The Save KBCS Blog!

Hmmmm…let’s see….is Ginny Berson, mentioned in the article, the same “consultant” that was hired, paid and told them to change the format ? A little “full disclosure” would be more than ethical….don’t you think ? I don’t remember seeing in the article the fact that they are replacing the great volunteer (that mean without pay) jazz DJs on from 9am-12noon with the same PAID DJ daily. I also don’t remember seeing in the article anything about “extensive” outreach/marketing to our community or via the internet about what KBCS has to offer. Part of KBCS managment’s job is marketing and outreach. They have been a total failure in my estimation. There are several great stations with weak signals that have found their audience through the internet. WDVX in Tennessee is one that comes to mind. They are also taking their biggest talk radio show, “Democracy Now” and putting that on at 8am and repeated at 3pm. How many people that like “Democracy Now” will be listening at 8am in the morning. Everybody I know will be at work. We need the eclectic music music mix of KBCS. What we don’t need is more yacking, yacking, yacking whether it is on the left or right. We also don’t need homogenization of our airwaves which is where KBCS is going despite what the disingenous “kept” DJs say.

I was a student at BCC from 1987-89 and took the basic broadcasting course, so I was able to get on the air (albeit on the 3-6am shift when nobody was scheduled) and loved every minute of it. I also did some weather and traffic during drive time on weekdays for a bit just for fun. KBCS is a community radio station, it should focus on the community. I love the early morning jazz because you can’t find it anywhere else. I don’t listen to satilitte radio, I listen to broadcast radio. I don’t want news in the morning, you can find that on any NPR station (there are TWO in the Seattle area already). I want to hear jazz as it starts my day out right.

Sounds like we may lose KBCS if it tries to compete by being just like every other station. Boo!

Wintergrass is moving from Tacoma to Bellevue and KBCS is killing “Lunch with Folks,” losing a great bluegrass DJ (Dave Long), and mystifying member/listeners with “Phase 2.” Oy vey. They’re gonna tear down the Grand Ole Opry. Another good thing has done gone on, done gone on.

I wrote a real letter to the managers who decided this without asking me.

This is no way to run a “Community” Radio Station. As a 33+ year listener, I hope that SaveKBCS.org will make one last effort to force an on-air debate of the proposed changes. Next Wednesday night a debate should occur in place of “Voices of Diversity” so the Listeners can actually be heard. Since Jean Floten hasn’t been paying attention, a petition should be sent to her demanding a debate!

Keep the COMMUNITY in Community Radio, kiwibob

I am indeed SHOCKED AND SADDENED to see that Joanie will be taken off the air! I have been painting to her show for ten years , and much of my work has been inspired by listening to her play Frank, Bing , Fred , Boswell Sisters, Cab , Glen , and all the others I refer to by first name , because , like them , listened to every week , JOANIE IS OUR FRIEND , and so is AL BARNES . We listeners have been this stations’ FRIENDS ALSO , and now we are being shuffled aside just like Joanie and Al , and this is something that should never , ever happen to supporters of this kind of ”last of an era” radio station . I called Joanie many times with a request to hear Bing sing and croon while making a painting of him, or Frank , Dean , etc. and the art just became easier, more flourishing, relaxed, real and alive with this connection this ”COMMUNITY” living in our studios, workplaces, kitchens… Are you taking the community out of this station ? Let’s relate to the artist palette on this very sad and ”blind”issue”: Have you noticed that when the colors are taken out of a painting , there is only gray ? Don’t you realize that you are creating a very gray ( ”corporate” , ” mediocre ” , ” bland ” ) listening palette for the person who desperately needs these djs to stay on the air and continue through life with them? Do you realize that many people did not even get approached by a survey , possibly the thousands who really love the BIG BAND MUSIC weren’t even approached and therefore you do not really KNOW what THE PEOPLE WANT , really? As program director, making such a huge mediocre change without telling your SUPPORTIVE AUDIENCE FAR IN ADVANCE TO ACTUALLY SEE IF THIS IS WHAT THEY REALLY WANT , is the very bottom of the barrel , there are THOUSANDS OF ELDERLY who listen to these two shows fro Joanie and Al every week , THEY ARE YOUR AUDIENCE !!! THIS IS WHAT THEY WANT , THEY ARE THE ONES REALLY BEING HURT BY THIS LISTENING LIFE BEING KILLED FOR MEDIOCRITY . I will bet you never even approached all these people, you only want to appease all the twenty-somethings who ALREADY HAVE THEIR OWN CORPORATE RADIO ALL OVER THE DIAL , with all the constant overbearing commercials , the loud, pushy djs who really don’t have anything to say , and much of this ”clear channel” style , just like the wrong choice of direction you are steering this little station , is actually RECORDED DJS , RECORDED CALL IN REQUESTS , and very empty of remembrance of wonderful listening LIFE at the end of the day . These young people were the ones you asked about what they would like to listen to , and what you have chosen to do is simply appease them , blaming the economy, and actually I see on the huge comment blog that funds just REALLY aren’t the problem here , are they , you are just trying to be like everyone else , and we all know that sheep may follow but they do not create a livable pasture for all the other creatures out in it . Sheep simply follow, BLINDLY , and PULL UP ALL THE GRASS BY THE ROOTS ,thereby destroying the pasture for all the other DIVERSE animals. Do you see the picture I am painting here ? When you go the direction of -hidden unknown money greed sponsors-radio sheep music-bland programming- paternization of the young audience- ignoring the seniors in the community who need these shows in their lives – you are actually making killing your money base , your community in a sense also , because they were never even told of these changes . And what about Joanie and Al ? how can you sleep at night knowing what you are doing to their lives ? do you realize how lucky you are to even have a job and a routine each day/week? I ask that you become humble and a little less of a person wielding the death knell of power , just because you can as program director,all of you who supposedly”run” this station , and be thankful that YOU , TOO have had the opportunity o listen to these wonderful icons of radio , Joanie and Al, YOU TOO WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE CHANGES YOU ARE MAKING , you will be forced to listen to the new grayness , just like all the rest of us, when you dial this station in your car or at home . I know you will escape this new gray radio by going to the internet to listen , but if people loke Joanie and Al are not there, then what are you going to listen to ? I will wager that you are NOT EVEN FROM THIS AREA , and just a transplant from somewhere else that wants to come in and tell everyone what we will listen to . This is what has happened to our great area , transplants from other states move here and take down all the historic buildings . But first to go are the great old restaurants , then come the faceless, mediocre condos in their place . Realize that the colorful palette of ART is what has always shaped the atmosphere of city areas that get taken over by money greed and boutiques . Al and Joanie ARE THE COLORFUL PALETTE who is being taken over by the unknown money underwriters, the ego of change that really doesn’t have anything to do with getting money to the radio station . I speak for all those who’s hearts you are cutting out of their weekly lives . I see you have become like all the rest who choose to tarnish our world by big ” changes” another sheep that just gets told where he is going , without asking questions , finding other ways to get advertising out there to see if ” the people” REALLY WANT THIS CHANGE . You left most of us out of this , and Believe me, now you will actually be going backward in trying to even keep the station on the air with funds, because most of the people you hurt in this will not give anymore . This just reminds me of the huge line of traffic on the freeway where thousands stay in it , and few ever even THINK to just get off and go down a side street . But think about this : everyone in Seattle /Bellevue radio is now just following each other down these side streets, which are MEDIOCRE AVENUES of programming . We don’t want to offend people with BIG BAND music, we’d better be like clear channel so we can keep going . But keep going with what ? ! We all lose , you included . Really , now , the Bellevue College heads should do something about this , not let you ruin this station . I am sure if you take the time to look at twitter, facebook, my space , you will SEE WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT . You probably say , ” well, I am too busy” , but you just want it easy like most people, and to give these two iconic radio spots to a five day sameness of ”world ” etc. is just plain laziness , you just don’t want to have to deal with too many shows . It will make your job much easier . I work ten-twelve hours per day , that is why I am a well know artist like so many others who sacrifice their time to make only the BEST we can make in art , and you should feel no different . I still HAVE TIME FOR MORE EACH DAY ! You don’t ? Well , start appreciating what yoiu have had at this station for all these precious years , and take responsibility for how you are ruining the hearts of so many thousands of supporters, and make the best LISTENING PALETTE you can , which takes extra time and effort . Yes , you say that you cannot AT ALL find ANYONE who will volunteer three hours per day , well, what ever happened to the school work- study program where people are TRAINED in the studio do dj , and get a small stipend to do it , while they are in school? This is where I got my start back in the early eighties, working in the kbcs studio doing voiceovers, getting the ads ready for the djs and spinning my own jazz show once a week . I was shown how to do it , I was interested in doing it every week , and I know you can work harder to find , train and mentor these people you claim do not exist ! Every really GOOD THING IN LIFE TAKES HARD WORK , nothing good is ever made quickly , but with very few exceptions in life You obviously never took the time to see what the PEOPLE REALLY WANT , and you are finding out now , and this mediocrity will continue to make your station down slide into such a greyness that you won’t even recognize it anymore , because you took away the COMMUNITY , like the big corporations that takeover the colorful life in the neighborhoods by getting rid of the historic, iconic and lively nature that makes a place a PLACE . Bellevue College used to call itself Bellevue Community College , and took the word ‘ community ‘out of their title, we all should have seen this coming miles away . I implore you to do extra work to see what the people REALLY want about these changes you are imposing upon all of we who, without our support, a great radio station , respected in all of the rest of America as authentic radio programming , would not have . You must enjoy the grayness in life: the latte , bland colors for men in fashion , cars that now are all from the same limited color palette, condos that all look the same ( just because of economic money standards , old, interesting buildings destroyed for ”progress” , cable media giving u a gray palette on the world entertainment scene with all their reality shows ,fruit and vegetables so manufactured that they have no flavor , and now this complete dismantling of the great radio station that we all love . Please start to think for yourself and don’t just follow the sheep , take a good , hard look at what you are doing . You will sleep better knowing you have really asked ALL THE PEOPLE YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO about what THE PEOPLE REALLY WANT .

