We want to keep the “Community” in Community radio, so let us know just how you feel about the planned changes at KBCS.
Tell us what you think about the “new” KBCS!
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Hope this is helpful. I want to mention that two of my favorite programmers on KBCS.fm are station mgr Steve Ramsey and now M-F am Caravan dj John Gilbreath. And I continue to be excited by the concept and execution of Thursday’s news show “One World Report”.
I have a lot of fear about the future of KBCS. It seems things have not changed so much since the demise of “listener supported community radio” station KRAB-FM 107.7, decades ago. Parallels needing addressing:
A. No community advisory groups.
B. Membership in name only; listeners influence, ‘vote’ by contributing to their favorite show/s and hope they will continue (not true with loss of some well-supported KBCS shows by the way)
C. Well-meaning insiders convince themselves that to maintain the expenses and fulfill their dreams for the station, that radical changes are necessary.
D. Same folks convince themselves that they have investigated all the alternatives (not including using the airwaves as a forum for educating listeners, discussion and invitation to participate; no voices for diversity there…). They also convince themselves that they have investigated the listeners themselves (polling, Arbitron, and some focus groups I never heard about a couple years ago, tho I listened all the time and was personally registered on http://www.kbcs.fm). and
E. Management decides to not air their plans, because they now know what’s needed: it’s necessary to move with the times, and listeners not in the full ‘know’ may misunderstand and actually make the opportune changes harder or impossible.
I’m not arguing against change. Money flow needs to be diversified for KBCS to be vibrant in the future, for instance. But it’s not true to imply or claim that before the new changes, money flow was down. Financial reports for 2007 and 2008 showed that fewer people were contributing a total of more money than ever. (These reports were/are available on http://www.kbcs.fm.)
It seems to me that given that changes need to be made, KBCS management moved the wrong direction, away from:
empowering listeners with the truth of how important they MUST be as individuals and as communities
(I use the plural of ‘community’ on purpose).
Reality:
Let’s not forget that primary accountability of KBCS leadership is not to the listener/contributors but to the owners of the license and the studios, Bellevue College. On http://www.savekbcs.org I’d like to see a click-on to the College for comments, along with the station, which I am not giving up on! It’s just harder to call it “my station” for now. I was hoping that when KBCS added Democracy Now and brought young people energy with some news production and the afternoon drivetime show featuring global beats, that THESE were the signs “my station” was heading towards sustainable vitality. Now I hear “The Take Away” talk npr, or male Country dominating hours at a time, and I lament that I can’t even hear the old daytime shows even on-line (which could have been done before we “niche” listeners– I had a number of well-loved niches– stopped listening….).
I feel for fellow listeners like me who increased their contributions when the economy went down. I don’t want to lose the station but can’t contribute to selectively support the remaining programming that I treasure. And I really feel for the volunteer programmers who continue: how ambivalent and fearful they must feel, while still sounding so professional and enthusiastic! I also feel for the station management and the college: in a sense they are doing the best they can. They may need our help more than they know!
I hope the past, present and future of community radio in Seattle will be a part of our grappling with the issues THIS WEEKEND– from the Friday appearances by Amy Goodman and also the YES MEN, the teach-in Sat-Sun at Seattle University sponsored by Community Alliance For Global Justice, and demonstrations and films Monday on the actual 10 year anniversary of the start of a week of progressive actions inside and outside the World Trade Organization.
“A World of Music and Ideas”: Where would we be without either one?! Long live the spirit of KBCS!
Happy to hear that Save KBCS volunteers will show up tonight Nov.27 when Amy Goodman of Democracy Now will speak at Town Hall. I bet that half the people who are attending don’t have info about what’s going on at their ‘community’ radio station and don’t know about http://www.savekbcs.org.
I’m intending to pick up some leaflets at Town Hall and hand them out to the Yes Men movie showing up the hill at 7 and 9. I hope it’s possible to see the leaflet ahead of time as an attachment. I could post it places at Seattle University for the weekend teach-ins on the WTO–lots of good folks/KBCS listeners there!
Speaking of Democracy Now, which survives for now on KBCS, how does the management think that many working people can listen to the show now that both time DNow airs have been changed to working hours, 8-9 am and 3-4 pm? If it’s true that more people are now listening (and watching) Democracy Now online and at their convenience, 2 things are especially true:
1.
Daytime working people who don’t have computer access can’t get Democracy Now anymore, or maybe part of it before or after work.
2.
People who do have computers are more likely to listen AND WATCH DemNow online (check out http://www.democracynow.org for the Nov. 26th edition featuring longtime folk musician, performer and Native activist Buffy St. Marie–with part of her new CD and film ‘Buffy St. Marie: a Multi-Media Life’). They’re less likely to feel responsible to support KBCS if they’re getting DNow on-air less and less.
