Dead air on KDXB-LP 95.3 (except for...)

[Kelly A]

It's shocking that it was on for this long! The unfortunate part is that KDXB is a prime example of why so many radio insiders don't support LPFM radio. The reality is that most LPFM stations will not succeed unless they have a clear audience to target and a service that isn't found anywhere else on the dial.

Don't forget, beyond construction and legal expenses, at least a year of operating funds in the bank.

Most LPFMs don't come close to meeting this benchmark. A jukebox-like format without any other actual content didn't have a chance.

Most of the 'radio insider's', myself included, don't like the idea of LPFM because:
* More congestion on an already crowded band.
* Reduction of quality in the market. It's like your neighbor painting his house pink and leaving a bunch of dead cars in the front yard. Detracts from the professional product in the neighborhood and devalues other properties.

 

[fordranger797]

Don't forget, beyond construction and legal expenses, at least a year of operating funds in the bank.

Most of the 'radio insider's', myself included, don't like the idea of LPFM because:
* More congestion on an already crowded band.
* Reduction of quality in the market. It's like your neighbor painting his house pink and leaving a bunch of dead cars in the front yard. Detracts from the professional product in the neighborhood and devalues other properties.

Absolutely spot on. Unless you're actually serving a specific community with content that cannot be found anywhere else, LPFM is a complete waste of time, money, and bandwidth. There are only a few limited scenarios where it could be effective. The Vashon LPFM is the only good example that comes to mind.

 

[b-turner]

I don't know that LPFM lowers values. I see most LPFMs as that garden shed behind the wood privacy fence around the full power station. Generally speaking the LPFM is an unknown by the general public. A few do a great job and they have their tiny township sized population center they serve. Most are unknown or reach so few, the public likely has no clue they're on the dial. Certainly any radio station operator knows the LPFM cannot be sold but rather exchanged for actual value down to a plain gift to another non-profit. In that respect they can't lower radio station values because they can't be sold for a profit.

 

[Ralph Martin]

Absolutely spot on. Unless you're actually serving a specific community with content that cannot be found anywhere else, LPFM is a complete waste of time, money, and bandwidth. There are only a few limited scenarios where it could be effective. The Vashon LPFM is the only good example that comes to mind.

Don't judge us too harshly. As an LPFM broadcaster, I find the professional broadcasters in our area to be immensely supportive of what we do.

LPFM is another type of community expression. The successful ones work hand in hand with their full power counterparts to make the entire dial even more interesting. In our case, it's education. In some instances LPFM stations foster a special community relationship with their listeners.

Sometimes little LPFMs can be a safety advantage to their community. During the California fires, our city was going through evacuation street by street. The local full-power station, with transmitter main and auxiliary sites in the surrounding mountains, was unfortunately burned out by the fire. Because our station was an LPFM, with our antenna on our studio building, we were the only local station left on the air during the emergency. We stayed in the studio for 72 hours with lots of coffee relaying city emergency evacuation messages to our community until the residents could go back to their homes and the full-power station broadcasts were restored. The power of radio -- even if you're the little LPFM -- can be substantial if you work together.

Yes, some LPFMs don't make it through their trials, but many do. My hats off to the ones that succeed and even to the ones that failed and learned something. I wish them well in their next endeavor.

Ralph
KVCB-LP

 

[fordranger797]

Don't judge us too harshly. As an LPFM broadcaster, I find the professional broadcasters in our area to be immensely supportive of what we do.

LPFM is another type of community expression. The successful ones work hand in hand with their full power counterparts to make the entire dial even more interesting. In our case, it's education. In some instances LPFM stations foster a special community relationship with their listeners.

Sometimes little LPFMs can be a safety advantage to their community. During the California fires, our city was going through evacuation street by street. The local full-power station, with transmitter main and auxiliary sites in the surrounding mountains, was unfortunately burned out by the fire. Because our station was an LPFM, with our antenna on our studio building, we were the only local station left on the air during the emergency. We stayed in the studio for 72 hours with lots of coffee relaying city emergency evacuation messages to our community until the residents could go back to their homes and the full-power station broadcasts were restored. The power of radio -- even if you're the little LPFM -- can be substantial if you work together.

Yes, some LPFMs don't make it through their trials, but many do. My hats off to the ones that succeed and even to the ones that failed and learned something. I wish them well in their next endeavor.

