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Why hasn't non-comm...

A

Andy Travis

With all of the attention on EMF's move to Nashville, and all they managed to accomplish, the question came to mind:

Why hasn't noncommercial music radio of a secular nature tapped into what EMF figured out and achieved?

Does anyone have theories? I'm a huge fan of things like the Current, XPN, KEXP. But why didn't some of those operators succeed on a national model or more aggressively pursue it?

Is it because the tastes in secular rock genres are too fragmented and the fundraising model implies a certain local or regionalism that wouldn't be sustainable nationally? Or some other factor?

I know KEXP tried in New York with a shared/some custom programming arrangement, that lasted not very long.
 
Andy Travis said:
Why hasn't noncommercial music radio of a secular nature tapped into what EMF figured out and achieved?
Click to expand...

Probably the expense. WXPN Philadelphia syndicates a national show called World Cafe that's carried by a lot of stations nationally. It would be another thing to do a 24/7 world music format. Easier to fund a weekly show than a format. Then there's the local fundraising element, which is harder to do in secular radio. Holding the reward of eternal salvation is a great motivator in fundraising. Secular stations don't have the weapon in their arsenal. But sure, there's no reason why the Rhythm & Blues Foundation in Memphis or the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame or just fans of certain genres couldn't do this. If Paul Allen was still alive, he'd be a good person to talk to. The first step is getting the money.
 
One of the draws for Christian radio is it is beyond just the programming. Sure, like the classical or jazz or indie format where that style of music has only one outlet locally to their liking and therefore a musical oasis worth supporting, there is an emotional tie directly related to the person's lifestyle. In essence, the Christian format is a form of support emotionally. It encourages a lifestyle the listener has chosen. The content matches their tastes in radio programming. Then their is the possibility someone might convert to Christianity by listening. The music played is also the music the band plays when they attend their local church.

Many of these stations have phone lines open at all hours to listeners for prayer or just talking through a problem. Most stations give away free Bibles. Many have local pastors lists that allow listeners to reach church leaders. Whether those resources are used by an individual listener is less important than it being available if they feel they need it.

When that Christian Music station asks for listener support, it's not just the music or how the personalities give an image of being just like them or that they can let the kids listen. They are funding a level of support from the stations other offerings off air and 'spreading the gospel' so to speak. I contend the reason the level of support is so good among Christian radio listeners is because the station is much more than just a format on the radio to them.

A person I work with controls the radio and chooses WAY-FM. I had never spent much time 'hearing' the elements of programming on Christian Music stations but the general theme is some listener involvement, rather lighthearted in nature, on everyday issues. The prevailing theme is the station is there for you and always playing the song you needed to hear at the right time.

If any secular format can create that 'value added' appeal, I think you could see success levels on the lines of Christian radio.

Even so, putting together something as a national network is a costly endeavor.
 
b-turner said:
Many of these stations have phone lines open at all hours to listeners for prayer or just talking through a problem.
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There was a time when certain DJs at progressive rock stations were available to talk some listeners down from a drug-induced situation. That was many years ago. The rock DJ known as Brother John was an ordained minister.
 
I would propose the main reason no other format has built a national operation in the way K-Love has is lack of vision. Radio has traditionally been locally focused, and K-Love is the only successful national format there is in the US. I would note that K-Love used to have affiliates owned by independent non-profits, although I think EMF has acquired most of them by now.

I'm not sure if a nationwide non-commercial AAA network would really work. I certainly don't have the funding to try.
 
PTBoardOp94 said:
I would propose the main reason no other format has built a national operation in the way K-Love has is lack of vision.
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Well, when you have people like Jesus and Saint Paul as your visionaries, it's really easy. That's what it takes. One person or a group of people who are motivated. As I said, Paul Allen was the visionary behind Seattle's Experience Project and KEXP. I've had the honor of working for a couple of those visionaries, and they can change the world. They are selflessly devoted to a goal. That's what you need.
 
TheBigA said:
The rock DJ known as Brother John was an ordained minister.
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You're referring to Brother John Rivers who use to host a nationally distributed show called Powerline? A Top 40 station I worked at in the early 90s ran it on Sunday mornings. Even that late when most everything came to us on CD or via satellite, Powerline was still sent to us on vinyl. In fact I think that's the only reason we still had a turntable in the studio.
 
Another factor with K-LOVE is that they have put stations in areas that either had no CCM stations very poor quality ones. In my area of West TN no Christian station would give CCM a chance until K-LOVE came in and proved there was an audience for it. Also in some cities like Memphis the existing CCM stations only ran music part time and depended too much on teaching and preaching programs, many of which were the dollar a holler type. K-LOVE's all music format was a definite improvement. They came to Memphis and then expanded into other parts of West TN, AR, MS, and MO that had never had a CCM station before, and probably still wouldn't if they hadn't come in.
 
There is a show called "undercurrents" that fills overnight hours on one of the public stations which appears to be syndicated. That is the closest I know of to a national music outlet on public radio. It's musically similar to AAA although it may feature more genres. If there were to be some kind of music network like AAA or the proposed urban alternative or something else, the most likely affiliates would be the HD2s or 3s of NPR stations. Of course they would also need access to translators for most people to hear them. A secularized version of EMF that could raise enough funds to buy out stations everywhere seems unlikely. AAA would probably benefit from a national network as it is a niche like CCM and is absent in most markets. Same with jazz or classical where those are unavailable. How to make it work financially is another question.
 
AbqAnonymous said:
There is a show called "undercurrents" that fills overnight hours on one of the public stations which appears to be syndicated. That is the closest I know of to a national music outlet on public radio. It's musically similar to AAA although it may feature more genres. If there were to be some kind of music network like AAA or the proposed urban alternative or something else, the most likely affiliates would be the HD2s or 3s of NPR stations. Of course they would also need access to translators for most people to hear them. A secularized version of EMF that could raise enough funds to buy out stations everywhere seems unlikely. AAA would probably benefit from a national network as it is a niche like CCM and is absent in most markets. Same with jazz or classical where those are unavailable. How to make it work financially is another question.
Click to expand...

We run undercurrents and world cafe on our NPR station in what i lovingly call.. just east of gods creation nowhere alaska
 
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