It’s funny how ubiquitous free music is becoming.

I mean, there was the whole Wilco experiment with “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.” And then there was Radiohead’s “pay as much as you want” and releasing a full album on the Internet.

And, of course, there’s the modified course, such as Paul Westerbergs 49:00, which is a whole album of material that was briefly available at 99 cents on Amazon and some other sites.

But I ran into a new one recently. I get up between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. to begin my shift. Now the first three or four hours of my shift is right there in my bedroom at the computer station. That’s where I write my morning column.

And while I’m writing, the TiVo often will change the TV station (yes, I have the TV on generally, even at that hour of the morning) so that it can download its content. It does this two or three times a week.

Anyway, it basically runs modified advertising while its downloading schedules and the such on to your TiVo box. And it is often the same stuff, repeated over and over.

One of those extended commercials that played through what seemed an entire summer was a tourism ad for the state of Texas. And one of the songs that played on it was really catchy — generally, a little more country than most of my likes, but I still liked it. Kind of like if the Cowboy Junkies went ultra pop.

Anyway, I searched far and wide for the song. First iTunes — no luck. Then Google, then Limewire and Bearshare, all with no luck. Egads, it seemed unfindable.

Then I went to the state of Texas’ tourism Web site, and after mining through enough the page, I found a link to the mp3. Not only a video of the commercial , but also a downloadable mp3 free of charge.

Heck, I wanted to pay for it, but they must look at it as a form of advertisement. Not that I’m complaining, but it hurts my head sometimes when I think back to 10 years ago and how unfathomable that scenario would have been.

Is it where it needs to be? Probably not. But the electronic makeup of music has forced the industry to change, even if it’s at a snails pace.

By the way, the song was “I’m Free” by Barbara Breckinridge. And no, it isn’t the song made popular by The Who, but you probably already figured that out by my description of the song.

By Eric Lochridge

Pink Floyd founding member Richard Wright died of cancer Monday at age 65. He wrote “The Great Gig in the Sky” and “Us and Them” from the band’s seminal album “The Dark Side of the Moon.” Wright left the band in the early ’80s but returned for 1987’s “A Momentary Lapse of Reason.”

In his memory I offer my five favorite Pink Floyd songs:

1. Wish You Were Here
2. Brain Damage
3. Shine on You Crazy Diamond
4. Comfortably Numb
5. The Final Cut

What are yours?

By Crystal Hohenthaner
Journal staff

Is there anything short of murder that I can do to make Colbie Callait go away forever! Not only does she have three songs currently on pop radio and VH1 — all of them are intensely overplayed and they SUCK!

Okay, I’ll dial back the frustration a bit. They don’t completely suck. They have reasonably good lyrics — which would usually be enough for me. But come on, was she trying to make this music boring? Every time I get into my car I hear that iambic drone of hers and I want to puke!

DA da DA da DA da DA da
DA da DA da DA da DA da

In fact I usually say, “spare me,” out loud and everything. But I can’t escape. When I change the station — there she is again!

DA da DA da DA da DA da
DA da DA da DA da DA da

Enough already. Man can someone teach that girl about driving bass-lines and percussion? Can I get a riff please?

I’m also pretty sick of Natasha Bettingfield and Jordan Sparks — mostly because both are overplayed on both the secular and Christian stations. Oh, and their songs are all WAY too long. I mean even if I didn’t hear them constantly I’m pretty much tired of the song before it’s even half over!

Oh, and that Three Doors Down song is so over I want to punch the lead singer!

So what songs are you all sick of hearing on the radio? Maybe the forces of the universe will be kind and the people who choose programming for the local radio stations will see our posts and take these songs out of heavy rotation.

Let’s hear it! Oh, or quit hearing it.

By Eric Lochridge

Looks like that long-awaited Yes tour is going to happen without singer Jon Anderson, who has been advised by his doctors to take a little rest. Benoit David, a member of several Yes tribute bands, was found through YouTube videos of his performances. The AP story is here.

By Eric Lochridge

With Metallica and Jessica Simpson both releasing new albums this week, it appears that the fall album rush is on.

I’m looking forward to the Sept. 23 release of the new Kings of Leon album and a December EP from Coldplay.

Alas, U2 is still deep in the diamond mine and won’t have its long-awaited new album out till next year.

Who am I not thinking of?