Features: March 2004 RADIO@AOL puts the focus on females! by Lorraine Devon Wilke

Regardless of what you think of Janet's stunt and how it may ultimately affect the greater good of the world at large, one thing that couldn't escape my radar throughout this imbroglio was the many references to Miz Jackson as an "aging rock star." This gorgeous, 36-year old woman, who can move as well as any teenager and looks better than most, is written off as an "aging rock star?" Criticize her for bad taste, bad judgment, bad bra choices; take issue with her music, the men she dates, even her brother. But what does any of that have to do with her age?

Which brings me to my point. Regardless of progress made, women continue to have to fight for things men take for granted. Like being viewed and judged primarily on our talent and our work, rather than our age, our weight, or our bra size (functioning or not!). Which is why sites like GoGirlsMusic.com are a crucial outlet, an essential lifeline for women in music, giving them a place to share their work, their ideas, their links, etc., with other like-minded, creative women (aging or otherwise)!

In that spirit, I wanted to bring to the attention of GoGirlsMusic.com's members and visitors another very valuable outlet for women's music, the Female Focus station at Radio@AOL, an online broadcast that's available for both AOL users and Internet users at large. AOLRadio@Network, which encompasses Radio@AOL, Radio@AOL for Broadband, Radio@Netscape, and Spinner.com, was ranked as the number one Internet Broadcast Network last year in the Arbitron Internet Broadcast Ratings, translating into an enormous listening public getting their music through the Internet.

For AOL users, the Female Focus station can be found by going to the Radio@AOL player, clicking on "Alt/Hard Rock" category, then scrolling down to "Female Focus." For listeners who are not on AOL, it is available in the same place on the Radio@Netscape player, a free web version at www.radio.netscape.com.

"Female Focus," according to the AOLRadio@Network music director, "has great success with the rootsy, bluesy, ballsy female vocalists," playing artists as diverse as The Indigo Girls, Dionne Farris, and P.J. Harvey. Listeners can rate the songs they hear, giving new artists a much-welcomed push, as well as showing support for their known favorites. You can also find the work of an eclectic mix of female musicians on another of their online stations, Urban Divas, featuring soul and hip-hop artists.

I believe it's essential that as female musicians we not only actively support these outlets by tuning in, but by additionally taking the time to write, send ideas, thoughts, requests, etc., so that stations like Female Focus know they've got enthusiastic, involved listeners out there, giving them a reason to maintain and continue their support of women's music.

On a personal note, two songs from my recently released indie CD, Richer For Rain, recorded with my project ROAD TO BLUE, are currently spinning at Female Focus. "Misguided" and "Richer For Rain" were chosen based on the music director's perspective that they "will sound very nice next to the likes of Melissa Etheridge and Lucinda Williams." I invite you to listen and rate. Send comments and requests for more spins to radiocomments@aol.com. And then visit my website at www.roadtoblue.com to learn more about what it is I do and if you're so inspired, pick up a copy of Richer For Rain. I'd love for you to hear it, y'know...before I get too old!

ABOUT LORRAINE DEVON WILKE A veteran of the Los Angeles music scene, ROAD TO BLUE's Lorraine Devon Wilke first got noticed as a young singer/songwriter when her original band, DEVON, built a loyal following during the wild and wooly 80's, playing the famed circuit from Madame Wong's and FM Station to The Lingerie, Sasch, and The Palace. Writing, recording, and performing songs that were a distinctive mix of New Wave rock and soul, DEVON was an industry and club favorite, drawing regional and international recognition along the way. Later collaborating with Rod Stewart bandmates, Kevin Savigar and Jim Cregan, in a project called THIRD PERSON, Devon Wilke worked with some of rock industry's best, co-writing and recording songs that have appeared in numerous film soundtracks and performed around the world. Adding filmmaking to her resume in the 90's, Devon Wilke co-wrote the screenplay and much of the soundtrack of indie hit To Cross the Rubicon, which starred acclaimed singer/songwriter J.D. Souther and featured the venerable David Crosby. Her indie CD, a roots/rock/r&b collection called Richer For Rain has just been completed with her project ROAD TO BLUE, garnering radio play, much Internet traffic, and a loyal following. Devon Wilke is currently promoting that record as well as working on new material for both song and film. Visit www.roadtoblue.com for details and information on how to purchase Richer For Rain.