That's not what we're talking about here. This is a radio station that is building this facility as a place to interact with its listeners, rather than hide from them. It's a very different type of station. This is partly why I call it a charity, not unlike the local opera or museum.
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KEXP Loses New Studio Funding, Gets Half of It Back
- Thread starter Bongwater
- Start date
That's not what we're talking about here. This is a radio station that is building this facility as a place to interact with its listeners, rather than hide from them. It's a very different type of station. This is partly why I call it a charity, not unlike the local opera or museum.
A
AQH
Guest
I usually agree with you on a lot of topics here, but on this one I can't.
As mentioned upthread, the definition of art is up to the interpretation of the individual. Yet in a business where everyone else has got to earn their keep, this feels shady. Whatever happened to the days of getting out of the studios and going out to interact with people? $9 million studios to "interact with the listeners"? It doesn't pass the laugh test.
This extravagance looks a lot like what those slimy televangelists do in building these megachurches, dressing in $3,000 suits and buying private jets.
There is one thing we have not covered: What are the salaries of the people who run KEXP? I personally have not heard of any UW student having the opportunity to be part of a KEXP broadcast. KNHC seems to have a pretty respectable following and professional personalities have little to do with that operation. Don't they deserve a state of the art facility?
Once again, it's not a business, it's a charity. And the listeners have donated $9 million so far. Is it extravagant? Have you ever been to EMP?
http://empmuseum.org/about-emp.aspx
People in Seattle know about great arts facilities. This radio station is aiming to be a great arts radio station. What's wrong with that?
Everybody deserves a state of the art facility. Here's an example of what one station has done to get it. If KNHC wants one to, let them raise the money.
Okay, but what about KING 98.1? I would say that they are a great example of an "arts radio station" who have been able to transition from commercial radio to a listener supported system. I don't recall hearing about any government funding for that particular station, either...
Stations don't put "important" shows on at 5 AM on Sunday. They put "required" shows on then.
There has long been a disconnect between what the FCC administrators think radio should do to "serve" listeners and what listeners want in the way of service. But stations need their licences renewed, so they go through the quick-step song and dance that the FCC demands.
Important shows are the ones that listeners want to hear. They go in morning drive and other prime locations.
Some will say that a fun morning show does not address community needs and issues. Listeners, though, very much have a need for some entertainment and information and music in their lives and providing that is what stations do best.
Heck, it has been about 60 years and the United Nations (not to mention the League of Nations before it) have not fixed the needs and issues of the world. So I don't think radio stations are going to have much better luck. But they can make the day just a tiny bit better for listeners.
Opera's and museum are definitely not charities.
Radio stations, even non-comm's, are businesses. Churches are businesses (although there may be a charity existing within the business).
So long as the listeners and not taxpayers are donating to this business I have no issue. When taxpayer money is involved then I aggressively oppose it.
Like AQH said, I usually agree with you Big A, but not completely on this issue. That being said, I do agree that if KEXP is able to raise the funds from Paul Allen (who has been one of the larger contributors to KEXP in the past), or whoever to build fancy new studios and offices, then good on them. Philosophically though, I struggle with comparing a non-comm radio station with Carnegie Hall or the National Gallery of Art. Those are facilities visited by the public with the interest focused on the visual and physical aspects of their presentation or product. A radio station is a non-visual, aural experience. The amount of money thrown in palatial facilities, doesn't improve the listening experience. In fact, I argue that stations who have attained some sort of edge in their programming and appeal, seem to lose that edge after they move into a fancy facility. I can show, and experienced several examples of where that happened.
KING has a benefactor who's almost as rich as the state. They're tied in with the Seattle Symphony in ways that make me think there's probably some state funding there.
The other thing is that KEXP's license is owned by the state. So it's logical that the state wants to support the U of W, especially in an educational endeavor.
If the government only gave money to people in need, I'd agree with you. But they don't. Anyone can apply for a government grant. Including for profit businesses.
Commercial radio stations get government money in the form of advertising. I know, because I work with their ad agency on getting spots from them. Federal agencies spend millions of dollars buying advertising. So do the states. If you hear a drunk driving spot and it doesn't say "Ad Council" at the end, it's a paid commercial.
