so, is ANY of this money coming from taxpayers or a public entity? If so,from whom and how much?
-
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
KEXP Loses New Studio Funding, Gets Half of It Back
- Thread starter Bongwater
- Start date
A
AQH
Guest
Yes, read the article linked in the first post.
A
AQH
Guest
Part of what turns a station into a "jukebox on the cheap" is not interacting with the community. Today, the only way radio stations meet the public is through a sales remote. And it's highly unlikely people are going to go out of their way to see a jock at a used car dealership or a furniture store.
Isn't it in KEXP's best interest to go out and be proactive with the community? If not for the goodwill and promotion, but in their case, to attract potential future donors and build the brand. Instead, they're asking people to come and worship at their megachurch.
People get really pissed off when they see heads of charities appear to be living some sort of luxurious life. If you're going to be a charity that serves "the broader community" and "in the streets," there has to be some sort of humbleness to who you are, if not some humility. You don't get that from $9 million studios and on the public dime.
Who says they're not? I don't see where this is a one or the other thing.
Seems to me that to raise this kind of money requires them to be proactive with the community.
Have you ever begged for money? I have. It keeps you humble no matter how nice your studios are.
Once again, go to www.kexp.org before your next post on the subject.
Last edited:
So if they already do live events at places like, oh the Tractor Tavern, who needs a palatial sound stage or public performance area? Okay granted, I did find their preferred donation amounts for their new studios kind of amusing: $86 $75 $309. Anyone know what the significance is in those particular amounts? And no, it has nothing to do with Kokomo from the Beach Boys.
With all the outside events they book with local (albeit limited appeal) artists and club DJ's, I'm still not sold that they need an expensive performance studio to get thrown up on. Leave that to the professionals.
With all the outside events they book with local (albeit limited appeal) artists and club DJ's, I'm still not sold that they need an expensive performance studio to get thrown up on. Leave that to the professionals.
It sounds like you don't understand non-commercial radio. These are the kinds of perks you give people who regularly contribute to your station. You make them feel a part of the place, like they're stockholders in its success. Lots of non-commercial stations do this. KEXP has a relationship with WNYC in New York, and it also has a performance studio. As I said in my first post in this thread, Sirius has large plush rooms in NY, LA, DC, and even Nashville.
Once again, don't think how to do things cheaper or crappier. That's what the commercial radio folks pay bean counters to do. Try to think creatively, and ask yourself what would you do if you could. Then go out and get the money. That's the challenge. It's not easy to beg for money. But these folks have a vision. Please, let's try to celebrate people who work to make radio MORE creative. We have enough people trying to make it LESS creative. If you don't like it, don't listen.
I don't have an opinion on the KEXP deal...but just want to point out they will be just a few yards away from show spaces within Key Arena (private club on upper level) ... or a few more yards away from Sky Church @ EMP. This scenario has other alternatives beyond the design of stand-alone studios such as Sirius or iHardMedia. On other hand, if there is a performance space that can be separated from station operation...it is also a lease-out revenue opportunity, right?
Wow, I guess you're on to me BigA. Indeed I must have no clue about being the format architect or running a successful non-commercial radio property.
And you are right again, I don't listen, not even on their stream. I certainly don't begrudge them playing what they do, just not my cup of tea, or...clove cigarettes as the case may be.
That's fine. No problem. My only request is that as we discuss radio, we not stifle someone else's creativity. We need it in this business. Seems to me if anyone should be giving excuses why they shouldn't do something, it's the employees of the station. But they seem fired up! So more power to them. I'm energized by what they're doing, and look forward to a chance to visit.
That's a good question. I know some other non-profits rent out their facilities. It probably depends on the funding. Some designs have separate entrances so the traffic doesn't interfere with station ops.
I've often said that some of the LPFMs would benefit from operating in a restaurant. That way they'd at least make money on the food.
LPFM stations are non profits like KEXP, so the money they make goes into operations and if the have good fundraising they can expand and hire staff. Is KEXP putting in a hotdog stand or going to sell food at these events it's going to hold in the new studio facility? I know go to the KEXP website and read. But you do make a point. I actually founded a successful LPFM on Vashon Island where we have a HUGE empty old K2 ski factory. I just have to get that fundraising going.
If an LPFM is going to serve food I would recommend one of those vending machines that serves PIZZA next to a soda machine and regular snack vending machine. Much simpler on payroll and staffing.
Of course once my LPFM gets that K2 building it will have a professional kitchen and chef with private booths in the restaurant. But first I need to copy this thread to the fundraising committee, have them read it, give them a little pep talk, if they can do it we can type speach should do.