Ralph
KVCB-LP

Sorry if my comment came off as harsh. It sounds like your LPFM is providing a very important service in your community, and we can all respect that. There are some who dislike LPFM in all scenarios, but I can certainly see how it can be an effective service when there is a community that can benefit from hyperlocal content. Focusing on the Seattle area once more, we've seen a few LPFM stations come and go over the years, and very few have provided any real service at all. One LPFM was put together haphazardly, and then was "hacked" multiple times with egregious content going out over the airwaves. KDXB served more of a "jukebox" role, airing unedited pop music in Greater Seattle. There have been a few of these jukebox LPs over the years, and it's hard to name all of them as they tend to cycle in and out pretty frequently. I never understood the point of this type of station, because it always seemed like the owner literally decided to hook up their iTunes playlist to the transmitter. Whether or not this was the original intention, it is impossible to say. And of course, it should be noted that there is nothing inherently wrong with a LPFM that becomes a jukebox station, but in some of these local examples, the content has led to a multitude of FCC violations (not that they care).

I still think that the Vashon Island LPFM is a great example of a station that is similar to KVCB. In this specific scenario, you have a landmass close in proximity to Seattle that is largely ignored by local media. Naturally, a LPFM services that community with local content.

 

[Kelly A]

Don't judge us too harshly. As an LPFM broadcaster, I find the professional broadcasters in our area to be immensely supportive of what we do.

LPFM is another type of community expression. The successful ones work hand in hand with their full power counterparts to make the entire dial even more interesting. In our case, it's education. In some instances LPFM stations foster a special community relationship with their listeners.

Sometimes little LPFMs can be a safety advantage to their community. During the California fires, our city was going through evacuation street by street. The local full-power station, with transmitter main and auxiliary sites in the surrounding mountains, was unfortunately burned out by the fire. Because our station was an LPFM, with our antenna on our studio building, we were the only local station left on the air during the emergency. We stayed in the studio for 72 hours with lots of coffee relaying city emergency evacuation messages to our community until the residents could go back to their homes and the full-power station broadcasts were restored. The power of radio -- even if you're the little LPFM -- can be substantial if you work together.

Yes, some LPFMs don't make it through their trials, but many do. My hats off to the ones that succeed and even to the ones that failed and learned something. I wish them well in their next endeavor.

Ralph
KVCB-LP

Yes but Ralph, you run a school station. It's not unlike the past of school district funded NCE-FM stations started in the 60's and 70's. In your case, the license just happens to be an LPFM rather than a Class D, A, or B. Parents are supportive of an operation that caters to their kids, as is the community. That, and NCE's were relegated to one end of the dial. If a listener ventured there, you knew what the potential quality of the product was going to be. Now LPFM's are scattered all over the band, depending on where they could be shoe-horned in.

The majority of LPFM's, many that have failed in fact, are run by applicants who just want to play radio, or feel that their personal music or programming preferences will set their station apart from public and commercial stations, garnering equal levels of public financial support. Those dreams and ideals usually don't pan out.

I'm not saying that LPFM's have no place at all. LPFM's that provide Traveler's Information Services, A local church who wants to reach folks who can't attend in person, or a school who isn't in a position to own a full-class station. All of those make sense. Sprinkling amateur-hour personal jukeboxes all over the FM band definitely degrades the neighborhood. There are younger people that potentially could be interested in what's on good ol' fashioned radio after hearing about it from their parents. Having dead carriers or failed sandbox garbage move in next door, does nothing for the local neighborhood.

 

[Delete My Account]

Some LPFMs have managed to balance the eclectic with the sustainable due to the vision and commitment of their founders. KXRN in Laguna Beach - strongly alternative music selection but also very community minded and engaged. Xray in Portland also. They may be the exception - but there are some exceptional LPFMs.

 

[Ralph Martin]

Yes, but Ralph, you run a school station. It's not unlike the past of school district funded NCE-FM stations started in the 60's and 70's. In your case, the license just happens to be an LPFM rather than a Class D, A, or B. Parents are supportive of an operation that caters to their kids, as is the community. That, and NCE's were relegated to one end of the dial. If a listener ventured there, you knew what the potential quality of the product was going to be. Now LPFM's are scattered all over the band, depending on where they could be shoe-horned in.

The majority of LPFM's, many that have failed in fact, are run by applicants who just want to play radio, or feel that their personal music or programming preferences will set their station apart from public and commercial stations, garnering equal levels of public financial support. Those dreams and ideals usually don't pan out.

I'm not saying that LPFM's have no place at all. LPFM's that provide Traveler's Information Services, A local church who wants to reach folks who can't attend in person, or a school who isn't in a position to own a full-class station. All of those make sense. Sprinkling amateur-hour personal jukeboxes all over the FM band definitely degrades the neighborhood. There are younger people that potentially could be interested in what's on good ol' fashioned radio after hearing about it from their parents. Having dead carriers or failed sandbox garbage move in next door, does nothing for the local neighborhood.

I'd have to disagree respectfully. It is true that we could be compared to the class D stations but, except for Alaska, these are no longer available to new applicants. I would argue that LPFM works for us because that class of license was designed for us and many others.

Dotting the landscape with "failing" LPFMs is technically no more impactful than dotting the landscape with "failing" low power translators and class A operations. For every technical misstep, you can sight with an LPFM, I can sight the same with their professional counterparts -- including long stretches of dead air and inconsequential content. The difference is that LPFMs that don't take their responsibilities seriously will lose their license while failing translators stay around until their owners get tired of paying their bills or their legal department gets tired of finding loopholes to keep them on.

Failed LPFMs will leave the air eventually. Successful LPFMs will remain. It should be true of all stations.

You've stated that about 40% of LPFMs are successful. I don't know the true numbers, but if you think about it, your saying that 4 in ten amateur broadcasters succeed along with their professional colleagues. That, for me is a sign of a successful talent farm. Don't look at failed LPFMs as a problem, look at successful LPFMs as a valuable asset to radio. The bad ones, well -- they'll be gone soon enough.

 

[Kelly A]

I'd have to disagree respectfully. It is true that we could be compared to the class D stations but, except for Alaska, these are no longer available to new applicants. I would argue that LPFM works for us because that class of license was designed for us and many others.

I never said new Class D stations were available. The comparison were those existing NCE stations that are already licensed as Class D. My point was that the only option for a new school station was filing for an LPFM, at least when and if the next window opens. Since few NCE stations still have a true radio broadcast vocational curriculum, most remaining NCE stations are intended for promoting the school district, or just student and parent entertainment.
And that brings up another point: Since radio is hiring talent from outside traditional media and in much fewer numbers than the good old days, the need for NCE stations as farm teams for vocational purposes, has pretty well dried up.

Dotting the landscape with "failing" LPFMs are technically no more impactful than dotting the landscape with "failing" low power translators and class A operations.

With the addition of FM translators for AM stations, there aren't many "failed" translators around. Remaining failed translators are typically in the NCE portion of the band where commercial AM stations can't go. Failed Class A stations are pretty few and far between. The ones that do fail, are usually due to the area/market economics that won't support a local station. Many of the religious organizations like EMF are quick to pick those full-class stations up at fire sale (or bankruptcy/receivership) pennies on the dollar, because the parent organization runs on donations.

For every technical misstep, you can sight with an LPFM, I can sight the same with their professional counterparts -- including long stretches of dead air and inconsequential content. The difference is that LPFMs that don't take their responsibilities seriously will lose their license while failing translators stay around until their owners get tired of paying their bills or their legal department gets tired of finding loopholes to keep them on.

I think you'd struggle trying to compare failed professional full-class FM stations with failed LPFM's one-to-one. Many of the LPFM's were either never built, or went silent within their first year of operation. Conversely, most failed commercial stations have been on the air for many years, but have failed due to the overall market landscape changes, mismanagement, or being an AM station. You're right that many LPFM operator's don't know what they're getting into. That's ultimately their responsibility though.

Failed LPFMs will leave the air eventually. Successful LPFMs will remain. It should be true of all stations.

You've stated that about 40% of LPFMs are successful. I don't know the true numbers, but if you think about it, your saying that 4 in ten amateur broadcasters succeed along with their professional colleagues. That, for me is a sign of a successful talent farm. Don't look at failed LPFMs as a problem, look at successful LPFMs as a valuable asset to radio. The bad ones, well -- they'll be gone soon enough.

Except for the premise that LPFM could ever be a farm team for professional radio, I agree, but what I don't want to happen, is another round of spectrum auctions or LPFM CP's issued to new potential licensees who will degrade the band that much more due to not knowing what they're doing, then failing in the process.
What's the definition of insanity?

 

[Ralph Martin]

I never said new Class D stations were available. The comparison were those existing NCE stations that are already licensed as Class D. My point was that the only option for a new school station was filing for an LPFM, at least when and if the next window opens. Since few NCE stations still have a true radio broadcast vocational curriculum, most remaining NCE stations are intended for promoting the school district, or just student and parent entertainment.
And that brings up another point: Since radio is hiring talent from outside traditional media and in much fewer numbers than the good old days, the need for NCE stations as farm teams for vocational purposes, has pretty well dried up.