Sorry, but you just don't know what you're talking about here. If you'd simply LOOK at the drawings of the studios, you'd see that the public will visit the studio, and get treated to a visual experience: A live concert. That's why it costs so much. As I said this is NOT a traditional radio station. Please try to think a little outside the box.
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I think one could argue that the programming on KING is indeed considered public art, while the programming on KEXP walks the fine line of interpretation. Unfortunately, I don't know exactly know how many people attend the Seattle Symphony, but I imagine the occupancy of the concert hall could give you a pretty accurate guess. How many people attend the concerts that KEXP puts on?
The studio hasn't been built yet.
Why doesn't KEXP move their studios to the UW campus? I'll bet they have room somewhere, perhaps in the HUB?
Incidentally, I think the stations' license was recently assigned from the U of W to "Friends of KEXP". However, I seem to remember a stipulation in the agreement to allow lots of UW PSA's to be aired for the next 10 years. Or something like that. I'm too lazy tonight to get on the FCC website to look at the assignment document.
I am also hearing that the old tower might be coming down on McMahon Hall. They are either remodeling that dorm or tearing the building down.
Incidentally, I think the stations' license was recently assigned from the U of W to "Friends of KEXP". However, I seem to remember a stipulation in the agreement to allow lots of UW PSA's to be aired for the next 10 years. Or something like that. I'm too lazy tonight to get on the FCC website to look at the assignment document.
I am also hearing that the old tower might be coming down on McMahon Hall. They are either remodeling that dorm or tearing the building down.
There are plenty of venues in the Seattle area to host whatever size of station-event. These venues have available security, parking and bathrooms. KEXP could take a fraction of the money for building their own performance sound stage and host regular live or recorded events. And yes, I've tried looking at this from different angles and "outside the box", but it still doesn't make sense.
Just curious.. You seem to be pretty opinionated defending this plan Big A. Do you have any skin in the game?
Absolutely not! Once again, this is a non-commercial venture. I'm defending it because it's a unique idea.
So many of the posts at Radio Discussions are filled with people complaining about the lack of imagination being used by radio today. So many radio stations are just corporate assets designed to make money for stockholders. That's not the case for this radio station. It's stated mission is to promote music for its listeners. It's very idealistic. They've come up with very ambitious plans to make this radio station special, and its listeners have stepped up to the plate with $9 million in donations. And all anyone on this board can do is try to turn them into another corporate jukebox doing radio on the cheap.
Don't you think there are enough cheap radio stations already? Don't you think it's time someone had a little imagination? I think it's great, and the fact that they've already raised most of the money should tell you that I'm not alone.
Here's what the Seattle Foundation said about KEXP:
KEXP is more than a radio station. It is an eclectic nonprofit arts organization that serves music lovers, artists, and the broader community over the airwaves, online, and in the streets. KEXP enriches people’s lives by championing music and discovery, with a relentless focus on curatorial excellence. Our vision is a world where music connects and inspires people everywhere, creating meaning and understanding in our lives.
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Okay, true, but how do we really know that anyone will show up to these concerts that they intend to put on?
I personally am a fan an in-studio concert venue like many AAA radio stations use (Sort of like the "Bing Lounge" at KINK-Portland). Isn't that enough? In a setting like that, you can get a smaller audience to come see a performance that they really want to see as opposed to a partially full concert venue which may or may not have a rowdy crowd.
At any rate, I'd like to know how many people are expected to show up at the KEXP concert series.
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Of course. I certainly see your point. With that being said, I still don't really see what is going to be added to the actual broadcast. After all, this is a radio station.
Please go to www.kexp.org. You'll find lots of things there to answer all of your questions and concerns.
I doubt you'd see a UW student anywhere near KEXP now. And probably no chance of them getting an airshift, because they started cutting airshifts in the early 1990's.
It used to be all volunteers, with maybe 3, part-time paid positions (aside from the GM, who technically worked for KUOW).
It stopped being associated with students when they started going corporate.
PS -- when they were housed in an ex-classroom (with two small studios) in the 1990's they still had artists do acoustic sets. A lot of stations do.
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