With regard to Jane Hardin’s post (#13)…

I did say “It’s all about the numbers.” But, what I implied and will now say explicitly is “and it’s nothing about heart and soul.” This is where Ms. Hardin and we, savekbcs.org, differ. Heart and soul matters. That’s also the spiritual message from the “carnival” Jonas Hartford refers to (#14). Heart and soul is why folks support KBCS. And heart and soul is what is now being diminished on weekdays.

The volunteers would be happy to participate in efforts like the ones Ms. Hardin talks about, if we had been given the chance. But, the staff went into some smoke-filled room and came out with these changes along with a lame apology for not being inclusive; and an absolute refusal to budge one inch from their position, the listeners and volunteers be damned.

While some commenters have said “no changes,” nobody at savekbcs.org has advocated the status quo. That’s a fiction perpetuated by the staff. We just don’t think the sledgehammer they’ve taken to the weekday schedule is warranted without some intermediate effort to involve the community, listeners and volunteers. Further, we expect that weekends and weeknights will get the same treatment.

Staff has stated that how much money is pledged to certain shows during pledge drive does not count against the all-mighty Arbitron numbers. I guess we’ll see in the fall how many people take Ms. Hardin’s approach to support weekends, and how many punish the station for their imperious attitude.

Dave Long, KBCS volunteer
Bluegrass Ramble, Our Saturday Tradition

I did not read all the posts here but did read many of them.

I was talking with Dave Long during his bluegrass show last Sunday. He made a comment that “Its all about the numbers” in relation to the decisions that KBCS management have made.

Yes. It is and it always has been. And it should be. If people want to see the folk music or any other program stay the numbers need to change.

