KFXM is off the air

[K.M. Richards]

Calm down. Minor oversights don’t require shouting. @30james, like everyone else here, is human. Humans make mistakes. That’s a fact of life.

Joey, I tried to take that into account, but if you read the entire thread, James answered my reply (post #2) himself (post #10) so shouldn't he be aware that I have already tried to reach Chris by e-mail?

BTW, all the variations on his e-mail that I am aware of are going unanswered as well. I am really becoming quite concerned that something has happened to him and that it is likely that things are shutting down simply because he is not in a position to maintain operations. (For example, the phone may be disconnected because no one is paying the bill, and perhaps the stream is also down because no one is paying Edison to keep the power on so the automation computer is no longer receiving electric service.)

I am almost tempted to drive out to the Antelope Valley, although it's an hour's drive each way, to see what's going on, but I would have to rent a car to do so (because my own would not be able to make the trip) and quite honestly I have some health concerns which are consuming most of my spare time and I really can't afford to take a day off from everything to do so.

 

[30james]

Well I have sad news to report. When I went to work this morning I had the uber driver dial in 98.3 and all there is is static looks like KFXM is gone from the airwaves

 

[K.M. Richards]

Well I have sad news to report. When I went to work this morning I had the uber driver dial in 98.3 and all there is is static looks like KFXM is gone from the airwaves

Then I would guess something has happened to Chris, because there is no silent STA filing in the FCC database.

 

[Dwaine]

Thanks for that update. Sad news indeed. But at least we know why the stream is streaming, but has no audio. I hope K.M. or someone can get a further update on the status of Chris Compton and the station.

 

[Dwaine]

I'm no FCC or station license expert, but I found it interesting while looking on the FCC site to see if there was an STA filed, that the current station license issued in 2017 was valid through December 2021. Is it odd that it would still be on the air after that? Is there some sort of grace period for a renewal?

 

[K.M. Richards]

There is no grace period unless a licensee filed for an extension of time before the renewal due date.

That said, KFXM-LP is still shown as active and licensed in the FCC database, so who knows what crack in the floor it appears to have fallen through ...

 

[30james]

I do know if KFXM is off the air for good that it's the last oldies station for the Antelope valley. There is always kmen.com for oldies if anyone wants to check them out.

 

[K.M. Richards]

Well, this is weird.

The FCC always, on the 5th of the month preceding the expiration date of licenses that were to have filed renewal applications in that cycle, issues a public notice of all stations which had not done so as a warning that their license will expire on the first of the following month.

Here is the public notice for November 5, 2021:

https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-21-1384A1.pdf

Notice any station missing from the list?

 

[Dwaine]

Isn't that interesting?

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

Well, this is weird.

The FCC always, on the 5th of the month preceding the expiration date of licenses that were to have filed renewal applications in that cycle, issues a public notice of all stations which had not done so as a warning that their license will expire on the first of the following month.

Here is the public notice for November 5, 2021:

https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-21-1384A1.pdf

Notice any station missing from the list?

I worked at an AM station back in 2005 that had existed as and operated with just a CP for 25 years. Talk about falling through the cracks!~

 

[30james]

Still only static does Chris work out of the lancaster office or Pasadena one. I never saw any DJ's at the lancaster office.

 

[ChannelFlipper]

Still only static does Chris work out of the lancaster office or Pasadena one. I never saw any DJ's at the lancaster office.

This is a most unfortunate thread and bit of bad news. I sincerely hope this man makes it back from whatever it is that is taking him down, and he can get back to working at the station that he clearly loves and lots of people love to listen to.

Note to Radio Pros: This is not the time to make your expertise known by pointing out the LPFM doesn't have any ratings and therefore there are not a lot of people listening. It is all relative - A lot to him is nothing to many others, but it is still a lot.

 

[30james]

This is a most unfortunate thread and bit of bad news. I sincerely hope this man makes it back from whatever it is that is taking him down, and he can get back to working at the station that he clearly loves and lots of people love to listen to.

Note to Radio Pros: This is not the time to make your expertise known by pointing out the LPFM doesn't have any ratings and therefore there are not a lot of people listening. It is all relative - A lot to him is nothing to many others, but it is still a lot.

The antelope valley where I live does not have any ratings/shares. So there Is no way to tell if a station is in the black or red. I do know alot of mom and pop stores did advertise on KFXM.

 

[ATSFGuy]

I typed in KFXM on google, their website is still up, though I'm not really sure what's going on over there. I also clicked on the audio button. But no music came out, just static.

 

[KilowattKat]

November of last year was in the time frame of the FCC's database meltdown (which may still be having issues). I don't know all the areas that were affected, but I think the processng of applications, call letter signage,, were things that had to be handled manually. Might be how this slipped through the cracks.

 

[Frequency1]

I have tried to contact Chris but his voicemail is full and he has not replied back on both email addresses I have for him.

 

[K.M. Richards]

I have tried to contact Chris but his voicemail is full and he has not replied back on both email addresses I have for him.

That completely mirrors my experience in trying to contact him (and I have six e-mail addresses for him!).

This is a most unfortunate thread and bit of bad news. I sincerely hope this man makes it back from whatever it is that is taking him down, and he can get back to working at the station that he clearly loves and lots of people love to listen to.

It doesn't look very promising, given that those of us who know him haven't been able to reach him.

I've known him since the mid-80s and he's always loved his oldies. KFXM was indeed a labor of love for him.

Note to Radio Pros: This is not the time to make your expertise known by pointing out the LPFM doesn't have any ratings and therefore there are not a lot of people listening. It is all relative - A lot to him is nothing to many others, but it is still a lot.

Au contraire, Monsieur Flipper. You'll not see such criticism by the pros in this case. KFXM was exactly the kind of station that LPFM was designed to be. Filling those program niches that are no longer viable for commercial radio is a perfect use of the service. And when someone like Chris -- not only a talented programmer, but also an incredibly competent engineer -- was the driving force, there was incredible potential for success.

Indeed, KFXM had a lot of local businesses paying for underwriting announcements, and one thing I am reasonably certain of is that whatever has silenced the station, it wasn't the financial outlook. This was a very successful LPFM and survived for many years (which is more than can be said for a lot of LPFMs which go on the air with 90% idealism, 10% enthusiasm, and 0% understanding of what it takes to actually keep one of these going). I would put KFXM up there with Hans' KBUU in Malibu as an example of what a true community-based LPFM is capable of achieving.

I only fear that the talented Mr. Compton may no longer be walking among us.

 

[30james]

That completely mirrors my experience in trying to contact him (and I have six e-mail addresses for him!).

It doesn't look very promising, given that those of us who know him haven't been able to reach him.

I've known him since the mid-80s and he's always loved his oldies. KFXM was indeed a labor of love for him.

Au contraire, Monsieur Flipper. You'll not see such criticism by the pros in this case. KFXM was exactly the kind of station that LPFM was designed to be. Filling those program niches that are no longer viable for commercial radio is a perfect use of the service. And when someone like Chris -- not only a talented programmer, but also an incredibly competent engineer -- was the driving force, there was incredible potential for success.

Indeed, KFXM had a lot of local businesses paying for underwriting announcements, and one thing I am reasonably certain of is that whatever has silenced the station, it wasn't the financial outlook. This was a very successful LPFM and survived for many years (which is more than can be said for a lot of LPFMs which go on the air with 90% idealism, 10% enthusiasm, and 0% understanding of what it takes to actually keep one of these going). I would put KFXM up there with Hans' KBUU in Malibu as an example of what a true community-based LPFM is capable of achieving.

I only fear that the talented Mr. Compton may no longer be walking among us.

What should have happened was they should have had more than one person as an engineer. Not just chris

 

[K.M. Richards]

What should have happened was they should have had more than one person as an engineer. Not just chris

You overestimate what most LPFMs can afford to do, James.

Realistically, if it hadn't been for Chris KFXM would never have gotten on the air in the first place.

 

[ATSFGuy]

No its not. When i get requests from thje majority of listeners wether its here at KSKO, when i was full time art KLMI.. it was songs that wqere quite popular and recognizeable.

Listeners, except for music geeks.. dont want stiffs. They say they want a bigger playlist, but then they hear stufvf they dont know.

Stiffs were hits a while back, but are ignored today in large markets dominated by PPM. Small market stations (like KFXM) have larger playlists tend to rely more on donations than advertisers. These stations are more of a community voice/doing what may be their only option and as David says a larger station can easily enter the area and blow away the smaller station in a heartbeat.

Deep Playlists of 1000+ songs belong on LPFMs, Sirius XM, Internet HD-2 Stations, or your own Ipod. It will not work in any PPM market as listeners choose what gets played and what does not. The record collectors simply don't understand this.

What should have happened was they should have had more than one person as an engineer. Not just chris

Always good to have a plan B