Pulse 87 is now seeking financial support to stay alive!

[JustinCase]

My first thought was it was lame that a commercial radio station was begging listeners for money... so its a rough economy, the average people are well aware!

Second, I was like you know what, this smells of a stunt, what struggling place that says it will dark by the end of the week gives PRIZES and incentives like meet the dj's and studio time to those who "donate"???

Third, I thought, wow, for a station that isn't non-com and who begged and pleaded to be considered a commercial station and to be arbitron rated, is this legal? Now whether you consider this a commercial radio station or low power audiocast of a commercial tv station; neither commercial tv nor radio station are allowed to have a pledge drive for themselves under FCC regulation or as I understand it? Then when it disappeared out of the blue for awhile without mention I was like... oh some lawyers told them to cease and desist... what better way to get out of a promotion where you get caught with your pants down by legal, but to 20 hours after the Save the Station Drive, you claim victory over the mountains of debt because of the donations... but then give the money back??? yeah to avoid any problems with legality.

Are they in trouble, of course... does the loyal fan base help? YES, I think it got them this far... the problem is the same factors exist that did when they signed on... high debtload and cashflow problems of the parent company, a weak signal, bad dial position and if anything - the economy has gotten worse... not a good time to be dependent on building an advertising base from scratch while advertisers are cutting back and you're #32 in the ratings you pleaded to get in on...

 

[neo11]

My first thought was it was lame that a commercial radio station was begging listeners for money... so its a rough economy, the average people are well aware!

Second, I was like you know what, this smells of a stunt, what struggling place that says it will dark by the end of the week gives PRIZES and incentives like meet the dj's and studio time to those who "donate"???

Third, I thought, wow, for a station that isn't non-com and who begged and pleaded to be considered a commercial station and to be arbitron rated, is this legal? Now whether you consider this a commercial radio station or low power audiocast of a commercial tv station; neither commercial tv nor radio station are allowed to have a pledge drive for themselves under FCC regulation or as I understand it? Then when it disappeared out of the blue for awhile without mention I was like... oh some lawyers told them to cease and desist... what better way to get out of a promotion where you get caught with your pants down by legal, but to 20 hours after the Save the Station Drive, you claim victory over the mountains of debt because of the donations... but then give the money back??? yeah to avoid any problems with legality.

Are they in trouble, of course... does the loyal fan base help? YES, I think it got them this far... the problem is the same factors exist that did when they signed on... high debtload and cashflow problems of the parent company, a weak signal, bad dial position and if anything - the economy has gotten worse... not a good time to be dependent on building an advertising base from scratch while advertisers are cutting back and you're #32 in the ratings you pleaded to get in on...

No one cares if they're #32 in the ratings quite simply because no one cares about 12+. Are they reaching their target demos? Where do they stand there? Sure they're not going to pull Z100 or KTU numbers with that frequency and signal, but Arbitron breaks numbers down geographically as well. How are they doing in areas where they can be heard? Are their advertisers getting response to their ads? Pulse does have a lot of local advertisers who would never be heard on a Z100, for instance. Are they getting a return from those ads? If Pulse can prove that its ads will reach certain desired demos and get results, then being #32 in the overall 12+ ratings doesn't mean a thing. Do you think that the clubs that advertise on Pulse 87 care about that?

 

[TonySantiago]

At the moment Borasio announced the horrible news, I made a Facebook group to rally the listeners to donate, and I got more than 2500 people in one day just to join that group. That's 1/3% of the cume, and I am sure that the percentage of P1s is much higher than that. Many more than that must have donated.

This is all pretty sad. If indeed 2500 or more people donated money to a radio station it just goes to show where people's priorities are. How many of those people would have donated to cancer research or some other worthwhile cause, rather than nonsense like a radio station.

Ansky,

To us, this WAS a worthwhile cause.

Sure, there are many problems in this world such as cancer, animal abuse, human rights, world hunger, childhood diseases, etc. We are NOT insensitive to those and I am sure a lot of these people might have made a contribution in one way or another to such causes. Yet, this was just as worthwhile to us. And I'm certainly not going to let you knock on those people who have been entertained throughout the past year and a half by Pulse 87. Shame on you.

We came out in full force and helped do our part. Hell, I've donated $500 to this! I've also donated money to breast cancer research, March of Dimes...so does that make us shallow because we supported a radio station?

