“Not 97” Podcast Again Honored by Webby Awards

NOT 97, the podcast for discovering new music from talented, under-the-radar artists from around the world, has been honored two years in a row by the Webby Awards. Not 97 was recognized this year in the Podcast - Music category, and last year, prior to the establishment of a Webby music category, it was acknowledged in the Podcast – Art and Culture category.

The Not 97 title is a spin on hit radio, specifically a local New York City radio station that plays only the hits. “We’re not that,” said Matthew Schonfeld, one of the founders of Not 97, who adds, “Not 97 is all about up-and-coming artists whose music deserves to be heard.”

On each episode of Not 97, Matt and his two co-hosts – RaShaad, also a co-founder of Not 97 who works in the fashion industry, and Genesis Garcia, who works at Def Jam Records – each present two tracks that have been released in the last six to eight months from artists with under 10,000 followers. Discourse and context round out each show, as the team breaks down what they hear and what each sound means to them.

Each episode of Not 97 also features interviews with guests from the music industry, including label executives, journalists, and, of course, artists about fresh music found in the depths of the internet. The interviews take place at Noah, a clothing store in New York City’s trendy SoHo neighborhood.

Not 97 is in its sixth season and has its own sponsor, Amuse, a Swedish-based record label and free distribution service. Branching out its presence across platforms, Not 97 presents live events, appropriately titled Not A Showcase, and offers a video series hosted on its website at www.not97.com called Breakfast Sessions. Shot at a musician’s home, the hosts interview the artist cook their favorite breakfast, and the artists performs live.