Since 1992, Kirk and Becky Brandenberger have managed Prime Cuts Of Bluegrass, a radio marketing and promotion service specializing in bluegrass music.

Six times each year, a new volume of Prime Cuts has been delivered to hundreds of program directors and show hosts all over the world, with 12-15 tracks that the labels or artists have selected to highlight. They have helped countless new artists gain airplay, and figured in the promotion for most new releases by major bluegrass artists.

Their 100th CD was shipped in July, and we learned yesterday that it will be their last. Prime Cuts will continue, but under new management.

Here is the statement from the Brandenbergers that was issued on September 21.

You may have heard through the grapevine or noticed that you haven’t received your copy of Prime Cuts of Bluegrass, Volume 101 yet and suspected that something is up. After seventeen years and one hundred volumes of Prime Cuts of Bluegrass, Becky and I are ending our ownership of Prime Cuts of Bluegrass. About a year and a half ago, we agreed that the release of Volume 100 would be a good stopping point so that we could pursue other interests.

Fortunately, we have an interested individual who has verbally agreed to take over the operations and ownership of Prime Cuts of Bluegrass. This person (who shall remain anonymous until the transfer is completed) has assured us that the quality and type of service will remain the same ‚Äì in other words, take good care of “our baby” ‚Äì with future intentions to add internet capabilities.

Extra time is needed to make this transition go smoothly.  The next release of Prime Cuts of Bluegrass (Volume 101) is planned for January 15, 2010. Please periodically check the Prime Cuts of Bluegrass website for updated information.

It’s hard to put into words our heartfelt gratitude to you for supporting us through this venture. But, we are extremely thankful and appreciative. You’ve helped us make our mark in the bluegrass business world. We’ll miss working with you in this capacity but are sure that our paths will cross again. After all, we have something in common ‚Äì the love of bluegrass music!

Bad news for bluegrass fans who enjoy listening to bluegrass on one of the Music Choice networks. They have announced that their bluegrass music channel will be discontinued as of April 15, 2009.

Music Choice provides the music channels for most cable television systems in the US, as well as many business applications. If you have multiple music channels available through digital cable TV, chances are the service is from Music Choice.

A total of nine music channels are being discontinued this month.

It seems safe to presume that this decision is final, but it can’t hurt to leave them a comment about the move to drop bluegrass from Music Choice.

The Bluegrass Mix has added a new feature to their 24/7, streaming bluegrass radio service.

In addition to hosted programming and nationally-syndicated shows, they now offer an uninterrupted, “no talk” stream for online listeners who prefer to hear their bluegrass without announcers or commentary.

Bluegrass Mix is supported by donations from listeners, so the streams can be offered without traditional advertising spots.

To tune in, just visit www.bluegrassmix.com, and click on the Listen icon to choose between the hosted and non-hosted versions of their stream.

BluegrassRadio.org has announced that they will shut down their 24/7 online bluegrass audio stream online at the end of March.

President Clyde Scott has this message posted on the site’s front page:

It is with deep regret that I must announce Bluegrass Radio and BluegrassRadio.org will discontinue its streaming service effective April 1st 2009. Effective immediately, we will no longer accept donations of support and will close the web store. Thanks to you for our success over the past five years.

We contacted Scott yesterday afternoon, and he shared a few more thoughts about his decision to close up shop.

“With some of the decisions being made in our Capitol, I see a better investment in my grand children than this station. They will need all the help they can get in the future.

Bluegrass Radio has been by far the most successful bluegrass music stream in the history of internet radio. For that we are grateful. The friends I have made over the last five years will last a lifetime for me.

The financial support has always been there for us so it is not a financial decision. I’m just tired of the fight.”

A great many folks will be sorry to see Clyde and Bluegrass Radio disappear.