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A new show on Prog Radio where deep cuts shine and the obscure becomes unforgettable.


Panelist Guide

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Show Overview

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Goal:

Expose Prog Radio listeners to 10 lesser-known songs or artists they may not have discovered on their own—deep cuts, hidden gems, and musical surprises that deserve to be "dug."
 

Panel Format:

  • 5 panelists per episode

  • Each panelist brings 2 songs

  • 10 total tracks per show

  • Audio-only show broadcast on Prog Radio, select Fridays at Noon ET / 4 PM GMT

  • Also available on-demand after airing in the Echo Chamber


Recording Method:

  • Pre-recorded via StreamYard (5-panel video layout)

  • Audio only will be used in the final broadcast

  • No need for fancy attire or lighting—just a quality mic and a quiet space
     

Show Format

  1. Each panelist introduces a song.

  2. The track is played in full.

  3. "Around the Horn" discussion: Each of the other four panelists will:

    • Give it a score from 1 to 5 shovels (each shovel is one point)

    • Explain why they did or didn’t dig it

    • Say if they were familiar with the song or not (used for bonus points)

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Scoring Scale

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                                1 - I wanted to gouge my ears out with a fork!

                                2 - Eh, not my thing

                                3 - It was awwwright

                                4 - I dug it

                                5 - Play it again!

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Bonus Points
                       Up to four bonus points are awarded for each panelist who was not familiar with the song.

      One additional bonus point is awarded if ALL FOUR of the other panelists were not familiar with the song.

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This brings the total possible points per song to 25 and the total possible points per panelist per episode to 50.​

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Golden Shovel Songs

                   

 

 

Any song that gets the total possible 25 points is a "Golden Shovel" song (every panelist was NOT familiar with the song AND they each gave it the full 5-shovel rating).  These songs are highlighted on our website, etc.

 

Winner

The panelist who receives the highest score (up to the possible 50 points per episode) wins the episode. 

🎖️ Winner gets bragging rights!

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Panelist Prep Checklist
 

  • Choose 2 songs that meet the following criteria:

    • Lesser-known (even if by a known artist)

    • Likely to be appreciated (high shovel potential)

    • Surprising, bold, interesting!

    • Song selections can be up to about 12 minutes long (no extended epics). To respect the panel members’ time during taping, any song over 8 minutes will be faded out around the 8-minute mark, but the full track will be played during the actual show.

  • Email Kevin your picks ahead of time so he can have the queued up: kevin@progradio.com

  • Be ready at recording time (link and time will be emailed to you).

  • No need to show up early—we’ll start once everyone’s sound-checked.

  • Use a quality microphone and find a quiet environment.


What Kind of Songs Should You Pick?

✅ Great Picks Include:

  • New Releases: Fresh, possibly undiscovered tracks—even from big names

  • Deep Cuts: Hidden album tracks people might’ve missed

  • Prog-Adjacent or Off-Genre: Something not strictly prog that still rocks

  • Unique Takes: Covers, live versions, remixes, even your own music!

  • Take a Risk: It's all for fun, so take some risks — even if the others don’t end up digging it!  

🚫 Not Allowed: No obvious classics—don’t bring a universally loved prog hit—everyone already digs that.


Tips for a Killer Episode

  • Use your best headphones/earbuds: To dig each song fully, you'll want to hear them as clearly as possible.

  • Bring your personality: Think couch hangs with friends, not formal music reviews.

  • Be honest but respectful: Differing opinions make the show fun!

  • Don’t be afraid to surprise: The "Whoa! I didn’t expect to love that!" moments are gold.

  • Use humor and have fun: The more relaxed and playful, the more engaging it’ll be for listeners.

  • Hang out with listeners: If you're available when the show airs, jump into the Listener’s Lounge to chat with fans and discuss the episode in real time!

 

Streamyard Settings

  • Since the video will not be used, only the audio, set your video resolution to 720p. This helps free up bandwidth for smoother, more reliable audio.

  • Audio Settings:  
    - Echo cancellation - OFF
    - Reduce mic background noise - OFF
    - Stereo audio - ON
    - Automatically adjust mic volume - OFF

  • Because no one will be seeing you, wear headphones or earbuds so you can hear the music as clearly as possible.

  • Keep in mind that StreamYard will compress the audio. The songs will be clear enough to judge, but the fidelity will not be as high as a CD. When the show is broadcast on the station, the songs will be replaced in post-production with the original high-quality audio files, so listeners will hear them in full fidelity.


Future Ideas

  • “Guess the Artist”: Play a track without revealing the artist—let panelists guess

  • Listener Participation: Do the show live and let listeners in the Listener’s Lounge give live shovel ratings

  • Running Scoreboard: Track panelist wins over time


Final Thoughts

Have fun. Be real. Share music you love that others need to hear.
If you have a question, an idea, or just want to talk music—Kevin’s all ears.

kevin@progradio.com


Let’s dig it!

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