The sonic territory covered in the latest RFUS is pretty remarkable, as we could only do with Melanie Shrawder who worked for the Songlines radio promo company for 14 years & prior to that KUT in Austin, TX and WYEP in her native Pittsburgh.  We started out talking Pirates & Steelers & Penguins, went straight into her love of Phil Collins & Genesis, touched on her youthful appreciation of everything from Journey to Juice Newton (bolstered by the Columbia House & BMG Record Clubs). We talked about her tenure booking acts like Spoon & Gary Clark Jr. for their 1st radio sessions, booking Blackalicious for a live session (which they graciously kept FCC clean!), great SXSW memories (including the late, great Rock Hall of Famer Ian McLagan) and then moving on to the promo world, helping the likes of Arcade Fire, The Avett Brothers, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, My Morning Jacket, Chance The Rapper and yes, Spoon, reach bigger national audiences through the radio airwaves.  There of course was mention of her all-time favorite Stevie Wonder, and we talked about the diversity challenges the AAA format faces.  We also discussed our mutual long-term appreciation of Pearl Jam & it all comes full circle with a new PJ side project that features Stone Gossard & acclaimed singer/songwriter Mason Jennings, who spent much of his youth in Pittsburgh.  Plus a couple other new things Melanie has been digging lately at the end (full songs in Anchor version only). And earmuff alert: there is some strong language sprinkled in, but hey it's a podcast!