If you were hurt or had an affliction, I'd be happy to help

 

[oaktree]

http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/snapshot/snapshot.asp?ric=MMDA.OB

Guys, you've got to read this. Mega's stock ... with "operational donations" dropped on the OTC market today to ... $.0099 less than a penny a share.

It's a fact. Sorry.

Tony, your $500 donation, while admirable, is a waste. It is not tax deductible. You cannot write it off and on the website today, it now says, 'All donors will get their money refunded.' It doesn't say "when" ... just that you'll get a refund.

Why? Because $500 donations don't help a company that is hurting for $3-million in operating capital NOW, and is as of today, $875,000 in the hole, with no borrowing power, no credit and no way to repay the debt of $1.6 million it owes from last year, alone. It is on target to do the same.

If you bought 10,000 shares of stock of Mega right this second, if a broker let you, it would cost you $100 and you'd lose every cent.

You might not even get a stock certificate, now, suitable for framing as a souvenir, since the stock is selling for less than a penny a share.

Operational expense is a lot different than buying stock ... and even more dicey. What happens if you give, can't get your money back and can't even write it off as a loss? The owners CAN keep the money, lock the doors and go away ... with your money.

Don't make purely emotional decisions over a business cause.

The note on the website today talks about "great response." Doubtful. Not in one day, for what was a multi-million dollar loss.

The decision has been made and there isn't enough time or enough energy in supporting this tragic loss. At a 5% donation rate, which is above normal in business today, there aren't enough $20 donations ... or $500, to overcome this kind of loss.

And if it was a "stunt" as was mentioned yesterday, then it was a sick effort to manipulate people to think it was they who had to bailout a commercial enterprise.

Shame on them.

Maybe they, then, should look for some "stimulus" money from the government. Oh, that's right ... they aren't going to support newspapers that fail, radio or TV, either.

They've done a poor job in bailing out the auto industry as it is.

Give it a break. Pulse is done. It's the reality of business.

For the guy who offered to do it online, THAT's the way to do it. Now ... all you need to profit from it is ... get sponsors. And lots of them.

And for the guy who said, "Citi Bank" and others need to step up and "lend them money" ... guess what? Banks aren't in the business of lending money. They're in the business of MAKING MONEY, and when you have corporation (let alone a radio station,) that is earning less than a penny a share right this second ... you are not a good candidate for credit.

Nice effort, though. Now, if only more people listened to real radio ...

 

[nd2023]

There are people that donate to PBS, and even WFME and WBAI, that is how those stations stay afloat. Public TV, religious, and left-wing fans are devoted to their media outlets as we are to Pulse 87. People in Seattle donate to C-89.5. My college station raised $50,000 in one weekend many years ago to get a new tower site that improved its signal by 20 dB. I now understood why people donate so much to those stations, because I donated $87.70 to Pulse 87 yesterday and I bought over $100 worth of MMDA shares at a penny each.
Here's why the dance industry needs stations like Pulse 87.
Some companies need to be bailed out for the economy to survive. The government bailed out Bear Stearns because if it didn't, the economy would have collapsed much worse than it did. Same thing goes for Citigroup and the banking industry. Similarly, the dance fans bailed out the Mega Media Group because Pulse 87 is important to the dance music scene in New York City and around the country. Artists got their first exposure on Pulse 87 and then went gold and platinum. Lady Gaga wouldn't be a hit without Pulse 87 because no other station would take a chance with her style of music. Nightclubs such as Columbus72 and Elements get most of their business on the days that Pulse 87 DJs are spinning there, they were relatively unknown before they advertised on Pulse. I personally only go to nightclubs that advertise on Pulse 87. Without Pulse 87, those clubs would lose most of their business. Without Pulse 87, many artists would not be as successful as they are today. Pulse 87 has gotten dance songs played on other radio stations all over the US. Kim Sozzi - Feel Your Love is playing on NOW and Z100, David Guetta - When Love Takes Over is climbing the CHR chart, Livvi Franc - Now I'm That Chick is played on KC101. The dance scene in New York City has greatly benefited from Pulse 87, and that is what the listeners are supporting by donating to Pulse 87. $500 would buy 2 iPods with all of your favorite dance music, but iPods don't save dance music when there's no way to hear new music easily.

