classic rock radio stations all across the nation. One researcher has discovered that this contributes to arrested cultural development in many working class citizens. "Blue collar Americans need to be liberated from on the job exposure of repetitious classic rock." says psychologist, Dr. William Brugger, of the University of Minnesota Brugger has conducted research that shows prolonged overexposure to classic rock radio can hinder a listener's desire to expand their interest in other music and ideas. The study also revealed that air-play of popular songs by Bob Seger, Pink Floyd, and the Rolling Stones are preferred by the management of many companies that employ workers involved in repetitious tasks. Popular songs by these traditional rock and roll artists are known for enhancing worker complacency. The results of the two year study leads Brugger to believe that so called classic rock music keeps a worker's psyche numb and sedate. Pink Floyd's "Money", which opens with a trance inducing rhythm of a cash register, reminds workers why they work. The Rolling Stone's "Satisfaction", affirms that a worker can't "get no satisfaction", therefore finding alternative work is futile. "Free Bird", Lynard Skynard's blue collar anthem, meanders through the sub-concious of thousands of laborers daily as they toil at their work stations. The song subliminally suggests to the listener that their job IS freedom. "Some workers know the entire lyrics to Hotel California." says Brugger. "You can check out anytime you like but you can never leave" is a line in the song that reinforces acceptance of ones tedious work. The repetitious air-play of classic rock music is a fore-shadowing of the drudgery millions of people face on the job. What Dr. Brugger finds personally appalling is the way classic rock radio stations overplay the music while presenting it as modern and fresh. "Bob Seger's 'Against the Wind', is a perfect metaphor for those that toil without promotion. Yet the (classic rock radio) station morning crew introduces this song with unnecessary exuberance." he says. One would expect many working class citzens to revolt against this genre of music after more than twenty-five years of continuous exposure. "I wouldn't call people sheep but our marketing research has shown that working Americans ususally like whatever their fellow working Americans like - in this case good old fashioned rock and roll." says Clear Channel Communications marketing agent, Brian Warver. Clear Channel Communications owns scores of radio stations that feature the classic rock format. Warver says that Americans can hear forty or fifty of the most non-offensive mediocre rock tunes ever broadcasted, over and over and over and over and over again, year after year after year, in every major city in the U.S. "We give 'em what they want and someday we may be the only provider." Dr. Brugger's research does reveal that those who are overexposed to classic rock radio actually enjoy hearing the same music in their free time. That evidence is revealed upon walking into most blue collar bars he says. "Before an hour passes one will have heard 'Old Time Rock and Roll', 'Ramblin' Man' and 'Sweet Home Alabama'". he concludes. Turn it up, rock is dead.
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