Message to Folks Like Us listeners: After 23 years on the station, the new management has decided that roots music programming is no longer relevant to the audience they are interested in attracting or maintaining. They dropped me, the Arkansas Traveler, and Robert Jones in an attempt to make their music mix "more contemporary" (sound familiar anyone?). I must be honest and say, as both a host and a life-long listener, I feel the switch to a news format (a few years ago) and these recent changes will most likely ruin what was once a self-sufficient, cultural jewel in our struggling city. What they might tell you (if you are one of the few to get a response from them) is that the roots programming just didn't have the numbers. Please keep in mind the methodic way in which all this happened. When Mikel Ellcessor, the new station manager, came in about one year ago, he moved Folks Like Us and The Arkansas Traveler to the least listened to time slot in radio — Sunday evenings. He did this without ever mentioning the changes in a single e-newsletter or on-air promotion to our audience. After two pledge drives — what a surprise — the numbers went down. If you get a chance, be sure to ask him how the numbers were before the unceremonial shifting of time-slots. Now, the most important truth: Serving this audience for over 23 years as host of the Folks Like Us Program has been one of the absolute privileges of my rich and wonderful life. Sharing this truly essential music with you over the years has, in many ways, made me what I am. Words will never be able to adequately express the gratitude I have for you — the listener — who has allowed me the gift of enriching my own life through — hopefully — enriching yours. An excerpt from the final Folks Like Us program on December 20 — a live conversation between me, Robert Jones, and Larry McDaniel, the other two roots hosts cut from the weekend schedule — has been posted to http://www.myspacemusic.com/mattwatrobalovesmusic. I need you to know that I consider this a minor set-back. I am not giving up my quest to share this music with as many people as possible. While we discover and create other ways to do this, please keep checking this Website. We will continue to keep you updated on roots music events in the area and what is happening with the future of the program. If you have any influence with other media outlets that would love to welcome thousands of loyal, supportive listeners to their fold, this would be the time to talk to them. If you want to let WDET know how you feel, you may contact them through www.wdet.org, but keep in mind that these changes were also fueled by the folks at Wayne State University who hired them. With love and gratitude, Matt Watroba   This Website will continue even though the show is off the air, and we will maintain the monthly listings of folk music events and dances to help support local folk music venues and organizations. Please continue to send your concert listings and event information to Webmaster Judy (judydyki@cs.com). All of the playlists from the last ten years will also remain on this site. Check the new Folks Like Us Blog often for news from the folk music world and for special announcements of local interest. And please join the Fans of the Folks Like Us Program Facebook Group to continue the conversation with Matt and other folk music fans. You can still catch Matt as host of the national radio program Sing Out! Radio Magazine, an hour-long magazine format show featuring interviews as well as live and recorded music. The program may be heard on many public radio stations, on XM Satellite Radio in The Village, at SingOut.com and at FolkAlley.com. Judy Dyki     Larry McDaniel, Matt Watroba, Robert Jones. Final show at WDET on December 20, 2009.   Larry McDaniel, Judy Dyki, Matt Watroba, David Blakney, Robert Jones, Jane Rayburn. Final show at WDET on December 20, 2009.