 

[CHRles]

No offense but Lady Gaga and David Guetta owe next to nothing to Pulse 87. Lady Gaga's record became a huge international hit months after it was a hit in her home country of Canada, not b/c of Pulse 87. The song was reworked to radio at the right time with the right team put in place. It's that simple. Besides, there are other Dance stations in the US that supported the Lady Gaga record.
And David Guetta's record caught on very very quickly with CHR/Pop stations.
Look, I like the music on Pulse 87, but quite frankly I now despise the company that owns them. Your comparisons to stations like C-89.5 Seattle are warped as KNHC is and has always been a non-commercial entity. It's been executing a pure Dance format for about 16 years now, maybe longer.
The New York club scene does NOT rely on Pulse 87. Admittedly, the resurgence of 103.5 KTU in 1996 did help advance the NYC club scene, as it helped it get caught up with its European counterparts - some of the mainstream audience exposed to the Dance/Pop of KTU was more open minded to hearing underground Dance in the clubs. Up until KTU showed up a lot of the underground sounds were mainly being spin in New York's premier gay nightclubs, which have ALWAYS flourished, and have always had a world class reputation.
When KTU came on the scene it shot up within months to the top of the NYC ratings with an astounding 7.4 share. Even Z-100 has never managed to obtain those kind of ratings to the best of my knowledge. The station played a combination of 70s Disco, select Freestyle titles from Hit 97's Dance days, superbig Dance hits from the mid 90s that weren't being played in NYC like "Missing" by Everything But The Girl, and for playing current Dance titles such as "The Macarena" by Los Del Rio, and "Children" by Robert Miles. In fact, "The Macarena" owes part of its US success to the launch of KTU as CHRs all over the country decided to retest it. KTU triggered a tidal wave of new Dance stations and Dance friendly stations across the US, and in the end can be credited for helping CHR/Pop radio become big again in bigger markets where it had been missing.
Pulse 87 on the other hand, with its limited signal, promotion, and money set aside for research (KTU did extensive research before launching) has been a shot in the arm for some corners of the Dance industry, but its impact has been thus far been much more limited when compared to KTU of the (latter half) of the 90s. If anything, Pulse is a more reminiscent of Chicago's suburban trimulcast of Energy 92.5 & 7 though to me Energy offered a better product. Sadly Energy was also owned by a company that was in haevy debt (Big City).

 

[lalumia]

and I know I'm always the villan here for talking about reality, but a week or so ago, David Guetta/Kelly Rowland's record was featured on the #1 show in America "So You Think you Can Dance";
the result; the record is still struggling to reach Top 40 nationally, actually going down a few places on the new MediaBase, which shows that contemporary dance in it's present state is a 'cottage industry' at best;
if you can't zoom into the Top ten a week after being on a dance show which is #1 in the country(like GaGa ,Pussycat Dolls and many others did) then Houston, we have a problem...

 

[nd2023]

and I know I'm always the villan here for talking about reality, but a week or so ago, David Guetta/Kelly Rowland's record was featured on the #1 show in America "So You Think you Can Dance";
the result; the record is still struggling to reach Top 40 nationally, actually going down a few places on the new MediaBase, which shows that contemporary dance in it's present state is a 'cottage industry' at best;
if you can't zoom into the Top ten a week after being on a dance show which is #1 in the country(like GaGa ,Pussycat Dolls and many others did) then Houston, we have a problem...

And where did your record peak on the charts?

 

[oaktree]

Nick - (and others,)

I'm sorry to bust your bubble, but you need to go to a good business school and learn something about ... business.

First, PBS is a NATIONALLY know entity that is funded by MUCH more than "listener donations." The government accounts for a LOT more than what donations a PBS brings in during "Pledge Week."

Second, how much did Pulse, a non nationally known "entity" earn from donations yesterday? No, it wasn't from 2500 Facebook members who signed on to "catch the action." Not all of them donated, I can assure you, and I give you some credit in knowing that.

Third, How much did they raise? You have no clue. And the idea of "returning the funds" is a lot deeper than "we've been given a reprieve." Ever think that, maybe, for the unorganized way they did this that maybe ... just maybe ... there were "legal issues" in doing this while the company's stock went below $.01 a share ... on the very day it was RAISING funds?  You think that people are THAT stupid?  I think not. If it was a good deal, there would be millions of shares of stock sold ... and the price, at a bargain basement price, would have gone UP ... not down.  Even investors, dumb or bright, knew better than buy such worthless stock.

If it was a good deal, Nick, believe, me, there are plenty of us who'd have been on the phone to our brokers screaming "BUY ORDER NOW!" but, alas, the investors didn't merely balk ... they sold off what they could while they could ... 599,000 shares today, alone.

Fourth, "gold or platinum" dance records to a bank mean zilch.  They don't pay bills.  You pay them. And Mega isn't.  If so, why was there no announcement that at least ONE label, major or indie, is stepping up with a million bucks to start the bowl rolling.  sure, I mean any label in the Sony, BMG, Universal and Warner's group. And don't say, "but the indie labels ...."  No, indie labels have no money.  They have no contracts. They need majors to BUY THEM.

Fifth, if this had worked in one day before being called off, every mainstream media outlet in the world would have crowed today, "The RECESSION is OVA!"  And it took the "little near radio station that could" to do it.  Don't think so. No one came up, $500 donations from Tony (and I have little doubt that he did,) but believe me, wait till the credit card bill comes due next month. It's an emotional decision. Where's the deals that Fuze, Coke and others had wrapped with branding by Pulse and for Pulse? They should be all over the website ... and they aren't.  Wonder why? Is Pulse "anti advertiser?" I don't think so. And how come these sponsors didn't step up and say, "OK, here's a million."  There, I just suggested two million of the four they need.

Sixth, emotion doesn't work in making business decisions.  It's not about what you like and how much you like it .... which is admirable. The best thing would be for someone to take over Pulse, invest MILLIONS into it and make it happen.   You know how much chance that is in this economy?  Slim to none. Sad, but true.

It's not about dance.  It's not about the music.  It's not about Flying Bear and Energy in SF taking a $27-million dollar haircut last week because it couldn't get more than $6.5 million out of $33.5 million it spent to have a dance station with a horrible signal in a huge "dance" market like San Francisco and the area it  mainly serves.  You already know about Chicago. And D.C. And why it isn't coming to Philly. Or Boston.

The station has no answers, because it doesn't have any.  Or, believe me, you'd have known WHAT kind of response Pulse listeners gave in its one day appeal.  Telethons and radiothons do that.  People want to know. They don't give away their money without knowing...something.

And you know nothing abot what happened, other than the are looking for "conventonal funding" -- maybe after being told that this is NOT the way to do it. 

Not at $.0099 a share.  Sorry. But those are the facts. Good luck in your quest.  Maybe Pulse, like 4 Clear Channel stations today, will be donated by Mega to "keep the cause alive."  No one in their right mind will buy it in this situation.  

http://www.gormanmediablog.blogspot.com/

Read this.  I know this guy.  He owned a great station in  my market.  His mom and late dad are very well known former broadcasters in both large and small markets.  Imagine taking a haircut of $27-million in five years from "buying a job for life," which he was quoted as saying just five short years ago.

Start building and developing that Internet station, Nick.  Do it well.  And you'll do well. And remember, a cume of 750,000 doesn't mean that 750,000 people "listen."  In the PPM world, it's an "estimate" of how many people potentially could "hear" the station for more than five minutes during a survey period.  That's it. Not daily. Not weekly. But monthly.

With a share of .8. An Internet stream beat it in the latest PPM with a .9

 

[d21ofnj]

how much did Pulse, a non nationally known "entity" earn from donations yesterday? No, it wasn't from 2500 Facebook members who signed on to "catch the action." Not all of them donated, I can assure you, and I give you some credit in knowing that.

How much did they raise? You have no clue. And the idea of "returning the funds" is a lot deeper than "we've been given a reprieve." Ever think that, maybe, for the unorganized way they did this that maybe ... just maybe ... there were "legal issues" in doing this while the company's stock went below $.01 a share ... on the very day it was RAISING funds?

No one came up, $500 donations from Tony (and I have little doubt that he did,) but believe me, wait till the credit card bill comes due next month. It's an emotional decision. Where's the deals that Fuze, Coke and others had wrapped with branding by Pulse and for Pulse? They should be all over the website ... and they aren't. Wonder why? Is Pulse "anti advertiser?" I don't think so. And how come these sponsors didn't step up and say, "OK, here's a million." There, I just suggested two million of the four they need.

emotion doesn't work in making business decisions. It's not about what you like and how much you like it .... which is admirable. The best thing would be for someone to take over Pulse, invest MILLIONS into it and make it happen. You know how much chance that is in this economy? Slim to none. Sad, but true.

Okay, first off, I have to disagree. How do YOU know that not all 2500 facebook members donated to Pulse? Ever thought of possibly all 2500 and then some donated? How do you also know who put in what amount? It's obvious that you donated $0, but that's not the point. You also have no idea how much they raised. For whatever reason the case may be, all that matters is that Pulse is still on the air. I also have to disagree with the emotions part. Take a look a CBS-FM, you know how much passion and support those fans shown and look who came back on 101.1.

Look, I understand radio is a business, and you are gonna do whatever it takes to survive. At the same time, there are some decisions that do backfire and calculations that go off out of nowhere. Did it make sense for WZBZ in Atlantic City, mind you the #1 Arbitron rated station, getting as much revenues and ads it can get ant then some, all of a sudden decided to flip to CHR?! Did it make sense to flip a 20 year tradition, WHTG in Monmouth Co? Hell, G-Rock NEVER got the opportunity to even do a pledge if Press claimed that the station was "broke." Whos to say that some of these CEO's aren't making any side deals? Now it would be questionable if Pulse all of a sudden goes off the air after they got their funds, but we'll cross that bridge if it happens.

 

[trock]

WOW I find this interesting. This little station is really causing a fuss on this board. For the people being negative playing devils advocate. We get it u don't like they're business practices. You don't need to post the same things over again in multiple subjects. I don't see the big deal a lot of web stations and internet publishers ask for donations to help keep they're BUSINESS afloat.The fact it only took Pulse a day to get it is impressive.It wasn't like they were twisting these peoples arms. Congratulations! to the New York dance fans and to the haters get over it already.

 

[oaktree]

How do YOU know that not all 2500 facebook members donated to Pulse? 

Because only an emotional, non-business oriented, reasonable individual would believe the facts.  And second of all, how would YOU know that all 2500 Facebook members donated to Pulse?  Odds are certainly against that by an average of 90-1 ... and that's probably twice as much as average.


Ever thought of possibly all 2500 and then some donated? 


No, because that's absurd to think.  If all 2500 donated (and I will give you the "and then some," because they aren't all on Facebook,) gave and raised the millions or, even, the $875,000 needed ... you'd have heard about it, instead of seeing the drive called off as a reprieve to "find conventional financing."  If they had raised that kind of money, why would then need to just turn it around and give it back ... to find "conventional financing"?  Maybe the board will say, "OK, let's kick in another $4 milion bucks and save this thing. We've had such great support."  Gonna happen? Hasn't, so far ... Your turn.


How do you also know who put in what amount? 


I don't.  Do you? Of course you don't ... one of the problems in doing a "fundraiser" such as this.  How do you know who did, and how much was raised?  You don't think that if they raised enough money that Mega, the New York Times, the NY Post, every media outlet in New York would tell of this feel good story about how people saved the little radio station that could?  That's the first point.  The next one is not everyone of the 2500 on your list gave $100,000 each to come up $2.5 million of the nearly $4-million needed.  That only makes sense.  Do the math.  Big numbers, I know, but fact.  If you have 50,000 "and then some" people give $10 each, you still only have $500,000.  $20 of the same gets you a million.  Do you really think 50,000 people gave $20 each?  I would like to see that story in the Times tomorrow ... or better yet, see it in HUGE LETTERS on the Pulse website.

And then, only to say, "we're refunding all of your money?"  Come on ...

It's obvious that you donated $0,

You are without any knowledge of that.  I don't know that you did.  You're saying so doesn't mean a thing in the scheme of things.


but that's not the point. 

You are correct.

You also have no idea how much they raised. 

And you do? I'm willing to bank on the fact that you haven't a clue. You follow no logic.

For whatever reason the case may be, all that matters is that Pulse is still on the air.

For now -- and the idea of doing this was a half-brain idea out of desperation and publicity. Listeners don't "save" radio stations for a "meet and greet" for $1000.

I also have to disagree with the emotions part.  Take a look a CBS-FM, you know how much passion and support those fans shown and look who came back on 101.1. 

And it took two years of total mismanagement by Joel Hollander, the return of Dan Mason to the presidency and the fact that jack was down to $15-million a year in revenues ...even below CBS-FM's former all-time low of  $23-million.  Need more facts?

Look, I understand radio is a business, and you are gonna do whatever it takes to survive.  At the same time, there are some decisions that do backfire and calculations that go off out of nowhere.  Did it make sense for WZBZ in Atlantic City, mind you the #1 Arbitron rated station, getting as much revenues and ads it can get ant then some, all of a sudden decided to flip to CHR?!

The company was never known to be the brightest bulb on that tower.  However, the problem was ... good as a station as it was (and I was a fan, in fact,) the matter from a business viewpoint was killing them. No revenue, poor business economics, competitive problems not just against other radio stations, but plenty of other media ... in a market hurting from the economy.  I'm quite familiar with the market.

Did it make sense to flip a 20 year tradition, WHTG in Monmouth Co?  Hell, G-Rock NEVER got the opportunity to even do a pledge if Press claimed that the station was "broke."  Whos to say that some of these CEO's aren't making any side deals? 

Nobody said anything about that ... or did I say that CEO's of places like Press are the brightest bulb in the pack, either.  They made a stupid move, but, again, when you've responsible to investors, you ae not doing anything but demanding returns on THEIR investments, you do what you have to do ... or think you have to do ... roll the dice and either win or lose.  Press lost on that deal. Big time.

Now it would be questionable if Pulse all of a sudden goes off the air after they got their funds, but we'll cross that bridge if it happens. And I'm not a hater. I listen to Pulse at times. It's just business.

The listeners are NOT to bear the responsibility of their favorite radio station(s).  That's the ownersh responsibility.  And that's the name of that tune.

Good post.  Good opinions ... and I appreciate hearing yours.
 

 

[TonySantiago]

Taking the better quotes on this because I AM going to go somewhere here.....

Tony, your $500 donation, while admirable, is a waste. It is not tax deductible. You cannot write it off and on the website today, it now says, 'All donors will get their money refunded.' It doesn't say "when" ... just that you'll get a refund.

And if it was a "stunt" as was mentioned yesterday, then it was a sick effort to manipulate people to think it was they who had to bailout a commercial enterprise.

Shame on them.

Nice effort, though. Now, if only more people listened to real radio ...

Okay, I only took the deeper quotes here because out of those 4 statements, and as much as I have often disagreed with Oaktree in the past, I actually AGREE.

A lot of people have told me I should look into the stock after all this was said and done, but at one that has been riding at a penny (2c max) for quite a bit, I just couldn't do it. I've also been very skeptical about how all of this went down without ANY announcement during that day of how much funds were collected....at least Jerry Lewis and Ed McMahon rolled out a tote board during Labor Day. All said and done, I HAD to make a point (that post is on the other board) saying that Pulse CANNOT EVER DO THIS AGAIN.

Does that mean I hate Pulse? No. I enjoy the music and I enjoy the entertainment given and as a dance music fan, I will continue to support all "pillars" of the music. I just don't think we should ever have to endure this again. In that sense, yeah...shame on them.

I was going to go into "real radio" but...forget it. Not worth my energy in this case....it's been "spent" enough these past couple of days.

 

[softmachine]

There are people that donate to PBS, and even WFME and WBAI, that is how those stations stay afloat. Public TV, religious, and left-wing fans are devoted to their media outlets as we are to Pulse 87. People in Seattle donate to C-89.5. My college station raised $50,000 in one weekend many years ago to get a new tower site that improved its signal by 20 dB. I now understood why people donate so much to those stations, because I donated $87.70 to Pulse 87 yesterday and I bought over $100 worth of MMDA shares at a penny each.

20 db...?

You forgot WFMU.

I don't think the same interests are at play-donating to a college station for a new tower. All of these things happen, but they are not necessarily congruent or connected. Keep your parent's money in your pocket, or invest in oil futures. Or MDMA.

 

[Simoncooper69]

A note on fund raising, because it seems we need some clarification.....

When you Support WFME or WBAI you are not supporting a radio station you are supporting a Non-Profit Corporation, in these two cases Family Stations INTL and the Pacifica Corporation. It's an important distinction because once you give these organizations your money (unless you specify otherwise) they can use that money for whatever they want (Obviously a request of their public file and Annual Reports will tell you just what your donations have gone toward). For instance, If you gave money to the Red Cross for Hurricane Katrina relief (unless you specify in writing) the Red Cross can use that money for operation costs, or to help people in last years Flooding in Iowa.

So while you may be giving money to keep Family Radio on the air at WFME, they may use the money to send bibles to Uganda o to print Harold Camping latest book. You are not directly supporting WFME, you gifty may go to buy a stick in Nevada. All in all your supporting a non profit organization. That's how non profits survive.

All this leads to a major problem with the fund drive thing.....

THE BIGGEST RED FLAG TO THIS WHOLE ENTERPRISE IS THAT FUND DRIVES COST A LOT OF MONEY.

1. They had incentives in place - If 2500 people donated, who was going to fullfill these requests? Who was paying for all this stuff? Was Mega Media? In WFME or WBAI's case they probably have a team of people who devote their day to fullfilling these requests. So let's say pulse 8w.7 if they couldn't meet these incentive requests. How much does a box of wristbands cost? Does my donation also include the cost of the wristband? If a wristband cost $1.50 to produce and 2.00 to mail, then my 10 dollar donation is only $6.50. Maybe it would cost less to send it. But do you see my point, you have to pay someone to supervise all these incentive requests, you need to pay for postage in recieving the item and then sending it out to meet the incentive request. Who foots that bill??

2. Someone designed a website? Did Mega Media pay for it? Even if it was done in house your paying someone to do it. More money!!

3. What about the call center? How many lines did they have collecting donations? Even with voluteers, if they were getting the kind of traffic that the rumors suggest then the phone lines must have been really busy? unless they used a telemarketing call center and that's a few thousand dollars a day. Who paid for it?

4. What creditor sees a few hundred thousands dollars and goes "yeah I cut you a break this time?", even if this fundraising endevour raised 250,000 dollars (which I doubt), that does not signal to a creditor that they should give you more time? So they raised a couple hundred thousand dollars? Let's say pulse has a staff of 12 (just pulling a number out of the air) and they all makes 25,000 dollars a year? Plus promotions, the water and electric bill? the cost of this fundraiser? That money is gone in weeks, and that's after taxes? Don't think Uncle Sam doesn't come and steal a chunk of that money as well? or the Credit Card Companies? or the team of lawyers making sure this is all legit.

5. Raising money requires a good deal of database entry. So that everything can run smooth. Names, Addresses, Credit Card Statments, all of this stuff needs to be verified. So who oversees this? Most fund raising on WFME or WBAI is an all year job, with a team of accountants and data entry people keeping tabs on all that stuff. Who pays them? What about fraud? You need to verify every credit card to see that they are legit, again more money.

All in all this fundraiser seems to be operating at a loss. Even if they did in on the cheap you have to be looking at at least $20-40 thousand dollar loss before you've raised a dime.


All in all this whole enterprise seems fishy to me. Because a struggling company isn't going to take a major loss to save one little property in their arsenal. This is business. I hope Pulse sticks around but let's face it, they gave back all the money because it's to expensive to keep it.

 

[myke25]

No offense but Lady Gaga and David Guetta owe next to nothing to Pulse 87. Lady Gaga's record became a huge international hit months after it was a hit in her home country of Canada, not b/c of Pulse 87. The song was reworked to radio at the right time with the right team put in place. It's that simple. Besides, there are other Dance stations in the US that supported the Lady Gaga record.
And David Guetta's record caught on very very quickly with CHR/Pop stations.

where are you getting your info from???

lady gaga's from NYC, not canada. lady gaga was also heavily supported by dance stations before the bigger CHR stations picked up on her, which I believe shot her to instantaneous stardom.

david guetta's "when love takes over" was a big hit at the 2009 WMC. However, Pulse 87 was THE FIRST station that I found who debuted the new track... of course, 2 days later, I played it on my show @ 90.3 The Core. It's amazing that it took z-100 HOW LONG to discover that this dance track was CHR friendly?? At least almost 2 months later.

 

[lalumia]

and, in the grand scheme of CHR things, it's STILL a dud....

 

[nd2023]

and, in the grand scheme of CHR things, it's STILL a dud....

I am done with this pissing contest of people who like and dislike dance music. Let the ratings and revenue speak for itself.

 

[d21ofnj]

It's still not gonna matter to the haters, we can say all the fact we want, they still gonna compare wall street to main street.

 

[CHRles]

Hater? Many of us are not Dance haters, just realists.
As for the David Guetta record it's already Top 30 nationally on CHR/Pop radio. For a record that world premiered in March, I'd say CHR reaction has been VERY fast. The fact that Z-100 started playing "When Love Takes Over" only 2 months after it was first heard anywhere is huge. Anyone remember how long it took for CHR radio to pick up on "Love Is Gone"? And that wasn't even a big radio hit here.