Long live the spirit of KBCS !
Rick Harlan
Reply to the Weekly:
As with the Seattle Times story on August 17th, here we have yet another almost totally pro-management article; Although this even more so(!) fails to include the voices of the hard working volunteers (and recent former volunteers) at KBCS who were left in the dark about these behind-closed-door decisions until the very last moment. We strongly object to such sweeping, financially disastrous changes and the crass manner in which they were handled. We all thought this we supposed to be a “community” station.
Thanks to Hollis Wong-Wear who included our collective voice on August 28th, although that was the Weekly online edition only; When will somebody have the guts to put in print the address for the volunteer organized website savekbcs.org? Many KBCS listeners still don’t know about this site because DJs are forbidden to speak about it on the air, although many wish they could. It’s important for people to know about this because station management is planning even more changes to the evening and weekend shows. For details see savekbcs.org. There you will also find hundreds of letters from disgusted, formerly loyal listeners.
By the way, the station formerly aired 5 hours of jazz weekdays, not 10 as was stated here in the first sentence. The other canceled shows were folk and world music. How about some fact checking before going to press?
Name withheld
Article on KBCS in the new issue of the Weekly:
http://www.seattleweekly.com/2009-11-18/music/kbcs-staying-afloat/
#6 by dru druzianich on November 15, 2009 - 3:31 pm
We at Save KBCS! would like to thank all of you for your support of
the cause to restore community radio at KBCS. It’s really quite
remarkable what you’ve helped to accomplish thus far:
• KBCS management had originally announced that, after the initial
changes implemented in August 2009, a complete revamping of the
evening and weekend programs would follow this fall and winter. Under
pressure and scrutiny, KBCS management has now postponed these changes
until next year.
• Your strong statement of opposition has also impacted KBCS
financially. The Fall 2009 pledge drive goal was $100,000,
significantly lower than the Spring 2008 pledge drive goal of
$175,000. KBCS management had stated that their expectations for the
pledge drive were lowered because they knew that opposition to the
August changes would result in reduced pledges. In fact, only $77,000
was raised.
In her response to representatives of Save KBCS!, with whom she met
last July, Bellevue College President Jean Floten stated “I believe we
need to proceed with implementing the first phase of the plan and
incorporate a more inclusive process for any further changes.” Since
the August program changes, representatives of Save KBCS! have met
with KBCS management in the hopes of opening communication channels
and having a constructive dialogue. These efforts have been met with
arrogance and indifference. It is clear that KBCS management has no
intention of being “more inclusive,” and simply hopes we will just go
away.
Save KBCS! believes that it is now time to take the next step. That
is, to initiate a letter-writing campaign targeting our legislative
representatives and the members of the Bellevue College Board of
Trustees. Because Bellevue College is part of the Washington state
educational system, the employees at KBCS are all state employees.
Attached to this e-mail is a letter to the BC Board of Trustees from
Save KBCS! giving them a “heads up” that we are initiating this
campaign.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO WRITE YOUR OWN LETTER TO EXPRESS YOUR OPINIONS AND
FEELINGS! The attachment summarizes the Save KBCS! position and
analysis of the facts as we see them. It states what our preferred
future of KBCS is. You are welcome to plagiarize the letter as much
as you like. We do encourage you to be civil and respectful.
The following Washington state government website will help you find
out who your legislators are and how to contact them:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder/
Here is a list of the individuals on the Bellevue College Board of Trustees.
Steve Miller – Chair
Vijay Vashee -Vice Chair
Paul Chiles
Vicki Orrico
Lee Kraft
You can send the members e-mail through the President’s secretary,
Lucinda Taylor. She will forward them. Her e-mail address is
Lucinda.Taylor@bellevuecollege.edu.
If you prefer “snail mail,” you could write to the Board of Trustees care of:
Bellevue College, Office A-201
3000 Landerholm Circle SE
Bellevue, WA 98007
Save KBCS! is committed to continuing the fight to get restore
community radio at KBCS. Once again, we appreciate your continued
support and efforts. Thanks!
If you have comments or questions, or you do not want to receive
anymore emails regarding Save KBCS!, please write to us at
savekbcs@gmail.com.
Sincerely,
Save KBCS!
http://www.savekbcs.org
#7 by dru druzianich on November 11, 2009 - 11:43 am
An open letter to the Board and members of The Seattle Folklore Society
October 2, 2009
I have been a folk music programmer at radio station KBCS since 1985 on Sunday Folks, co-hosted with Sandy Macdonald, airing from 9 am to noon.
