Dear Listener,

Thirty-five years and two months ago, when WWOZ was founded, radio was a different game. You were pretty much forced to listen to whatever we or 20 other stations played, or go back to your stash of 45’s and 8-tracks (see Google). Of course, that has all changed, and now I am often asked, "What will radio look like ten years from now?"

Currently, there is over-the-air, online, and social media. All of it is radio. I happen to believe that in 2016, video is also radio, and, by the way, smart radio operations want to incorporate video. It all wants to live in your smart phone, though you’ll find it in dozens of other nooks and crannies – your Roku, the center-stack in your Tesla, your Xbox, and eventually if you are a fan of Ray Kurzweil – and who isn’t? – your dental fillings.

But, let’s start with: what will your smart phone look like 10 years from now? Then let’s go to: what’s going to replace your smart phone? Now if you can answer either of these questions, you need to join the safari of unicorn hunters jonesin’ for their next trophy VC fix.

By asking the wrong question, you frequently get the wrong answer. From living in the digital trenches for the past 20 years, I’ve learned that every platform and every delivery system has its own imperative, but in the end, all delivery systems are just empty buckets whose worth is measured by the stardust they scatter. So, why do we even care what radio will look like ten years from now?

Yours in tow trucks and coconuts,

David Freedman
General Manager

One of the highlights of January (along with the return of king cake!) is the Jazz Fest lineup announcement. This year's edition of the world's best music festival happens April 22-May 1. A few acts that caught our attention: Stevie Wonder, Van Morrison, Elvis Costello & The Imposters, Arlo Guthrie, Mavis Staples, Ms. Lauryn Hill, The Isley Brothers, Alpha Blondy, Jon Batiste & Stay Human, and tributes to B.B. King & Allen Toussaint.

» See who's coming to Jazz Fest 2016

Carnival 2016 is rolling! Twelfth Night has come and gone, and Krewe du Vieux & krewedelusion happened on January 23. On Fat Tuesday, February 9, we're planning a live broadcast from the Backstreet Cultural Museum in the Treme. Here's hoping for another terrific Carnival season in the Crescent City.

» Mardi Gras 2016, happening now

WWOZ's Spring 2016 Membership Drive happens March 1-11, and we need your help to make it a success! We're looking for phone bank volunteers to help us sign up new and renewing members at the studio. With lots of food, fun and live music, the phone bank rocks during the pledge drive.

 » Sign up for the Spring Membership Drive phone bank

Now for your iPhone: the Livewire Music Calendar, WWOZ's guide to live local music in New Orleans. Expanded functionality includes search by venue, act, or date, browse by genre, favorites, and one-tap act and venue information. Find out who's playing where, then get out there and enjoy some live, local music.

 » Get the WWOZ Livewire iPhone app

WWOZ's weekly syndicated program, New Orleans Calling with host George Ingmire, pays a special two-part tribute to the late great Allen Toussaint. We've got a special live WWOZ Piano Night performance unheard since 2005, and many rare interviews. Plus we speak with many of Allen's friends and collaborators, including Irma Thomas, Leo Nocentelli, George Porter Jr, and Sarah Dash of Labelle. Listen to New Orleans Calling on Saturday mornings at 7 central, or stream episodes online anytime.

 » Allen Toussaint: Say Yes to Music (part 1 of 2)

 » Allen Toussaint: Last Train (part 2 of 2)

The Jazz Fest lineup is out, so now we can all start planning our late night show schedule. We're thrilled to be presenting Galactic and JJ Grey & Mofro with Moon Hooch at the Orpheum Theater on Saturday April 30. Tickets go on sale Friday, but we're partnering with Galactic to offer a pre-sale to WWOZ fans starting Tuesday, January 26 at noon. Enter the code WWOZGUARDIANS

 » Galactic and JJ Grey & Mofro pre-sale

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation supports community involvement in Jazz Fest by distributing thousands of free tickets. The Foundation’s Community Outreach Tickets program distributes tickets through social service organizations such as nonprofit, educational, religious, government and community agencies. Apply by Monday, March 7.

 » The scoop on Community Outreach Tickets

Want to make your own king cake this Mardi Gras? Here are three recipes: King Cake Cochon Style, Galette des Rois (French-Style King Cake), and King Cake with Cream Cheese Cinnamon Filling. Plus, for inspiration, we include a King Cake cocktail.

 » Recipes: Three King Cakes & a Cocktail

Starting with this issue of the 'OZone, we'll be using this space to honor significant milestones in our showhosts' tenure at WWOZ. In January 2016, Olivia Greene and Scott Borne mark their 10th anniversaries on the air. And, since this is a new feature, let's note the service of hosts who passed significant landmarks in 2015: Keith Hill and Missy Bowen marked 15 years, while Sondra Bibb, Peggy Lou, Dean Ellis, Marc Stone, A.J. Rodrigue each marked 10 years.