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NO. I don't know where that notion came from but everyone that repeats it seems to think they have found the key to the magic kingdom for saying "ooooh O.A.R., they just want to be on the radio".

I do not think O.A.R. makes music to get on the radio or to become more popular like nickelback. Here is why:

O.A.R. built their fan base using the "Grateful Dead model", a grassroots movement spread by word of mouth, tape trading, and live shows. Bands such as Phish, Dave Matthews Band, and Dispatch have followed the same path. No promotional machine, no stylists, no one paying to get their singles in the top ten, no big record label pushing their albums. Just great music and word of mouth.

I'll use Dispatch as an example to make my point here. Dispatch split up around 2002. TWO years later, 100,00 fans showed up for "the Last Dispatch". FIVE years later, they played 3 sold out shows at MSG. SEVEN years later, they sold out the Kennedy Center. Phish has seen their fans stand by them even while they were on hiatus.

If Marc throws another smoke bomb at Chris' house, and O.A.R. becomes defunct tomorrow, I would bet money that any of their reunion shows would mirror Dispatch's, where fans pour from every corner of the country just to see their favorite band.

Now, lets look at whats "HOT" on the radio. In the top ten we have artists like Lady Gaga, Black Eyed Peas, and Miley Cyrus. If any of those artists were to break up and then play a reunion show five, seven years later, do you think ANYONE would go? NO! HELL NO! For the most part, the "chart toppers" are engineered, advertised and privately funded to get there.

What I'm trying to say here is that O.A.R. has a very large, very dedicated fan base. A fan base that will stand by them whether they are on the radio, on the popular list, on the moon, or on hiatus. Why does O.A.R. need the radio? To get more fans to sell out their shows? . . . uhhh actually O.A.R. puts asses in the seats on their own.

*Any exposure that the radio might get them would pale in comparison to the word of mouth advertising that their fans generate everyday.*

If you knew the band at all, you would know that they are fiercely dedicated to music and they worked hard to achieve this level of success. If they were only in it for the radio airplay or to become popular, then they would have given up about ten years ago when they were playing small gigs night after night after night.