On August 24th of this year radical program changes were implemented at KBCS resulting in the arbitrary dismissal, of 15 long-time volunteer programmers. In addition several experienced hosts have resigned in protest of the flawed process. Along with the loss of these passionate music hosts, KBCS eliminated 4 hours each weekday of jazz and world music. For a radio station that prides itself on locally produced public affairs these programs were replaced with syndicated talk shows thereby threatening local relevance.
The long running and very popular Lunch with Folks was cancelled. There is now a marked decrease in airplay of traditional and comtemporary folk music. In its place a new format is unfolding with pop melodies, electric blues and twang.
KBCS has long been a unique voice for folk music in the Puget Sound region and that voice is now greatly diminished. In the future KBCS management plans to alter evening and weekend shows which may reduce the committment to acoustic music even further.
In the fall of 2008, station management convened critical station wide meetings to discuss the future of KBCS. In attendance were a hired media consultant, the general manager, Steve Ramsey, program director, Pete Graff and other paid KBCS staff.
Music hosts and other volunteers were promised a long, open process of meetings and brainstorming sessions hopefully resulting in a new and agreed upon direction for KBCS.
As the end of the year approached, for one reason or another, the meetings were cancelled and not re-scheduled and committees were placed on hiatus. As the new year unfolded the open forum meetings never took place.
KBCS launched a Spring fundraiser in March which fell several thousand dollars shy of the overall goal. A mini-drive was scheduled in June to make up the deficit from the Spring membership drive.
Days and in some cases hours before the mini-drive, program director Pete Graff met individually with many progammers. This only took place because two volunteers privy to the impending changes insisted the programmers be told in advance of the fund drive. At these meetings Mr Graff announced the first of 3 tiers of sweeping changes to be implemented in late August.
Phases 2 and 3 were to follow in late 2009 and early 2010 affecting weekend and evening shows.
Many of us were shell-shocked by these across the board changes instigated without input from the very people and listeners the changes were dramatically affecting.
We were being asked to solicit funding for KBCS without telling the audience that the programs they were supporting would be eliminated within 8 weeks. Quite frankly, we were apalled that our community station did not value the input of its volunteers or listeners before making such wholesale changes.
Needless to say, morale suffered in the following days and weeks and resulted in a core group of music hosts banding together to form http://www.savekbcs.org. Over 500 listener/subscribers have logged onto the savekbcs website to express their outrage over the changes and the lack of process or disclosure. Our mission was not to stop but to put a hold on the changes until the promised process of 2008 could be re-started.
Members of our steering committee met with Bellevue College president Jean Floten, Dean Mike Talbott and station manager Steve Ramsey. We were told that Phase 1 would go forth followed by a more transparent and open process. Currently we understand that Phases 2 and 3 may take place sometime after May 2010.
Given the long standing relationship between the KBCS folk music programmers and The Seattle Folklore Society, I felt this information would be of value to all.
On October 4, 2009, after over 24 years of volunteer radio production at KBCS, I produced my last edition of Sunday Folks.
With a heavy heart,
Dru Druzianich
Sunday Folks
September 1985-October 4 2009
http://www.savekbcs.org
About a month ago, I finally changed the station my alarm clock was set to from 91.3 to 88.5. One of the reasons I began listening (and contributing to KBCS) was that it was an antidote to the NPR news babble. The TakeAway is truly one of the absolutely shallowest, news babble shows I can imagine. The hosts are very rude to their guests, often cutting them off with irrelevant questions, just as they begin to say something truly interesting. Too much repetition, too much announcing ahead what they’re going to have later in the program. I think there must be about 15 minutes of actual content in a whole show. NPR news babble is far better.
Amy Goodman’s show was annoying when it first appeared, because it replaced an hour of drive time jazz programming. I was able to tolerate it after a while.
There is plenty of news already on the air. I am very disappointed that my favorite musical genre (Jazz) has been almost completely displaced from KBCS. John Gilbreath plays a small fraction of the musical variety that is jazz, which I found on the dial at 91.3. His show does not seem as well constructed as those displaced … the cuts he plays are all over the map … and just don’t hold the same interest for me as what Bernie, Al, and Joanie once played over the air waves.
Joanie Nelson was doing a streaming audio show. Someone told me she has stopped. I hope that is not so. I thoroughly enjoyed the shows she put up on the archive, and confess to having listened several times to most of them since her show was yanked from the airwaves.
Enough rambling. Here are the bullet points:
1) KBCS used to be on the radio almost all the time.
2) KBCS is almost never on the radio any more
3) The folk mid day programming is too electric
4) Evening programming is still good, but I forget to turn the radio on because I’m actively “not listening” to KBCS shows I don’t like.
5) About the only time KBCS is on now is Sunday because my wife listens to Sunday Folk, Bluegrass Ramble, Sunday Hornpipe.
6) The new KBCS has lost me as a community member.
7) I pledged to KPLU during their drive, but not KBCS.