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The new wave of the future in radio?
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It's actually an interesting revenue model. Certainly best executed against a strong, loyal audience. NPR's success not-with-standing, this is tough going. But KING-Fm only has to pay the power bill and some admin and promotion cost. They don't have an expensive airstaff, minimal facility requirements and with this model, a leaner sales department. Frankly a couple of PC's, a Mackie board, an RE-whatever and a phone will keep them on-the-air. I wish KING-FM well and think they will do so.
That future may be closer than we think. Poor economics, frequent rotation of mangement and owners has left much of commercial am/fm constantly jumping from perch to perch. Audience grow weary of chasing.. Listener supported is, by design set up for bare bones overhead. KING FM is not a "new" operation. Its a well established, long time Puget Sound station that is converting with a ready to go demographic. It's not really a test case. Listener supported is either a go/no go in terms of its resources..Have/have not. Wiggle room is always at a premium..
Wonderfulwino said:
A complete over-generalization. Commercial radio in it's traditional form is doing well, seeing 3% or more in average growth over the last quarter. To lump KING into a group with all radio stations is a mistake. The classical music format lends itself to being listener supported or as an NPR affiliate because research has shown that much of the advertising used today with traditional popular formats is too loud, fast paced, plus VO that doesn't match classical music announcers. That and most agencies don't want to create unique spots for a single classical station. Being the only classical music station in town allows for the best chance at loyalty and attention from classical listeners. As Big A pointed out as well; keeping expenses and retiring any debt will be critical for success.
ai4i said:
...which, I am pretty sure, was put in place by a PD who "cut his chops" at KING-FM then went to Chicago and made WFMT a model classical music station ... came back to Seattle to KING-FM only to be shown the door a few years later as an "unnecessary expense".
KING-FM has always done many things well ... but the whole time they have been independent the "corner office" isn't really one of them.
F
flashback
Guest
in new jersey WFMU-fm has been listener supported for decades as far as i know.
they have a once a year fund raising drive.they have no set format.they i believe pay no onair staff.they have people that do a 3 hour shift once a week, that i believe that i believe do the show for free, playing what they want.each show is diffrent.
they were underground radio in the 1960`s and are the only station that i know of that stayed freeform from the 60`s to the present.
they have a website and their signal is online.its worth a listen.
they have a once a year fund raising drive.they have no set format.they i believe pay no onair staff.they have people that do a 3 hour shift once a week, that i believe that i believe do the show for free, playing what they want.each show is diffrent.
they were underground radio in the 1960`s and are the only station that i know of that stayed freeform from the 60`s to the present.
they have a website and their signal is online.its worth a listen.
Sounds exactly like KBCS in Bellevue, and KSER in Everett.
I have heard of "dreamers" in my life -- but get real. Even Non-commercial radio is now COMERRCIAL -- under the new sponsorship rules. The Farworkers Union radio stations run full Beer commercials on their "educational" stations. Anyone can buy or Download any song that they want to hear. Why would anyone NEED to support any music format station - when they can use an Ipod or Walkman -- for alot less cash ??? But the number one reason that this "format" -- said laughingly -- will not work -- is Who in the heck is going to GIVE you a radio license or station for free -- any where in the Seattle - Tacoma - Everett area?? If you have the two million dollars for this "Format" - please send it to me first !!!! Did you hear the one about the radio station that went broke -- and held an auction for the station on Ebay ?? Dream on.
Exactly MisterGort. Now with the risk of additional government funding being lost, expect public stations to lobby for more freedom to sell and run full blown advertising, not the other way around.
The strange thing about this board in particular, is it seems to have a few frequent contributors who either have been out of the industry for a long time, radio hobbyists who know little or nothing about business, or appear to be simply out of touch with modern consumer practices. Let's see.. I can buy an MP3 player for $100 and make my own playlist or I can donate that money to a local radio station. That's a tough call...No, actually it isn't.
Unfortunately there are some too who go out and fight for one of those LPFM licenses, build a facility, go on the air with the hope of public financial support, only to go belly-up months later. Don't believe me? Go look at the list of silent LPFM stations.
The strange thing about this board in particular, is it seems to have a few frequent contributors who either have been out of the industry for a long time, radio hobbyists who know little or nothing about business, or appear to be simply out of touch with modern consumer practices. Let's see.. I can buy an MP3 player for $100 and make my own playlist or I can donate that money to a local radio station. That's a tough call...No, actually it isn't.
Unfortunately there are some too who go out and fight for one of those LPFM licenses, build a facility, go on the air with the hope of public financial support, only to go belly-up months later. Don't believe me? Go look at the list of silent LPFM stations.
TVradioguru said:
Happy weekend, everybody!
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