The Music Scout (Alternative)

Author: Jay Goldberg

This is my 20th column. I don't work for Live365 and this is not a paying gig. The original idea was to highlight music that many would not be familiar with. And while that has remained, starting back in September 2022, I made a decision to share my knowledge and experience helping businesses succeed with my fellow radio station owners. Prior to these columns I only shared this information and ideas in venues where I made money (clients of the Not-for-Profit I worked for, my courses, my book, my consulting business). Now I am requesting feedback to determine if my columns are being read, has the business-related content been helpful, and are any stations adding the songs highlighted in the columns.

To accomplish this, I am asking people to anonymously answer a ten-question survey. I appreciate readers taking the time. Thank you in advance for participating. Just click here to submit.

Now onto the music. Mondays through Thursdays on my station I play a show titled “What If New Wave Never Ended.” While there are a lot of different category codes for this 23:59 all day clockwheel show, one is CSNWA (current song new wave artist). I decided that this month the five songs will all be from this category: newer songs from new wave artists.

“Nerves of Steel” by Erasure

This song is from Erasure's 2020 album The Neon. For new wave lovers, the band has stated that they tried to return to their original sound with this album. Vince Clarke used some of his old synths and Andy Bell called it “going back to the beginning.”

“Be a Rebel” by New Order

This song was released as a single in 2020. The current lineup for the band includes all original members except Peter Hook plus Phil Cunningham who replaced Hook and Tom Chapman who along with Cunningham, and Bernard Sumner were in the short-lived but very New Order sounding band, Bad Lieutenant.

“For Her Love” by Sting

This song is from his 2021 album The Bridge. This was his first rock album since 2016. Sting wrote the songs on the album “in a year of global pandemic, personal loss, separation, disruption, lockdown and extraordinary social and political turmoil.” This is an album cut.

“Between the Halo and the Horn” by A-ha

This song is from A-ha's 2022 album True North. While considered a one-hit wonder in the U.S. (“Take on Me”), this band is a giant worldwide and have sold over 100,000,000 units (albums, singles, etc.). The band also has a film with the same title featuring A-ha recording the album.

“Ghosts Again” by Depeche Mode

This song is from Depeche Mode's 2023 album Memento Mori. Depeche Mode is currently down to Dave Gahan and Martin Gore. Of all the songs in this column, this is the only one to make waves on the charts. It reached #2 on the U.S. adult alternative chart.

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