Local radio station WTJU's music collection got a boost two weeks ago when a box of more than 100 CDs arrived at its doorstep.
"There was a mixture of world music, classical music and jazz," WTJU Director Chuck Taylor said. "There was even a nice little four-CD 'best of the 80s' type collection that might do us well."
WTJU, located in Lambeth, and other Charlottesville-area organizations have reaped the benefits of a lawsuit brought against eight music retailers by 40 states, including Virginia, accusing the retailers of price fixing.
CD recipients in some other states have complained about the music selection, but the Charlottesville groups available for comment yesterday said they were happy with the variety.
Taylor said WTJU put many of the CDs into its rotation immediately.
"Though it seemed fairly random, I was impressed with the number of CDs that were appropriate for our programming," Taylor said.
But he added that among the assortment of CDs were many that would not be as useful, including Celine Dion's "A New Day Has Come" and five copies of Jessica Simpson's "Irresistible."
Taylor said it seemed as if the CDs were randomly stuffed into boxes and sent out to the various recipients -- public libraries, schools, hospitals and other institutions across the state that the office of Attorney General Jerry Kilgore chose as beneficiaries.
"As long as the CDs do something to benefit the organization, that is all they care about," Taylor said. "Therefore, we might give some of the less useful CDs away. Although we have no interest in some of the CDs, we want other people to be able to take advantage of them."
The national settlement required the companies to pay $67 million in damages to consumers and distribute $75 million in CDs, which were divided among the plaintiff states based on population.
Virginia received 138,000 CDs. Thousands of them went to Charlottesville public schools, the University's Cancer Center, WTJU, the Hospice of Piedmont and the Sexual Assault Resource Center.
Kilgore came to Charlottesville High School two weeks ago to deliver the CDs to the school system personally.
"I feel like it's a great thing that they are able to get these new CDs," Charlottesville School Board Vice-Chair Julie L. Gronlund said. "It basically generates enthusiasm and creativity among teachers. I don't think it will have a long-term academic impact, but it will be an additional tool to help teachers."
Gronlund said that although some recipients were complaining about the CDs being outdated, the teachers at Charlottesville Public Schools were very excited with what they received. She said teachers will use the CDs to supplement their music curriculums.
"Our teachers were very enthusiastic about the quality of the music that they received," Gronlund said.
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