• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

Help KPLU pick its new call letters!

Rob Piotrowski said:
But remember, call letters don't matter, do they.
Click to expand...

Well, somebody made the effort to set up a SurveyMonkey page and talk about it with the TNT. So it matters to at least one person on Earth right now. I voted KPJZ.
 
I vote for KNSF once they realize how much this bugger is going to cost long term. Hee hee. And it IS available!
 
Two ideas in mind: KJUW (Jazz-University-of-Washington), or KUWH (UW-Huskies).
As for KVIX-89.3, how about KJPV? Jazz Port-Angeles-Victoria. 90.1 KPLI could be KJOP. As for KPLK 88.9, how about KJSK (Jazz-Skagit)?
 
TheBigA said:
Why U of W? They lost.

I'd also recommend against putting JZ in the letters. Don't want to type-cast as a jazz station when it's promoting itself as a news station.
Click to expand...

This is somewhat of a jigsaw puzzle. I have entered atleast 10 possible calls, but they all are taken. I'll keep on it, but the good, logical ones seem to be taken. On the other hand, do calls mean that much anymore? Why not just call it KDGH, and let the frequency do the talking. It is available! Call it Husky-88.5.
 
seatownmedia said:
Why not just call it KDGH, and let the frequency do the talking. It is available! Call it Husky-88.5.
Click to expand...

Guess you didn't get the hint "A" mentioned above - UW isn't getting the frequency. It's been bought privately, and moving back to Tacoma (eventually).

And yes, call letters don't matter, according to a couple of curmudgeonly commentators in this communications conclave.
 
Last edited:
Rob Piotrowski said:
Guess you didn't get the hint "A" mentioned above - UW isn't getting the frequency. It's been bought privately, and moving back to Tacoma (eventually).

And yes, call letters don't matter, according to a couple of curmudgeonly commentators in this communications conclave.
Click to expand...

Oh. I guess hard to follow out here in the sticks. Thanks for the clarification.
 
I went with KNJB...

NPR "N"ews, "J"azz and "B"lues.
 
TheBigA said:
Why U of W? They lost.

I'd also recommend against putting JZ in the letters. Don't want to type-cast as a jazz station when it's promoting itself as a news station.
Click to expand...

Somehow, jazz and talk always go (or get lumped in) together.

Reminds me of this classic....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Cd9YJvoQIg

PLU missed an opportunity to snag the KJZZ call letters after 1540 dropped them in 1985. And ironically the KJZZ calls are now permanently stuck at a mostly news/talk public station in Phoenix that only airs jazz late at night.
 
Bongwater said:
PLU missed an opportunity to snag the KJZZ call letters after 1540 dropped them in 1985. And ironically the KJZZ calls are now permanently stuck at a mostly news/talk public station in Phoenix that only airs jazz late at night.
Click to expand...

Yes I know...that's why I'd recommend against type-casting the station with jazz call letters.
 
TheBigA said:
Yes I know...that's why I'd recommend against type-casting the station with jazz call letters.
Click to expand...

Well, I strongly doubt 88.5 is going to flip to news/talk anytime soon. I kind of think jazz IS in the equation since that is roughly 60-70% of their programming (factoring in the blues shows, ATC, ME and the weekend stuff each week.)

As far as news coverage goes, 88.5 is deeper. But jazz fans tend to think deeply. Skiddly-dee-bop-bop-bop.

The purchase I believe was to ensure both parts of KPLU's success as both a world class jazz radio station and a deeper source of details on local and regional news remain intact. It wouldn't be this lovable institution we have if it were just one or the other.

It's a formula that's worked beautifully for 32 years and will continue to do so because as people enter into their 30s, they tend to explore their musical frontiers more and start listening to music their teenage selves wouldn't have been caught dead listening to. Some of my old high school friends who were once heavy metal hairballs have now defected to country. It's scary.

And one of those frontiers is always jazz. And enough people have become fans over the years to make 88.5 so much of a priority in their lives out of everything else that they raised a record amount of money in a record amount of time to make damn sure it stays that way. If it were just the news on 88.5 that mattered, I'm sure they would have collectively spoken and the direction would change to less emphasis on jazz. But that's not what I'm seeing.

So yes, jazz call letters would probably be in order. Because no matter what, the jazz is here to stay on 88.5.
 
Bongwater said:
If it were just the news on 88.5 that mattered, I'm sure they would have collectively spoken and the direction would change to less emphasis on jazz.
Click to expand...

On the other hand, if the members really wanted the emphasis to be on jazz, then there wouldn't have been such drive to prevent the sale to UOW. Because they said they were going to make it 24/7 jazz. So yes, I agree that the membership wants the current mix to continue. That's why I think any call letters should either include both, or neither. My vote would be for neither. I'd offer KUPL (retaining the current letters in different order) but they're already taken by a station in Portland.
 
I would go for KNJW, as in News Jazz Washington.
 
Yes, Bob, my first thought as well. But the letters already belong to a gospel/talk station in North Little Rock, Ark. Sharing THE WORD with at least 15 other religiously oriented signals in town, BTW. That city is RIGHTEOUS!
 
I gave 'em 3 with explanations for each:

KPJZ, KPLJ, or KJZW.

I'll expect a Jazz 24 coffee mug and/or an "I Support 88.5" sticker in the mail for my helpful suggestions :)

Radio-X
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom