Dear Listener,

It did not escape my attention last week when Radio Shack filed for bankruptcy. Ask yourself: when’s the last time you bought a radio? or a stopwatch? weather alert device? calculator? recorder? camera? sound meter?  That’s right. They’re all in your pocket now. Only you refer to them as your cell phone. Or perhaps you call it your radio. Some 40% of our listeners use their mobile phones to tune in to WWOZ these days.

Streaming has been awfully good to us. Over half of the money listeners donate to keep WWOZ “on the air” comes from outside our broadcast area! Last year we logged 57,000 listeners in New York City, alone. And 25,000 in the Bay Area.

For all of you who carry the station around in your pocket (in case you haven’t noticed) we’ve just updated our WWOZ app. If you have an iPhone, all you have to do is download it from the App store. It’s free. If you’re using a Droid, the new version will be available for free within weeks at the Play Store.

Streaming, of course, is just one of the blessings that the world-wide-will’o-the-wisp has bestowed upon the station. Readers of our local entertainment weekly, Gambit, were treated this week to a cover story featuring the joys of podcasting, including major coverage of WWOZ’s own Action Jackson. His weekly radio program, Takin’ It to the Streets, is also available by podcast and includes behind-the-scenes stories of Social Aid and Pleasure Club activities, inside interviews with Mardi Gras Indian Chiefs and route sheets and practice schedules. This is just the beginning of WWOZ’s plan to begin a series of podcasts for those who are tuned into this platform.

And of course you can engage with WWOZ across cyberspace using Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest; not to mention that we've got videos on our YouTube and Vimeo channels. Or listen to recent on-air conversations in the WWOZ Interview and to our weekly syndicated show, New Orleans Calling. And we’re cooking up even more in ‘OZ’s digital skunk works. For instance, we're working with our partners on a completely new, responsively designed web site, which will look great on all devices, and on a two-week “on demand” archive, which will allow you to listen to your favorite 'OZ shows up to two weeks after their original broadcast date.

We’ll let you know as soon as you can actually put your hands on this stuff. My guess is you’ll be reaching into your pockets more and more as we roll out more and more apps, widgets and tweaks.

Yours in hot apps and cold snaps,

David Freedman
General Manager

On February 28, we'll be doing a special live broadcast. The Louisiana Music Factory celebrates the one-year anniversary of its move to 421 Frenchmen Street, a location they share with WWOZ's Swamp Shop. We're still working on the details, but the broadcast will include performances from among John Boutté, Little Freddie King, Shotgun Jazz Band, Eric Lindell, and the Lost Bayou Ramblers.

» LMF Free Broadcast Series Event

2015 is the year of the Mardi Gras Indian Queen in New Orleans, and WWOZ and the Mardi Gras Indian Hall of Fame are partnering to bring you a rare look inside this unique New Orleans tradition. We're interviewing a different Mardi Gras Indian Queen every month during 2015. For February, we talk with Mercedes "Queen Mercy" Stevenson of the Wild Tchoupitoulas Mardi Gras Indians.

» Mardi Gras Indian Queen Interviews

The Spring 2015 Pledge Party, a.k.a. the Membership Drive, happens March 3-13 and will involve tons of music and fun here at the station. And, here's something new: you're invited to join us as we close the drive with a live broadcast from Kermit's Treme Mother-In-Law Lounge on Friday, March 13 from 11a-7p. In addition, we want to say thanks in advance to the many volunteers, musicians, and food donors for their love and support for WWOZ. 

» Spring 2015 Pledge Party

The eighth annual Congo Square New World Rhythms Festival celebrates the many traditions that trace back to Congo Square - including brass bands, Mardi Gras Indians and music from Africa, the Caribbean and the Gulf South. This year's lineup includes Hot-8, Rebirth, N'Fungola Sibo Dance, Tank & the Bangas, and lots, lots more. The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation's Class Got Brass contest takes place Sunday, March 22.

 » 2015 Congo Square New World Rhythms Festival

Applications are now available for the 2015 edition of Class Got Brass, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation's contest to promote music education while supporting our cultural traditions. Louisiana high schools and middle schools are invited to create traditional New Orleans-style brass bands and to compete in a public performance on Sunday, March 22 at the Congo Square New World Rhythms Festival. Deadline to enter is March 9.

 » All About Class Got Brass

Our recipe of the month for February was this king cake from Cochon Butcher. Since king cake season is now past, we thought we'd take the opportunity here to reprise the most popular recipe we ever posted. It's a killer crawfish pasta from Angelina's Zydeco Okra Cookbook.

 » Recipe: Crawfish Pasta