What Difference Does It Make

Karen Glauber is the President of HITS Magazine. She started her career with the legendary label, A&M Records, back in the 80s. She's also got strong opinions about the music. This makes her the perfect guest for our look at the music the World Famous KROQ in Los Angeles played back in 1987. This week we look at songs 100 to 91, based on their year-end chart. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We at What Difference Does It Make love love and what better way to say it, than with a song from the 80s? We discuss a number of our favorites that make us feel all warm inside. Happy Valentine's (and Gal-entine's) Day! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The What Difference Does It Make Podcast begins our 1987 musical journey with an analysis of songs 106.7 to 101 from the World Famous KROQ 1987 year-end chart. The bottom of the chart includes novelty songs (Swinging Erudites, Mojo Nixon), cover songs (Ball Of Confusion), and bands that have been forgotten over time (The Silencers). We're here to bring them back to life, and to determine whether they shall be deemed worthy to remember, or sent back into the ether. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was quite a year, from U2 and The Beastie Boys, to Spuds McKenzie and 21 Jump Street. While we can't cover it all, we start off a new season of What Difference Does It Make with a look back at some of those iconic moments from 1987. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Veteran music journalist Katherine Yeske Taylor steps into our virtual studio to tell the tales of 20 badass musicians that she documented in her book, She’s a Badass: Women in Rock Shaping Feminism. The book features candid conversations about Feminism with Twenty Inspiring Female Artists including Ann Wilson (Heart), Exene Cervenka (X), Gina Schock (The Go-Go’s), Suzi Quatro, Suzanne Vega, Tanya Donelly (Throwing Muses, Belly), Amy Ray (Indigo Girls), Orianthi, Amanda Palmer, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we take you to the edge...as in the Western Edge exhibit currently featured at the Country Music Hall Of Fame in Nashville. Western Edge examines the close-knit community of Los Angeles-based singers, songwriters, and musicians who, from the 1960s through the 1980s, embraced country music, frequented local nightclubs, and created and shaped the musical fusion known as “country-rock”. We get into that and a whole lot more with Michael Gray, VP of Museum Services, and Michael McCall, Senior Writer and Editor of the Country Music Hall Of Fame. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, the saying goes, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.", but as Holly says, "I would be happy if we could have another year like this year." So we now look back at 2023 with a few highlights from our chats with many memorable guests. If you're new to What Difference Does It Make, this might very well be a good place to start, or simply a good place to catch up on what you've been missing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ilana Kaplan uses her superpower ability to read the 1000 page Barbara Streisand memoir, My Name Is Barbra, in only three days! Ilana wrote the book review for the Los Angeles Times, and now joins us not only to discuss Babs, but Britney Spears, Sophia Coppola, and a preview of her own upcoming biography on Nora Ephron. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Friend of the show, Annie Zaleski, joins us this week to talk about the stories behind 100 beloved Christmas songs. It's also the title of her new book, This Is Christmas, Song by Song: The Stories Behind 100 Holiday Hits. We can’t get through all 100 songs, but we hit on many of our favorites. It's the episode to get you into the spirit of the season! Are you now in the mood for some Christmas Music? Check out this Amazon Music playlist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you thought you were an obsessive music fan, we'd like to direct your attention to Peter Jesperson. He's known for establishing the Minneapolis-based Twin/Tone Records, initial home to bands like The Replacements and Soul Asylum, but he also had his hand in everything related to the Twin Cities music scene. From record stores to music clubs to radio, Peter was practically everywhere, and now he's released his memoir entitled, Euphoric Recall: A Half Century as a Music Fan, Producer, DJ, Record Executive, and Tastemaker. Peter steps into our virtual studio to talk about his lengthy career in the music biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's the most wonderful time of the year...at least for those allowed to grow a moustache in the month of November, aka Movember. The reason for this moustache celebration is because two Aussies (Travis Garone and Luke Slattery) wanted to create awareness for men's health issues. Cut to twenty years later, and the movement is bigger than ever. To celebrate the month, we invited Max Skinner, Community Development Manager representing Movember. We talk about the history, the ideas, and the causes they support. Of course, we also talk about our favorite musicians and songs that best represent the 'mo. Dave has a page set up for Movember donations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason Thomas Gordon came up with a brilliant idea. Why don't I talk to some of the best- loved singers, and ask them about their voices? Seven years later, we have The Singers Talk, a mind-blowing book featuring interviews with 75 iconic artists, from Bryan Adams to Thom Yorke. Jason asks the same set of questions to each singer, to understand the various ways they approach the same subject. Now, JTG enters our virtual studio and allows US to ask HIM the same type of questions. All proceeds from the sales of this book go towards Music Gives To St. Jude's Kids. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Music icon and social activist Joan Baez has clearly made a difference for the better in our lives, through her songs and by her bravery in standing up for her beliefs. Directors Karen O’Connor, Miri Navasky, and Maeve O’Boyle have made the documentary Joan Baez: I Am A Noise. In it, Joan takes an honest look back, and a deep look inward, as she tries to make sense of her large, history-making life, and the personal struggles she's kept private. We talk with the Directors about how they were able to properly represent Joan's career and life issues, and through our chat, WE learn much more about Joan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Howard Jones is celebrating his 40th anniversary creating the music we love in a very big way. First is the release of Celebrate It Together: The Very Best Of Howard Jones 1983-2023, a 4 CD set of his music, broken down into four categories — Popular Hits, Electro, Chill, and Curiosities. Second is the release of his “fanthology” book, entitled Howard Jones – We’re In This Together, comprised of over 350 contributions from fans sharing their favorite memories and anecdotes about his concerts, music, personal encounters, and more. Last, but certainly not least, Howard steps into our virtual studio to reflect back on his 40 years of creating music. We do have a special bonus, as superfan Dorit joins us to talk about her entry in Howard Jones' book. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Barry Manilow may write the songs that make the Boomers sing, but when it comes to Gen X, look no further than Holly Knight. This member of the Songwriters Hall Of Fame has written smash hits for Pat Benatar, Aerosmith, Heart, KISS, Rod Stewart, and she is most noted for her collaboration with Tina Turner on nine songs, including "The Best" and "Better Be Good To Me". Holly steps into our virtual studio to talk about her memoir, I Am The Warrior: My Crazy Life Writing The Hits and Rocking The MTV Eighties. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jock Bartley, co-founder of the band Firefall, steps into our virtual studio to share stories about the friends and family that helped shape the sound of the band. Friends & Family also just happens to be the album title of Firefall's new album, a collection of cover songs inspired by the artists with whom they've played in the past. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson, aka The 80s TV Ladies, guest star on a very special episode of What Difference Does It Make. We remember our favorite TV theme songs, debate sides when Ross and Rachel were on a break, and pay homage to Mike Post. Spoiler alert! Our talk continues when WE are the very special guests on The 80s TV Ladies podcast. Stay tuned! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It all started back at The Whisky a Go Go on the Sunset Strip when Steve Rosen, an up and coming music journalist met a young up and coming guitarist by the name of Edward Van Halen. The two hit it off immediately and Steve documented the rise of Edward's band for the next 26 years through numerous interviews . The result is Steve's book, Tonechaser, a detailed look into the life of Edward Van Halen. Steve steps into our virtual studio to give us the details and how this all came together. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our previous episode with Denny Tedesco discussing The Immediate Family documentary gives us a great opportunity to revisit our talk from October 2020 with Danny Kortchmar, Waddy Wachtel, Leland Sklar, Russ Kunkel and Steve Postell. If those names are not familiar, just know that they are the musicians that play with Stevie Nicks, Linda Ronstadt, Don Henley, James Taylor, Phil Collins, Keith Richards, and Carole King, to name just a few. The Immediate Family not only have their debut self-titled album out now but the documentary will soon be released at the end of 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author Mick Wall used to live life in the fast lane, back when he was a music publicist in the 70s for Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy, and Dire Straits among many others. Nowadays he writes books about artists like Guns N' Roses, Led Zeppelin and Metallica. Life In The Fast Lane: The Eagles' Reckless Ride Down The Rock & Roll Highway is his latest book. Mick takes us into the Laurel Canyon music scene, the egos and in-fighting, and of course, the songs that helped launch one of the most iconic American bands of all time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices