It really doesn't matter what it's about or what their donors think.
They have found a way to translate their passion into something people will support.
There was a time when rock music was able to do that. Not any more.
-
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
WAAF sold to EMF....
- Thread starter Time Traveler
- Start date
It really doesn't matter what it's about or what their donors think.
They have found a way to translate their passion into something people will support.
There was a time when rock music was able to do that. Not any more.
Do you have anything to back up your claim on this? EMF is no more in it for the money than NPR is as well!
Agreed, EMF is not going in to a place where they believe they will lose a bunch of money. No broadcaster would, secular, christian or public broadcaster.
What I can say is both of EMF's formats are music formats with the same research and programming tactics as any secular broadcaster. They, like their public radio counterpart, point out they are listener supported. They have fundraisers like public stations. They likely use a consultation firm on fundraising that coaches on air talent, works on fulfillment and such. Listeners tend not to be 'guilted' in to giving but rather educated on how the revenue comes in. If you are a listener and like the station you'll potentially support the station just as a listener of a classical or jazz listener supported station. Nobody claims Jesus gave it his okay or anything like that. The listeners wouldn't fall for that crap. This is simply radio programming for a segment of the audience that wants the product and is willing to toss in a few bucks. The only difference is the music has a Christian theme and suddenly they are lower than a snake oil salesman but if the local NPR asked for 3 more $50 contributors and a chance for one of those $50 donors to win a trip to a Disney World, nobody would mention it.
In an earlier post I mentioned a hatred of Christians. The posts have certainly implied a hatred and surprisingly the biggest critics haven't even listened to them to understand what they dislike so much.
As for me, I am not a fan of either of their formats but man what a great business structure and what a lean operation. They don't need much to make any one of their stations break even. From that point, you can bet the big boys are watching what they're doing as they move more toward national air talent.
What I can say is both of EMF's formats are music formats with the same research and programming tactics as any secular broadcaster. They, like their public radio counterpart, point out they are listener supported. They have fundraisers like public stations. They likely use a consultation firm on fundraising that coaches on air talent, works on fulfillment and such. Listeners tend not to be 'guilted' in to giving but rather educated on how the revenue comes in. If you are a listener and like the station you'll potentially support the station just as a listener of a classical or jazz listener supported station. Nobody claims Jesus gave it his okay or anything like that. The listeners wouldn't fall for that crap. This is simply radio programming for a segment of the audience that wants the product and is willing to toss in a few bucks. The only difference is the music has a Christian theme and suddenly they are lower than a snake oil salesman but if the local NPR asked for 3 more $50 contributors and a chance for one of those $50 donors to win a trip to a Disney World, nobody would mention it.
In an earlier post I mentioned a hatred of Christians. The posts have certainly implied a hatred and surprisingly the biggest critics haven't even listened to them to understand what they dislike so much.
As for me, I am not a fan of either of their formats but man what a great business structure and what a lean operation. They don't need much to make any one of their stations break even. From that point, you can bet the big boys are watching what they're doing as they move more toward national air talent.
Big difference between NPR and EMF. NPR does not push "religion" as content.
Most Christian music is totally devoid of any real musicianship. It's just banal. Would this format play any Van Morrison, Cat Stevens (Yusuf) or perhaps John Lennon's "God" or "Imagine"? I'm guessing not...
Most Christian music is totally devoid of any real musicianship. It's just banal. Would this format play any Van Morrison, Cat Stevens (Yusuf) or perhaps John Lennon's "God" or "Imagine"? I'm guessing not...
That is absolutely false. These are educated musicians, with the same skills, often using the same techniques and studios as other musicians.
Just because you don't like it doesn't mean the musicians have no talent.
It's funny that the same kind of "bad music by bad musicians" has been used over the years to early rock 'n roll, progressive rock, disco, country, R&B, urban, regional Mexican, new age, smooth jazz and many other kinds of music.
Generally, the person making the observation is biased and simply does not like the genre they are mistakenly analyzing.
In fact, they provide services beyond the format, including a telephone service where listeners can call with faith, social and family issues and receive personalized guidance. They also have an increasing number of Christian events around the country and are developing family and individual support areas.
They have a website... it is easy to find out what they do rather than making assumptions as some posters already have done.
The money is used to expand the ministry. They are now developing outreach programs that involve counseling in a religious context.
Uh, Don, you're the only one to mention this, viz, "CBS back in the picture with Entercom". Did I miss something somewhere? I was under the impression that CBS and Entercom couldn't seem to put enough distance between them fast enough. Are you serious or just a cockeyed optimist (like myself) about this?
According to your personal taste. Millions of K-love listeners think it is great.
In fact, it is likely that I might find what you listen to very disagreeable. That does not mean your personal music preference is in poor taste. It just means your likes and mine are different.
While I don't like the music particularly, K-Love is a music format without hard-core preaching.
Many of us pay money to SiriusXM for commercial free music and other offerings. We pay to hear uninterrupted music on satellite services, just as the K-Love format asks donations to sustain the non-commercial operations.
The listeners who like the format and enjoy the DJs and the music contribute to make it continue. I pay various services online and by satellite for the same reason. That is how non-commercial radio works.
Wrong. They are in it for the message, and they get money to continue to provide the message and expand it.
The thing that I find so curious is that there is a guy in Boston who has put a few million dollars into AM stations and is programming oldies music. He's doing it because he loves it. You mean to tell me there aren't any rich people in Boston with that same love and devotion to modern rock music?
In Seattle, there's a group that has raised millions of dollars for a listener supported non-profit rock station KEXP. Last summer, they raised $15 million to build a modern performance studio where musicians can perform music for radio audiences. You mean to tell me that there's no one in Boston with that kind of passion and drive? I keep hearing that Boston is a rock town. Obviously not as much as Seattle.
In Seattle, there's a group that has raised millions of dollars for a listener supported non-profit rock station KEXP. Last summer, they raised $15 million to build a modern performance studio where musicians can perform music for radio audiences. You mean to tell me that there's no one in Boston with that kind of passion and drive? I keep hearing that Boston is a rock town. Obviously not as much as Seattle.
No, they push their own Political agenda, all the while claiming that they are just merely reporting the news instead!
Last edited:
You realize their CEO is a Republican, right?
I didn't, however wasn't Michael Bloomberg just until very recently was one also?
Not at NPR...he has his own company. Or do you mean Republican? In some ways, he still is.
By the way, I don't feel K-Love is "pushing" religion either. Just as I don't buy the myth that WAAF was "pushing" the rock lifestyle, whatever that is. People tune in to these radio stations to hear the music. They make lifestyle decisions of their own free will. I don't believe the music corrupts, nor do I believe the music in and of itself saves. People make that decision themselves. When WPLJ was bought by EMF, some New Yorkers wondered how many former PLJ listeners would continue to listen to the station as K-Love. I think the answer is obvious.
Why would they want to?
There was one tactic EMF pulled in the early days of the LPFM service proposals that I wasn't a fan of.
Their FCC filing said something to the effect of "if these stations are permitted, we'll lose donations and be unable to sustain our translator services."
In essence, a service (Translators) that were never intended to create national networks (K-Love) was considered under threat by a hypothetical local church owned LPFM drew donors away from EMF.
Now, think what you like about LPFM - but the tactic there on EMF's part seemed dirty and an attack on local religious groups that wanted to have their own signal - which would have, under the proposal at that time, had equal footing with a translator - 250 watts.
It's possible no one there now had anything to do with that line of attack, but in my opinion, it was dirty dealing.
Their FCC filing said something to the effect of "if these stations are permitted, we'll lose donations and be unable to sustain our translator services."
In essence, a service (Translators) that were never intended to create national networks (K-Love) was considered under threat by a hypothetical local church owned LPFM drew donors away from EMF.
Now, think what you like about LPFM - but the tactic there on EMF's part seemed dirty and an attack on local religious groups that wanted to have their own signal - which would have, under the proposal at that time, had equal footing with a translator - 250 watts.
It's possible no one there now had anything to do with that line of attack, but in my opinion, it was dirty dealing.
- Status