What if Bill Gates and Paul Allen and other rich dudes.......

[Leebo65]

Bought ClearChannel and replaced the 'Fodder for the masses' programming with programming designed to educate and enlighten and even paid listeners cash whom demonstrated they benefited from such programming... Think about it.....

 

[cm454]

Paul Allen already owned a station; In Portland. He filled a talk station with sports programming and killed it.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

Bought ClearChannel and replaced the 'Fodder for the masses' programming with programming designed to educate and enlighten and even paid listeners cash whom demonstrated they benefited from such programming... Think about it.....

If I were a rich dude able to run in the same circles as Mr. Gates and Mr. Allen, and we all had this dream of doing something to "educate and enlighten" people, would we choose radio, or are there other venues that are more promising?

If you were given the task of "grant writing" for this project, what would your points be to convince us that radio has more to offer their project than does television or charter schools or even creating a super-charged Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts program.

The industry seems convinced that the most capable thing radio can do is ENTERTAIN with musical content that is neither educational or enlightening. Is our industry on the wrong track, or is your proposal on the wrong track?

Oh, I goofed up. This is the News/Talk forum. How careless of me. of course News and Talk is on the tip of everyones tongue as the most educational and enlightening tool we know of in the 21st Century. I let it slip my mind that almost every caller on the Limbaugh program is a PhD and program chair at a prestige university. Almost every caller on the Hannity broadcast is Director of Research for some Silicon Valley trend-setter company or Director of Research at some teaching hospital affiliated with a medical school. My bad.

 

[gr8oldies]

What if the "masses" don't want to be educated by radio stations. It's really easy to hit the off button.

 

[trojanrabbit]

The last thing I expect from a radio (or TV) station is to be educated. I want to be entertained.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

I think the original poster operates from the position that there is more than adequate radio for the mindless masses that don't want to be educated by radio. I also think the original poster operates from the position that Clear Channel and others are currently operating even below "the mindless masses".

So the question is: are those who are so warped as to assume they have a mind, and warped to the point they want to "feed and fertilize" the mind while listening to radio... are these folks not real people? Are they being greedy and thoughtless to dream that some fool might design a radio station they might like?

 

[gr8oldies]

Isn't that what NPR and other public broadcasting stations are for?

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

Isn't that what NPR and other public broadcasting stations are for?

Some of them do, and do it well.

Some of them are also pretty mindless.

I understand commercial radio has to bend toward things that make it financially rewarding but in recent years it just seems that a lot of commercial radio was so relieved to not have the FCC any longer acting like they had too much starch in their underwear so radio like a miscievious little kid delights in saying: "I don't have to, and you can't make me."

To which eventually listeners will say: "Listen? I don't have to and you can't make me."

 

[gr8oldies]

Precisely why you cant make commercial stations "educational". you cant make me listen to it. Maybe if it was 1965 with few choices available.

 

[gr229]

Paul Allen also owned KCMU in Seattle for about a year or so and I think Kxot in Tacoma both non comm. 91.7-90.3 fm's. He also owns the Jimmy Hendrix Experience Music Hall/museum in Seattle.
He gave KCMU about 18 months (?) to get it together and they did and he cut them loose. KXOT 91.7 not sure what happen..just know that they are not simulcasting anymore with KCMU.some boring talk.

Bill & Melinda Gates they're stuck on healing the world.

 

[Leebo65]

Maybe not so much EDUCATIONAL but how about some programming that is creative, different, unique.... Maybe hiring some journalism students from the local college to attempt some "real" local journalism... Cover those City Council meetings that so many of us want to attend but don't.. Dig into the machinations of local politcs... SOMETHING.....

 

[JimmyJames]

Allen never "owned" KCMU. It was an arrangement to turn them into a self sufficient station, which they have done quite well as KEXP.

Even in the entertainment realm, there's lots of content worth preserving and promoting that doesn't fit the constraints of commercial corporate radio. I've often wondered why more rock stars and clever philanthropists don't consider investing more in radio.

 

[gr229]

Allen never "owned" KCMU. It was an arrangement to turn them into a self sufficient station, which they have done quite well as KEXP.

ooopppss! my bad...Kcmu what the was I thinking....hmmmm KEXP!!! Still all the same Paul Allen banked rolled it along with the building he put on the Sea.Center grounds along with S.L.U.T. KXOT 91.7 is/has the Univ. of Wash. influence.. P.S.P.R. 91.7 which is owned by something/one in Colorado.
It comes to mind .. Kexp...don't the U of W have influence on your programming & cash flow also?

I like the station although it doesn't have the innovative "DJ's" as did the old KCMU. With the old kcmu anyone could go and put in your time filing or whatever(free of course) and you worked your way to actually getting on the air and producing your own show.True hands on (free) educational radio..Try that now with KEXP.....not!! it'll cost ya!!$$$$

Can you say ALLEN-TOWN Washington? and I can go on and on about that....

No it would not be a good idea for Bill, Paul, Warren and the others that have $6million a year property taxed homes to buy radio in the community...no value to them..it'll just be a tax write off.

Some of the statements I quoted here may be a little exaggerated but they're in the ball park(s)!!
(Allen's influence)

Anyways I stand corrected!!