By Elizabeth Stitt
Three local students tired of the Utah Valley music scene recently started Provo Podcast, which features local bands via the Internet.
Every Thursday, Provo Podcast, provopodcast.com releases a free 30-minute show dedicated exclusively to music produced by musicians from Utah Valley.
These musicians and students created Provo Podcast in June. Matt Wood, a music major from Springfield, Va. is the producer of the show. He hosts the show along with BYU student Matt Paulos and Utah Valley State College student Joseph Castor. On the show, they are known as Jim, Jimm and Jeremiah.
?We wanted to do it to have fun and showcase all these local bands,? Wood said. ?But it ended up being something really big and popular.?
The site has been visited nationwide and it was the first major podcast in Provo. Its popularity has helped start the creation of other podcasts in Provo.
Provo Podcast producers say their mission is unique because the show is non-profit, locally produced by amateurs and it provides local coverage of music.
The show avoids any affiliation with BYU, UVSC and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
?We wanted to create our own medium of entertainment and news without any specific demographics or standards,? Wood said.
The Provo Podcast creates a unique medium by finding creative talent not focused on overused local band themes. To Wood, one of the overused themes in music is focusing only on guys and their girlfriends.
?One of my hopes it that through this kind of medium or through something similar, people can actually recognize Provo as a place with an identity and with a music scene,? Wood said.
Some of the currently featured bands are The Eden Express, The Brobecks and Mathematics et cetera. In addition to the broadcast, the producers provide a commentary between songs and also perform interviews with members of some of their featured bands.
Provo Podcast is a non-profit production. It is designed for iPod use as well as regular Internet broadcasting.
?It?s just another channel for music to thrive,? Wood said.
Students or bands interested in having their music played on the show can submit an MP3 at submit@provopodcast.com.