With the addition of FM translators for AM stations, there aren't many "failed" translators around. Remaining failed translators are typically in the NCE portion of the band where commercial AM stations can't go. Failed Class A stations are pretty few and far between. The ones that do fail, are usually due to the area/market economics that won't support a local station. Many of the religious organizations like EMF are quick to pick those full-class stations up at fire sale (or bankruptcy/receivership) pennies on the dollar, because the parent organization runs on donations.

I think you'd struggle trying to compare failed professional full-class FM stations with failed LPFM's one-to-one. Many of the LPFM's were either never built, or went silent within their first year of operation. Conversely, most failed commercial stations have been on the air for many years, but have failed due to the overall market landscape changes, mismanagement, or being an AM station. You're right that many LPFM operator's don't know what they're getting into. That's ultimately their responsibility though.

Except for the premise that LPFM could ever be a farm team for professional radio, I agree, but what I don't want to happen, is another round of spectrum auctions or LPFM CP's issued to new potential licensees who will degrade the band that much more due to not knowing what they're doing, then failing in the process.
What's the definition of insanity?

Kelly, I respect you, but I think we'll never come together on this issue. You're not wrong with your arguments, but we're looking at the same half-glass. It's just a matter of whether we see it as half full or half empty.

I'm glad LPFM was implemented. I'm happy we were allowed to have a hand in shaping the broadcast landscape. We'll continue to be grateful for the professional engineers, broadcasters, and business folks in the industry who see our value. I'll continue to be inspired by other successful LPFMs and full-power operations.

They are the contents of my half-FULL glass!

And, I appreciate the opportunities to spar with those who respectfully disagree with me as you do. I enjoy it. We all end up more vital in the process.

I suppose we can all agree on our love for radio!

 

[fordranger797]

Let's look at commercial radio stations for one minute. There are many commercial radio stations, many of which are located in smaller towns or even on the AM band, that some experts would probably define as "mismanaged." Even though they may not have the resources of a major market cluster, they still make the effort to keep their investment afloat. They still hire professional broadcast engineers to keep the station on the air, and abide by FCC regulations. This isn't always the case for LPFM stations. Of course, there are LPFM operators who use their stations for the intended purpose, and take just as much care in following FCC guidelines. Running an antenna up a tree haphazardly (which really did happen in the Seattle area) is not proper engineering, and you would never see anything so ridiculous from any small market station across this country. Operating a LPFM should not be the same as a guy in his basement running an antenna up the side of his chimney to broadcast whatever content that he likes from his iPod. Unfortunately, there have just been a few too many operators who do things like this, and that makes the overall opinion of LPFM drop significantly. It's truly great to see a LPFM that serves a community, and fulfills its intended purpose.

 

[Ralph Martin]

Except for the premise that LPFM could ever be a farm team for professional radio, I agree, but what I don't want to happen, is another round of spectrum auctions or LPFM CP's issued to new potential licensees who will degrade the band that much more due to not knowing what they're doing, then failing in the process.
What's the definition of insanity?

This might make you feel better about LPFM as a farm team:

Seventeen of my middle and high school students are now youth members of the Society of Broadcast Engineers. They're studying for their CRO certification (Certified Radio Operation) in August of this year.

Of course, I don't know if they'll pass. They have to score a minimum of 90% on the exam, but they're committed to the effort. They've already memorized every class of AM and FM station and their power limits.

Oh, and they know the all-important rhyme for FAA tower regulations:

"Make sure your tower is well lit, so airplanes won't run into it!"

Haha, If that isn't a sign of a new farm team for professional radio, I don't know what is.

I wish them luck!

 

[crainbebo]

LPFM and high school/college radio can be done right, with the right support, students, and PDs. While KDXB-LP has failed, others have succeeded. Voice of Vashon has done very well over the years on 101.9. We have KCWU over here in Ellensburg, and they have plenty of social media presence, even with the Covid situation. Their format is top 40, which gets plenty of listeners as KFFM is multipathed.
If you didn't know, Ralph runs KVCB-LP in Vacaville, CA (100.9). School-ran station where even *middle school* students are DJs. That I find amazing because normally, 7th and 8th graders can't even touch a microphone yet, even in those schools blessed to have a HS station. I would guess the music is freeform and skews towards current pop? Or not?
(Does the school also have a TV broadcasting program? Live crew for sports? Of course, we're talking PRE-Covid...)

 

[Delete My Account]

There's plenty of operations mentioned here and on other radio forums that are "fully licensed" commercial operations and behave terribly. Abuse of translators, off air constantly, terrible audio, and so on. Being a responsible licensee is a character issue not a license class issue.

 

[Ralph Martin]

I would guess the music is freeform and skews towards current pop? Or not?
(Does the school also have a TV broadcasting program? Live crew for sports? Of course, we're talking PRE-Covid...)

It's actually a format we call "take-five." Students can program anything they want, but they're limited to five minutes unless they put in a request for a slightly longer time.

More experienced students can apply for 1-hour live blocks. But they must demonstrate that in any 5-minute period, someone tuning in will understand what's happening on the air and be compelled to continue to listen.

We also open it up to less experienced students during the day in half-hour blocks.

We do have sports coverage when sports are available and we do operate VCSTV live online video streaming for sports, TV talk shows, and live event coverage.

We have 3 production studios, a live radio studio and a large soundstage for TV and film.

We also have a 35-piece and a 12-piece broadcast orchestra with student arrangers and orchestrators for scoring shows on VCSTV and creating original content for our radio stations HD1, 2, 3, and 4.

I might make it sound overly impressive because I'm proud of them, but in the end, they're students -- not pros.

You can certainly listen online any time to our primary station (channel one) and hear the students in action here:

VCS Radio - FM 100.9 KVCB

Because of our format, we sound fairly consistent at any time of the day.


It's important to note that all of this started with our LPFM license. That's why I'm committed to this very special class of station and will support it to the best of my ability.

Ralph

 

[Kelly A]

This might make you feel better about LPFM as a farm team:

Seventeen of my middle and high school students are now youth members of the Society of Broadcast Engineers. They're studying for their CRO certification (Certified Radio Operation) in August of this year.

Of course, I don't know if they'll pass. They have to score a minimum of 90% on the exam, but they're committed to the effort. They've already memorized every class of AM and FM station and their power limits.

Oh, and they know the all-important rhyme for FAA tower regulations:

"Make sure your tower is well lit, so airplanes won't run into it!"

Haha, If that isn't a sign of a new farm team for professional radio, I don't know what is.

I wish them luck!

I wish them luck too. Especially considering the changes in the industry that are, for the most part, no longer hiring students, and smaller market stations program via satellite or regional voice tracking.

I used to be heavily involved in one of the most successful school-based FM's in NCE: KNHC-FM in Seattle (C89FM), owned by Seattle Public Schools. That station turned out a lot of on-air talent over the years, so I'm very aware of the farm team concept.

Since really the early 2000's and increase in automation and voice tracking, there just isn't the appetite for hiring and bringing up new talent. Most of who's being discovered anymore is via social media sites like Tik Tok and YouTube. Many Vo-tech's have shut down their radio curriculum's entirely because of lack of enrollment, or the lack of interest of the industry.

 

[Delete My Account]

One positive I see is their interest in engineering. There will be a demand for good engineers as many of the older ones are retiring. That bodes better for a career than just wanting to be "talent."

 

[crainbebo]

A broadcast orchestra, and three production studios. Woweee! I bet a lot of students sign up at the beginning of the year for that pathway. Way to go!
And we sure need engineers.

 

[Ralph Martin]

I wish them luck too. Especially considering the changes in the industry that are, for the most part, no longer hiring students, and smaller market stations program via satellite or regional voice tracking.

I used to be heavily involved in one of the most successful school-based FM's in NCE: KNHC-FM in Seattle (C89FM), owned by Seattle Public Schools. That station turned out a lot of on-air talent over the years, so I'm very aware of the farm team concept.

Since really the early 2000's and increase in automation and voice tracking, there just isn't the appetite for hiring and bringing up new talent. Most of who's being discovered anymore is via social media sites like Tik Tok and YouTube. Many Vo-tech's have shut down their radio curriculum's entirely because of lack of enrollment, or the lack of interest of the industry.

YES! C89 is a fantastic station! Harmony is doing amazing work with the students there. I'm looking forward to working with them on our National High School Radio Network collaboration soon.

Don't worry about radio's future with respect to jobs. They'll be there. I'm here to foster creative minds in engineering and content production. With that, an aspiring broadcaster can start almost anywhere. Why not radio??

 

[crainbebo]

There just isn't the appetite for hiring and bringing up new talent. Most of who's being discovered anymore is via social media sites like Tik Tok and YouTube.

They run a TV crew for sports and live events. Networks always need people to run behind-the-scenes jobs, especially in sports. They can work their way from gripping to camera operator and even up to one of the director spots if they work hard enough. Ralph - at what grade level do students begin working on the TV crew?
There's countless elementary schools that do morning announcements over YouTube and Facebook with their 5th graders (albeit they used to air them over the closed-circuit analog cable). Keeping that in mind. However, I don't know how well a 5th grader could do as part of a multi-camera crew for an assembly, for example...