If it's like the non-coms I've been to, it's more like brie and Chardonnay. Wine & cheese is the typical fare. They're catering to people with cash.
Same thing with LPFMs. I suggest you build it into a fancy restaurant and charge top dollar. Because you won't be making much with the radio station. I ran two LPs myself at one time. Imagine the curiosity factor. Rich people might enjoy being guests at a radio station if they got a great meal at the same time.
Last edited:
It's kind of weird how the commercial end of the radio business once catered to people with "disposable incomes" back in the '80s and '90s. Now it's the non-coms.
And in some ways, it's scary. That was once the Holy Grail of advertiser demos. Because if your audience was cheese eating yuppies, you had it made.
Another thing I noticed while listening to KEXP is sometimes, they actually remind me of KEZX in their 1980s AAA format (or probably what 98.9 would sound like today if they had stayed in that format.) And KEZX once OWNED the yuppies and their spots were like a who's who of upper income serving local businesses ("bistros", wineries, I. Magnin's, Land Rover dealerships, etc.) That lasted until KNUA/KKNW started giving them serious competition. And KEZX's eventual successor, KMTT was a completely different animal from the get go. It was a lot more tighter than KEZX ever was.
But now the non-coms like KEXP are getting that sweet, sweet, $$$ directly. I'm sure it's probably painful for a corporate radio exec to sit there and watch this. But in a way, it was commercial radio that dropped the ball and KEXP (of all stations) ran with it. So you can't entirely blame them.
KEXP (like KEZX was) may be niche formats, but WOW. What a niche!
And in some ways, it's scary. That was once the Holy Grail of advertiser demos. Because if your audience was cheese eating yuppies, you had it made.
Another thing I noticed while listening to KEXP is sometimes, they actually remind me of KEZX in their 1980s AAA format (or probably what 98.9 would sound like today if they had stayed in that format.) And KEZX once OWNED the yuppies and their spots were like a who's who of upper income serving local businesses ("bistros", wineries, I. Magnin's, Land Rover dealerships, etc.) That lasted until KNUA/KKNW started giving them serious competition. And KEZX's eventual successor, KMTT was a completely different animal from the get go. It was a lot more tighter than KEZX ever was.
But now the non-coms like KEXP are getting that sweet, sweet, $$$ directly. I'm sure it's probably painful for a corporate radio exec to sit there and watch this. But in a way, it was commercial radio that dropped the ball and KEXP (of all stations) ran with it. So you can't entirely blame them.
KEXP (like KEZX was) may be niche formats, but WOW. What a niche!
The people who listened to commercial radio in the 80s are now in their early 50s. They're on the top end of the age group advertisers want. They tend to dislike advertising. They have disposable income, but they're now very wary of people who want a piece of it. So they're perfect for non-commercial media like KEXP. If KEXP gives them the music they want without commercials, they might be willing to donate a few hundred dollars or even more to get a personal VIP pass to an intimate concert inside the radio station. At their age, they're looking for a tax deduction anyway. Whereas the younger folks don't care. In the 80s, the non-coms were playing jazz and folk. Now they're playing alternative and news. They're appealing to the same demo, just 25 years later. In the meantime, the jazz and folk fans are in their 70s wondering whatever happened to the music they used to love.
New liner for KEXP..."90.3, K-POT...where all your donation money goes up in smoke". As to the strange donation amounts mentioned above, maybe they're an odd number so as to cover all of those little 'baggies' filed with the green stuff.
It's the listener's donation money. They know what they're getting. (BTW what does $86 $75 and $309 refer to? No, it doesn't add up to 420, but 470. Think a certain one-hit wonder from 1982 about a phone number on the wall and a girl named "Jenny"....)
And speaking of 420. 4/20 Day is coming up. It's going to be a pretty big day as it usually is around here in Washington State. And for rich yuppie connoisseurs who listen to KEXP, it's not just green plant material anymore. There's gourmet candies, cookies and drinks with THC. As well as vaping oils, shatter, BHO dabbing waxes and other concentrates with as much as 97% pure THC.
https://www.leafly.com/
"If you pledge $420 in our spring drive event, we'll send you our 420 Pleasure Pack with all of the goodies. That includes a new custom made bong, brownies, cookies and our version of Green River soda."
Sorry, couldn't resist.
Sorry, couldn't resist.
http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2012/912/061/2012-912061474-098baa77-9.pdf
here is a copy of their last tax return, interesting reading.
here is a copy of their last tax return, interesting reading.
- Status