I was doing a little shopping recently and was astonished to find myself whistling along to Yo La Tengo’s “My Little Corner of the World” at a Kohl’s in Augusta, Maine. The amazing part was that it wasn’t in my head—it was being broadcast over everyone’s head on the store’s sound system. Maine’s state capital being the kind of place it is, I was probably the only person in the building who could identify the song. However, no one seemed particularly bothered that the college radio favorites were providing the soundtrack to their shopping expedition in this, not particularly hip, Big Box.

Several things about this little incident struck me. First, I shouldn’t have been so surprised. In my local grocery store, a big Maine chain, I frequently hear things that make me scratch my head as I’m filling my cart with pretzels and Dr. Pepper: the Jayhawks and Ryan Adams and Josh Ritter come to mind. Besides, almost any band that once had a conscience seems to be shilling their music to TV commercials these days. From the Buzzcocks to Nick Drake to Cat Power to Low to Band of Horses to Iggy Pop to the Mates of State—there’s so much great music in commercials now it’s almost worth watching them.

What I find truly remarkable, though, is that, for the most part, none of this stuff is ever played on the radio. I wondered, “What makes it acceptable for all of these acts to be played for popular consumption in stores and on TV but not on the radio?” Obviously, the suits find this stuff not only acceptable but commercially viable. What is it about broadcast radio that prevents actual music from being broadcast? I’ve always lamented to my buddies that there is so much great stuff out there worthy of airplay that will never ever get it, even on the slightly deeper Triple A station my wife listens to. If only people would hear Robert Francis’ “One by One” or Don McGlashan’s “This is London” or Patrick Park’s “Life is a Song” or Nina Nastasia’s “Why Don’t You Stay Home”, they would like it. I guarantee it. They’d keep tuning in, and they’d buy cars from the dealer that advertises.

We’re not even talking big risks. I’m not talking Parts & Labor or Mission of Burma—I love those guys as much as anyone else—but stuff from the easier listening end of the spectrum. (And not even the quieter but idiosyncratic greats like Jolie Holland or Joanna Newsom.) There’s no reason Jeff Hanson’s “I Know Your Name” or Meredith Bragg’s “Work and Winter” or Okkervil River’s “Savannah Smiles” or anything by the New Pornographers couldn’t co-exist with Coldplay and Natalie Merchant on the AAA airwaves.

But there’s an evil corporate stranglehold on the radio dial now. DJs are not only bound by the dictates of the dictators, they’re often not even sentient. They’re machines. It’s no secret that radio sucks, but it’s hard to fathom why it has to when the commercial viability of indie rock is being demonstrated daily. (Yeah, you can pony up Sirius cash or go for XM, but even they exist on a rather superficial level, playing the Decemberists and Death Cabs—they’re not likely to get down into the John Vanderslices and Eric Bachmanns and Will Johnsons.)

It’s a strange state of affairs because the suits seem to be digging (or at least understanding the appeal of) the underground sounds. We all know commercial radio has been corporatized in the past couple of decades, but so have TV ads and Big Box stores—and they’re playing the hits. I don’t get it.

What makes the current state of radio all the more tragic is that “this is the golden age” of music, as John Vanderslice states on his website in reference to Sting’s own idiotic commentary about how stale rock music has become. Whatever your personal preferences may be, you’ll find more opportunity than ever before to acquire it easier and cheaper. If you’re a classic rock gal you’ll discover reissues, free downloads, rare concert footage of your favorite artists. If you’re into IDM (”Intelligent Dance Music”), well, there’s never been a better time. All you need is someone to introduce you to that first song by an artist and after that you can have all you want—A-sides, B-sides, live footage, YouTube vids, MySpace friendship, house concerts, and on and on.

Just don’t expect the radio to find anything for you. We’ll just have to content ourselves with wandering the aisles of Big Box stores in search of new music… or watching way too much TV. Keep your ears (and eyes) open.

Watch: Cat Power Covering Cat Stevens for (of all things) DeBeers [at youtube.com]

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