ACM Journal Radio's Tom Stephenson: A Reigning Patriarch of Alternative Music Scene

If you like alternative music with a Christian slant, you'd do well to get acquainted with Tom.

Before many in the alternative music scene could breath (even literally speaking) Tom Stephenson was digging up morsels of this genre from around the world. Tom worked as a DJ for many years doing college rock radio, he is the editor of the legendary ACM Journal (back issues can still be viewed by going right here). One of his "magnum opuses" was his work on his ACM Journal Compilation CDs #'s I-III. Mr. Stephenson was one of the first and foremost souls to dare to bring unsigned, alternative bands with a Christian influence into the mainstream by getting their efforts onto the CD format at a time when CDs themselves were relatively new. These compilations included bands from everywhere imaginable and the CDs themselves were distributed and played on radio stations around the globe (from Hawaii to London, to say the least). My own first exposure to artists such as Robert Deeble, Six-Pence None the Richer, and Poor Old Lu, came via these wonderful CDs. You may still check them out by going to locations such as this one - or by going right here.

Above and beyond any of this, Tom currently DJ's seven, yes seven... online radio stations. The stations are driven by particular genres featuring everything from alternative, rock, electronica, to Top 40. Notably, Stephenson has been able to discover a unique blend of tune selections that overcomes the chronological snobbery drive of "latest" or "mainstream" only-ism disease (for someone like me with one only one local FM faith-based station that seems to be allergic to... anything... over two years old or off the beaten path this is... ACM Heaven). In Tom's mixes one can discover everything from Pillar, Eleventyseven, and Relient K to Altar Boys, Daniel Amos, and Resurrection Band. Why aren't more stations like this? I don't know - you try and figure it out, but while your waiting, check out this ACM Journal online
"Alternative" station by going right here while other stations can be located by scrolling to the bottom of this page. Fortunately, there are also some vintage radio broadcasts from Tom's early years which can prompt some sweet nostalgia for some and a "schooling" of historical interests for others. I'm also looking forward to the installment of the next station in the construction line - entitled "eclectica" which will feature unreleased, demo, independent, eclectic, and otherwise obscure titles.

 
Let's hope Tom keeps unearthing and exposing music for a long time to come.