Sound, Tracks

The next Tracy Chapman who dreams of graduating from T stops to more-august venues may have to turn up the volume: This month the MBTA begins testing a subway radio station that might soon be piped to all underground platforms. But Pyramid Radio, a local firm run by ex–KISS 108 pooh-bah Richie Balsbaugh that provides music for stores like CVS, says it wants to win over buskers, not drown them out. To that end, it’s hired singer Livingston Taylor (brother of James) to spin tunes by T musicians. In fact, as far as music goes, outside of the amateurs there won’t be much. An early demo reveals a talk-heavy format full of news briefs and, of course, ads (Pyramid says the station could be a seven-figure-a-year cash cow for the MBTA). When Taylor’s not on the mike, the chatter will come from the ubiquitous Lenny Clarke, who’s been tapped to edge out transit chief Dan Grabauskas as voice of the T. If Taylor’s brother helps him earn some cred with the tunnels’ music makers, Clarke’s connections should do him even better—his brother was a Green Line conductor.