Music News

Posted: Sat., Feb. 17, 2007, 5:00am PT

Oscar DJ hopes to fill chairs

KCRW's Richardson to select cuts at show

Rambling speeches may be the most visible problem at the Academy Awards, but they're not the only headache for those producing the kudocast. The folks who dash out for a smoke or hop seats also bring chaos to the proceedings.

This year, in part to quell antsy attendees during commercial breaks, the Oscar ceremony will have its very first DJ.

Groovy. But how to play to such a disparate crowd?

"That is the tricky challenge, for sure," says the chosen music maestro, Liza Richardson, who is also a music supervisor (TV's "Friday Night Lights") and DJ on public radio station KCRW. "I am bringing an arsenal of music and I plan to play from my gut."

Richardson won't divulge her playlist, but Oscar attendees can expect to hear an obscure Latin-style version of James Brown's "Sex Machine" and 1934 Oscar song winner "Carioca," sung by Mel Torme.

"There's no one song that can appeal to everyone," says Richardson.

Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

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