New- and Not-So-Newcomers may not realize that KBCS used to be a Jazz station. Back in the early 80’s Susan Madden started the program Sunday Folks. She then got the Tuesday evening slot and started Folksounds. Somewhere in there early on Dru Druzianich came on board but at first it was only Susan. The management at that time wanted KBCS to remain a Jazz station. Folk music was pooed-pooed.

How did things change? We convinced the management with numbers! During the fund drives we would get as many people as possible to donate during the two folk shows. It was difficult for the management to deny that the majority of the funding was coming from two folk programs; far out distancing anything that was being brought in on the jazz programs.

For the weekday programming I am sort of in a “Wait and See” mode. I am not convinced the changes are entirely bad.

But Phase 2 is about changing the weekend. I want to see the folk programming on Saturday and Sunday stay.

Here is what we need to do to make that happen:

KBCS is no longer just a Seattle area station. It is KBCS.fm. Anyone who loves folk music anywhere in the world can listen, join, and support.

1. Ask every single folk musician you know to announce at concerts everywhere – not just in Seattle – about the great programming on KBCS weekends. Ask audiences to check it out on KBCS.FM and join as members during the next fund raising period DURING their favorite program.

2. Ask your friends and family to do the same.

3. In short: CHANGE THE NUMBERS!

When I saw the numbers I was alarmed. I can fully understand why the management thinks they need to make changes. I would too if I were in their shoes. (The numbers are here: http://tinyurl.com/nelwt6)

Performing artists have repeatedly said that KBCS and WUMB in Boston are the two best Folk stations in the country. Well it is time to capitalize on that and make it count.

Yours in music,
Jane

The following is in response to the proposed changes to KBCS programing which were outlined in a letter dated July 16, 2009. My opinion about these changes was not sought prior to the announcement and may be irrelevant now. But I would like them to know that I think they are destroying a unique listening experience by exchanging the richness of the programming produced by the community of volunteer hosts for the limitations of one paid host.

I hope that KBCS thinks better of this before these unwelcome changes are implemented. If not I’ve asked them to remove my address from their data base. I have been a donor to KBCS for more than 10 years.

Criminy, I haven’t seen so much spin since the last time I overdid the bourbon.

Let’s get this issue straight before the save KBCS website gets falsely smeared as “full” of people who are going around threatening their opponents.

No one “demanded” personally identifiable information as a requisite for conversation. We were already *having* a conversation, or so I thought, and here’s the way it went:

*** You made various arguments about Arbitron numbers and the significance thereof. (along with some derisive cracks about “hobbyists” and so forth that I chose to ignore)

*** I made a counterargument that amounted to: maybe the numbers you cite, even if they were correct (I didn’t think so), shouldn’t be the main issue here.

*** I was expecting a counter-counter-argument that would either continue down the “hobbyist” path, or would focus on how my “museum” concept would represent a gross misuse of public funds, or maybe both. (I had already conceded, btw, that a debate about the latter perspective was at least a legitimate debate to have.) Instead, you said only “I didn’t have time to read your entire speech but if you’d like to bullet-point it I’ll certainly give it the once over.”

In other words: sarcasm about the length of my post (ok, fair enough), and a disavowal of the fact that you read it. But the thing is, you did read it. No one is egoless enough (especially in radio, which is chock-full of people with big egos who like to present themselves as lacking them) to avoid reading something that’s arguing back against a point they’ve made. I would bet my mother’s spleen that not only did you read in my post in its totality, but *also* that you tried to articulate a response and failed miserably–so instead, you gutlessly pretended you didn’t read what I have to say so that you wouldn’t have to engage. The fact that I used so many words presented you with the easy out you needed to avoid too obviously embracing cowardice.

*** Since I don’t care much for liars, I then called you out on the lying. But I didn’t say “I won’t talk to you any more unless you reveal yourself.” I said, in essence, “I won’t be a part of enabling your cowardly little smokescreen unless you reveal yourself.”

*** You responded by playing the wounded virgin, because you got your widdle feewings hurt on the big bad internets, and then said you’re going back home to Trollsylvania.

Seriously, wtf? I may be a blowhard–as said, I’m sure you’ll find plenty of people who agree that I talk too goddamned much, starting with my spouse, and certainly including a sizable number of KBCS people on either “side” of the current debate–but at least I’m not firing lots of shots and then acting offended when somebody fires back. I *want* somebody to argue back against the things I’ve been saying, because there are *so* many debates we should have already been having throughout the last decade, and we haven’t done them justice up to now:

** …because the issue of whether to place the present level of service to the jazz and folk listening constituencies would have to be hashed out sometime or another. Frankly, it won’t be too long before many members of these constituencies will begin to pass away. So in 2029 or 2019 or whenever, maybe the “museum”/”conservation” argument would no longer make enough sense for me to support it. When does a constituency become too small to serve? Artex raised this point and in my opinion it was a point that was worth raising (even if I disagree about what to do now), in order to help foster the hard discusssions that we should have already been having.

** …because there are genuinely difficult issues to be grappled with regarding expenditures of public funds in America, along many, many different lines, and it is all too easy for us to think of our own little corner of the world and not of the larger public good (something I noted all the way back in p1r35 in response to Bruce Wirth, whom I’m sad has not continued to post here). I’ve worked to show there are competing notions of “service” in play in this debate precisely so that we can try to work through the tension between them, in order to help foster the hard discusssions that we should have already been having.

** …because there’s this 800-pound gorilla in the room that still hasn’t been discussed straight up: the question of whether a station needs to sound completely professional, or whether a certain amount of rough-hewnness is appropriate to lend it a feeling of “authenticity” or whatever. Just as there are competing notions here of what constitutes “service,” there are also competing aesthetics, and they roughly line up supporter-wise with the competing notions of service. There are loads of issues to hash out there, and I was actually sort of looking forward to Artex (or whomever) opening up the “hobbyist” door further so that we could deal with it head-on, and help foster the hard discusssions that we should have already been having.

Too many words again, so here are the bullet points:

*** Real debate about issues that go to the heart and soul of what KBCS has been, and should be, about is welcome in my opinion.

*** Bullshit lies and whiny-assed snipe-and-run is just weak.

That all having been said, I, too, am going to disappear for a while. First, because this dick-swinging between me and Artex has become a really stupid distraction, and I want it to end. Second, because it’s pretty clear that my perspective on those heart and soul issues mentioned above is not going to prevail, and every time I come here I’m just a little more sad, so I need to back away from all of this for a while just for my own existential health. I’ll just say these last few things before I go:

*** I hope the best possible result somehow occurs.

*** I wish everyone concerned the best: listeners, programmers past and present, and station staff, who have never treated me any way other than honestly and well.

*** If I have stepped over any reasonable lines I shouldn’t have while expressing what I wanted to express, I’m truly sorry. Artex is the only one I cared to torch, but if anyone else was offended by anything else I said, my apologies.

When you start demanding personally identifiable information on other posters with whom you disagree as a requisite for conversation the only intent a reasonable person could perceive is an intent to take the discussion “offline.”

I’m sorry you have made the choice to think of that as a constructive way to deal with thoughts and opinions that differ from your own but it is generally telling, nonetheless.

I feel as though your comment was composed with the intent to chill disagreement by creating an atmosphere of threat and intimidation.

I would certainly like to enjoy an invigorating and robust discussion where we can celebrate our diversity of ideas and opinions but not under threat, nor, regrettably, do I have time to read a novel on the subject of KBCS (which is not, of course, to say yours probably isn’t interesting and thought-provoking).

I hope you will reconsider your style of discussion so we can all join together in celebrating the diversity of our opinions.

Best Wishes,
Artex

Iain Edgewater – I didn’t have time to read your entire speech but if you’d like to bullet-point it I’ll certainly give it the once over.

Regards,
Artex