NOVEMBER 8, 2010 - Back in 2008, the word "change" to me was merely that inescapable one-word slogan for the OBAMA campaign. but in the two years following his victory, "change" - whether it be good or bad - became something that I had to learn to live with. In the span of two years, ROCKWIRED lost its weekly radio show, ended its association with the AMERICAN RADIO NETWORK, moved its base of operations from Southern California to New Mexico and continued on as an online music magazine. The economic crisis has hit everyone and ROCKWIRED was certainly not immune to the pinch but when money is tight and the freedom and flexibility that tons of cash can give you is gone, a funny thing happens - you start getting creative.

After downloading AUDACITY software, making upgrades to to my web service plan and finding an old microphone that I purchased years ago for a journalism class, I got the idea stuck in my head that ROCKWIRED was going to return to online radio and it did on April 30, 2010 with the launch of the 90 minute weekly show ROCKWIRED RADIO. The weekly edition ran for ten weeks before the show expanded into a daily 40 minute show entitled ROCKWIRED RADIO PROFILES. Each edition features music and exclusive interviews with some of the most fascinating voices in independent music. Since the inception of ROCKWIRED RADIO PROFILES, I have been pleased to have welcomed such wonderful artists to the show as NEVERWONDER, LUKAS ROSSI, VTG, BETH THORNLEY, CIRCLEDOWN, DELANEY GIBSON, AMERICAN HI-FI, DEBORA IYALL, HANDFUL OF LUVIN', CONCRETE BLONDE, GOLD MOTEL, THE MIRCALE DOLLS, MAD PLANET and more. In August of 2010, ROCKWIRED.COM permanently changed its format from that of an online music magazine to an online radio station. Personally, I feel as if ROCKWIRED.COM has finally become the sort of endeavor that I had dreamt it would become. It is now a forum to hear great music and is also a place where artists can go to speak openly and honestly about their craft. The establishment of ROCKWIRED RADIO PROFILES has given ROCKWIRED and myself a whole new lease on life and the confidence to grow creatively.

A new addition to ROCKWIRED.COM is our ARTIST OF THE MONTH campaign. Every month, seven artists who have been featured on ROCKWIRED  are nominated and listeners get the chance to vote for their favorite artist thanks to MICROPOLL.COM. Our first campaign was launched in October and resulted in singer JANE BADLER being selected as ROCKWIRED's NOVEMBER ARTIST OF THE MONTH. Winners of this title receive a free month-long advertising campaign on ROCKWIRED.COM which features an attractive banner ad placement  throughout the website and a :60 second radio commercial spot which is featured in every edition of ROCKWIRED RADIO PROFILES for an entire month. The winner is also featured in all ROCKWIRED-related press releases and in a special ARTIST OF THE MONTH edition of ROCKWIRED RADIO PROFILES. With our first ARTIST OF THE MONTH campaign out of the way and a new one beginning, I am anxious to keep this new monthly event going.

Christmas has always been my favorite holiday but I never had the time or the resources to come up with a great Christmas show. This year, I intend to make up for all of the years past with THE ROCKWiRED CHRISTMAS BLAST . Oh boy! I wish I could tell you who we've got lined up for this extravaganza but you're just going to have to wait until the week of the 25th. If I learned anything as a kid, I learned that it wasn't wise to peak at your Christmas presents.

In the New Year, ROCKWIRED will announce the nominees for our fifth annual ROCKWIRED MUSIC AWARDS. This year's award season is already looking like it's going to be a smash thanks ot the presence of ROCKWIRED RADIO PROFILES. The possibilities seem endless this yearand I've got a feeling that ROCKWIRED's biggest event of the year is going to be even bigger. It should also be noted that the name of this event has been changed back to its original titled the ROCKWIRED MUSIC AWARDS.  From 2009 to 2010, it was christened the ROCKWIRED READER'S POLL AWARDS but due to the change in format here at ROCKWIRED.COM, the former title seemed more appropos. Polls will open in the New Year and close at the beginning of March 2011.

On January 17, 2011 - the sixth anniversary of ROCKWIRED.COM - we will be launching an all new 90 minute weekly show entitled ROCK & TRADE WEEKLY REPORT: THE BUSINESS OF ROCK N' ROLL. Unlike ROCKWIRED RADIO PROFILES, ROCK & TRADE will profile entrepreneuers in the music industry from owners of record labels, entertainment lawyers, management companies, publicists, journalists, producers and video directors. In these challenging economic times it is my sincerest wish that this new program will offer advice to others in the industry on how to survive doing what they love. Sure, the show's focus is going be business, but don't expect things to get stuffy. After all, it's only rock n roll!

If this year has taught me anything, it has taught me that change is not only good - it's also wonderful and exciting. With all that is happening here at ROCKWIRED there is no time to focus on politics or economics. All that we have time for these days is the music and the people that make it. I've been re-energized by ROCKWIRED's return to online radio and am committed more than ever to making ROCKWIRED something special to listeners.

I look forward to giving you more in the year to come!

Sincerely,

BRiAN LUSH
PROGRAM PRODUCER/HOST