WBLZ: Blizzard of Blues Radio

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For close to seven years I've been the Saturday/Sunday blues radio host on WBFO 88.7 the NPR affiliate based in Buffalo, NY. I have never missed a day in all that time, even while on tour/vacation. Supporting the top blues artists past and present with airplay, interviews, and show promotion was the main focus of the broadcast. With over three decades of being intimately a part of the blues world locally, nationally and internationally as a performer this was a perfect fit. Some months ago my 5 hr. Sunday show was abruptly cut and I was moved to Saturdays, but for only 2 hours. Instead of a blues show on Sunday, the station opted for canned repeats of Ted Talks, All Things Considered, etc. On top of losing 3 hours of programming, I was told I was now strictly limited to 90 minutes of setup time for my weekly show. With sometimes 10 or more new releases each week at around 45-60 minutes each to listen to in real time, emailing and talking with labels, artists, publicists, social media management, etc. my hands were tied. How do I do all that, plus the show production, 30-60 minute interviews with artists and then edit them all in 90 minutes? It's not possible. I wasn't happy, and the show suffered. Not to mention Saturday night is for live music, so who's sitting at home by the radio/computer/smartphone? I know I'm not, I'm usually onstage somewhere. It just wasn't working.

Sat. 6/25/22 was my last time on the air with WBFO for the foreseeable future. I did not have the heart to produce another show for them. We parted ways amicably and have left things open for the future.

Some months back, 4-time Grammy winner Tom Hambridge told me, "Buffalo needs your blues show Tommy." I think he's right and I didn't want to stop bringing you the best in classic and contemporary blues music, so I have partnered with an iHeart Radio affiliate who is one of the biggest independent broadcast providers on the internet to bring you WBLZ: The Blizzard of Blues Radio station! Instead of just Sat. and Sun. this is a 24/7 station that is FREE and I will be doing some hosting again on it periodically. This show streams worldwide and has at least twice the audio quality of WBFO's online stream. I already have committed advertisers to promote things related to the show (upcoming concerts, etc.). WBLZ first started broadcasting on 6/29/22.

This is all out of pocket for me, I am not getting paid hourly by a company like WBFO anymore to keep bringing you this content like the interviews with Jimmie Vaughan, Samantha Fish, Sue Foley, Eric Gales, Tommy Castro, etc., the stories behind the music, the concert promotion and of course the 24/7 music itself. It's gonna take a bunch of supporters to keep this going every month and I hope that you'll be one of them. There are some different tiers and incentives for each one.

I feel the songs in rotation are among the best in classic and contemporary blues music...a veritable Blizzard of Blues.

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Tier 1: Milk, Bread and Eggs

$10.00/month

I call this plan "Milk, Bread and Eggs" because here in Western New when the weather forecasters predict a big storm, everyone heads to the stores to stock up on the essentials; milk, bread and eggs. In my experience, the shelves with beer, chips and candy empty out first, but I digress...What you get with this basic plan is the basics; 24/7 stream of BoB Radio and of course the hosted show and replay. You will get a link to the show's webpage and stream, and access to the other content/features I have planned like archived interviews, concert schedules/announcements. etc. As a Tier 1 supporter you are an essential, vital part of the station's operations. I can't do this show without you. So in addition to the plan I am giving everyone a free download of my album that inspired the station name called "Blizzard of Blues." You also get a password to a private page with all my best past interviews archived on demand, and there are other features I have planned for the future. For about $0.32 a day you are supporting this quality programming. As much as I love bringing you all this music, I simply can't run a 24/7 radio station by myself for free. Thanks for becoming a regular support.
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Tier 2: Snow Day!

$15.00/month

Tier 2: $15/month recurring. I call this plan the "Snow Day." The meteorologists were right. Heavy snow came as forecasted (they were right for once!) and schools and businesses are "closed." It's a coveted snow day. We've got you covered figuratively, not only with the best in classic and contemporary blues music, but you'll also get 1 "shoutout"/request a month. Say you wanna congratulate someone, wish them Happy Birthday or just hear your favorite blues song. Yours truly will play the track and mention your name and brief message on the "air." The album download of "Blizzard of Blues" is also included. You also get a password to a private page with all my best past interviews archived on demand, and there are other features I have planned for the future. For about $0.48 a day you are supporting this quality programming.
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Tier 3: Snovember

$25.00/month

Tier 3: $25.00/month recurring. I call this plan "Snovember" simply because like many of you, I lived through the Snovember storm of 2014. It's what inspired the title and "Blizzard of Blues" album download which is included, as well as a Tommy Z t-shirt (while size/supplies last), and one shoutout/request per month. You also get a password to a private page with all my best past interviews archived on demand, and there are other features I have planned for the future. For about $0.80 a day you are supporting this quality programming.
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Tier 4: Super Supporter aka The Snowplow

$50.00/month

Tier 4: $50.00/month recurring. I call this the "Snowplow" because you are doing more of the heavy lifting and clearing the way to keep the lights on here at WBLZ. This is for ardent supporters who recognize the value and quality of the programming we are providing together. You get the t-shirt, album download and also get a password to a private page with all my best past interviews archived on demand, and there are other features I have planned for the future. The pricing works out to about $1.66 a day.
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Tier 5: Advertisers Level 1. Labels, etc. and Mega Supporters aka The Blizzard of '77 Plan.

$100.00/month

Just like that infamous Blizzard seemed like it would never end, this is for advertisers, labels, artists, publicists and generous supporters/donors who will keep the radio station and music flowing indefinitely. You will get everything the other tiers get and also some priority advertising and shoutouts/requests. We will discuss your individual needs, but a monthly voiceover that is professionally produced and edited, gets entered into ad rotation on WBLZ and a video for sharing on social media can be created as well.
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Tier 6: The Works aka The Blizzard of '22

$200.00/month

On air ads w/yours truly doing the script and voiceover work, plus social media pushes of your events, products and services. We can also take the audio ads and merge them with video/images for further sharing and social media promo.
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