Leave it to Little Steven to take a major step designed to engage young people to appreciate Rock and its rich history and heritage. While it’s great that video games like Guitar Hero glorify the music, or that TV programs like CSI and half the commercials we see use Rock music as their soundtracks, our friend Steven Van Zandt has a new initiative that you should know about that takes Rock right to America’s classrooms.
Steven’s plan is to create a 40 chapter course (DVDs, CDs, web) for all of the U.S.’s middle and high schools – at no charge. The idea is to teach about the roots of Rock, and the course actually has the blessing of The National Association for Music Education. Working with Scholastic to make sure the course meets all the guidelines, Steven is in the process of enlisting rock journalists and players to participate.
It’s interesting that in the midst of a youth crisis for both broadcast and Rock radio, the solutions could come from some unlikely sources – the video game industry through games like Guitar Hero and now Rock Band, as well as initiatives like this one from Steven. As the struggle continues to keep young Americans interested in both radio and Rock, this is a venture that every Rock radio station should and could support.
As more and more young people in America begin to discover the roots of Rock and its rich heritage, it benefits all of us working inside and on the fringes of the music business. Steven lives by the Lou Reed credo that his "life was saved by Rock n’ Roll." As he has done during the past several years, he continues to turn the tables and make an important contribution.
Rock on, Little Steven.
Jacobs Media has consistently walked the walk in the digital space, providing insights and guidance through its well-read national Techsurveys.
In 2008, jacapps was launched - a mobile apps company that has designed and built more than 1,300 apps for both the Apple and Android platforms. In 2013, the DASH Conference was created - a mashup of radio and automotive, designed to foster better understanding of the "connected car" and its impact.
Along with providing the creative and intellectual direction for the company, Fred consults many of Jacobs Media's commercial and public radio clients, in addition to media brands looking to thrive in the rapidly changing tech environment.
Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
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