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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John (#48) states a key point here: “Even if I ended up approving of the changes eventually, I would still be hesitant about pledging in the fall: there are now trust issues. How do I know they won’t change the very things I like again?”
Will they even TRY to do a fund-drive in October, as usual, with the schedule changes? Can they afford not to? It will be an interesting experiment.
The Takeaway Facebook page…………
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=10643211755&topic=4834#topic_top
I’ve noticed with the new schedule, and I’ve seen no mention of the change, is the Jim Hightower commentary. I haven’t heard it at 3:30 when it used to be broadcast, and I don’t see it on the Program Schedule, has anyone heard it?
I listened to John Gilbreath the first couple of days and he played some good jazz. I sent a complimentary email. But since then, he has veered away somewhat, getting into a lot of Rough Guide ethnic music, and those terrible fits of depression he gets into when he plays very introspective, slow and quiet music. I haven’t the patience to wade through a bunch of this to hear something I might like. I still tune it in occassionally, but less and less.
I listened to The Take Away this morning (or, as I think of it after only an hour of listening; The Ken And Barbie News and Fun Magazine) and all I heard is how Obama’s approval ratings are down and testimonials from obvious right-leaning folks about how Medicaid killed a loved one and how the government is too big( where were these folks when they put together the Fatherland Security Department?). What I took away was the public insurance option is dead. KBCS is moving to the right.
Even if I ended up approving of the changes eventually, I would still be hesitant about pledging in the fall: there are now trust issues. How do I know they won’t change the very things I like again?
I miss Drive Time Jazz
Thank you, SBL, for some helpful insights. If I may, however, address a couple of your points…
Regardless of whether the CDs used came from the station’s library or from their private ones, why wouldn’t we still hear that music if those dj’s did an internet-only show through the auspices of KBCS?
Steve Ramsey doesn’t host the Hawaiian show one week a month – he hosts about four times a year (in any month that has a fifth Saturday). But yes, that show is probably safe – because it draws a huge audience and does well during fundraisers.
Lastly, the FCC doesn’t require advisory boards, though they encourage it. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting used to require it, if you got any funding from them, but they no longer do so.
And I miss “Drive Time Jazz.”
What I caught of Iain’s show today was the best I’ve heard during day times this week. However a lot of The Outskirts is not exactly good background music while I’m working. The genre is decent and I wouldn’t mind a few having a couple hours of that stuff during an evening or weekend but enough is enough already! We need more folk, more specialty jazz, more BBC in wee early am, more diversity of hosts, and less talk.
I had occasion to listen to all the public affairs programming yesterday 3-7pm and confirmed there is nothing there I ever want to hear expect very occasionally Democracy now (but not at 3pm nor 8am PLEASE). Even if I agree with the political leanings I don’t need to hear rants. For the rest of the talk, move it to internet streaming only if you must have it — or maybe 2-4am it should be a cure for insomnia.
In summary I’m listening to a lot more of other stations during the day instead of KBCS.
Brother Kanyus,
You might not realize it, but much of the music of the sacked jazz dj’s was from their PRIVATE libraries. This is music we will never hear again.
And many of us rely on the radio to listen: I cannot transport my computer into my car nor my yard.
The Hawaiian program is probably safe because Steve Ramsey is into Hawaiian (and hosts one week a month). What so many of us are worried about are the evening and weekend shows that might go away as well. Since donation dollars pledged to each show don’t seem to matter, I can’t figure out the (so-called) logic used by the station management as to what will be removed.
I, too, plan to ask for my money back. I pledged 3 times this last year, and am incensed that my money is going to pay folks to replace the programs to which I pledged.
I’m lucky in that I can get KSER from my home, but even they have too much news for my taste. I get my news from the internet and the paper.
I have been a listener/supporter for many years (since the early 80’s). I have not always been happy about the various changes, but this time seems to be a paradigm shift away from the purpose of the station. I am very unhappy about it all.
A note: from research, it appears the FCC requires all stations to have some sort of advisory board. Does KBCS have one? Who is on it?
Mourning the loss of Joanie and Al, who made me smile,
Sheila
Thank you, Jorge, re #43: “He wants to divert his KBCS donation to an effort outside of KBCS which would broadcast Bernie, Joanie and Al. I too would divert my KBCS contribution to such an effort.” I did miss that interpretation – that it should be a non-KBCS project.
But why couldn’t those shows exist as KBCS-exclusive web-programs? The dj’s could continue to use the station library resources that the listeners helped to acquire, and it would be easier and quicker to have those shows available – rather than trying to get someone else to cobble together the resources, the facilities, to promote to the world where they have gone, etc.
It would also reflect a forward-thinking attitude on KBCS’s part – recognizing that the internet is a great way to make more programming available than just the traditional airwaves. As someone else noted a few posts back, the KBCS “community” is no longer limited to the reach of the station’s transmitter.
Brother Kanyus Paradigm(#41):
I think you missed John’s (#39) point. He wants to divert his KBCS donation to an effort outside of KBCS which would broadcast Bernie, Joanie and Al. I too would divert my KBCS contribution to such an effort.
I tried to listen to Caravan on the radio in my office this morning, but I missed Joanie’s exuberance and gave up.
Imagine my disappointment when I got home, rigged up a cable from my computer to the stereo, and tried to play Joanie’s archived show from this morning. I got The Caravan, the same one I turned off at work. I hope station management can correct their error and the show Joanie recorded this morning actually becomes available. As of now (17:00, August 26th) the play list is no longer there.
RE #24 “Dave”: “The other music I love is the Hawaiian show once a month…”
Ummm…the Hawaiian show has been WEEKLY since 2001.
Is this representative of the people who claim to be big KBCS fans, but in reality, neither listen very often nor contribute financially to support what they profess to love?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RE #39 “John”: “Any chance Vintage Jazz, Bebop, Joanie et al could be broadcast over the internet?”
Station management has proposed exploring exactly that, if the DJs are interested in doing so. It was discussed at the recent programming meetings (which were VERY poorly attended, which makes me think most of the volunteers are less motivated by this issue than some would lead us to believe).
I have been listening to The TakeAway the last couple of days and I can say that I am not impressed. The stories are short and shallow and I have noticed that the last hour to hour and a quarter are mostly repeats of stories that they ran in the first couple of hours. Also I find that the music that they play during the breaks is really annoying. I probably will give it the rest of the week, but I don’t hold much hope. I would rather have the BBC back in the early morning
It seems certain parties were concerned about lagging membership and declining revenue at kbcs.
KBCS’ current broadcast strength only produces marginal reception even in parts of Seattle. More powerful transmitters or better antenna locations would no doubt cost significant dollars. However, unless a larger community has access to kbcs it is unlikely that mimicry of other local nonprofit stations will transform the station’s user demographic. Alienating the established listener base by eliminating some of the most popular content will probably not have the desired effect; The loss to the community will be irreplacable.
Any chance Vintage Jazz, Bebop, Joanie et al could be broadcast over the internet? I would happily divert my kbcs financial contributions to such a venture. Seems like we have an opportunity here while attention is focused.
.
After listening for 1 hour to “The Takeaway” this morning, I can honestly say I will not listen again to that show. It embodies exactly what I hate about NPR newstainment shows, just from a vantage a little bit further to the left. Sound bite news, not much depth, the interviewers cut the interviewees off. I never thought I would ever say this, but “bring back Amy Goodman from 6 to 7.”
Now as I’m running out the door for the bus, I realize I won’t be listening this morning to jazz on the bus ride. The reception was always sketchy, but I definitely listened through the cutouts to Katherine, John, Diane, Gordon, Megan. Please bring them back. Good music trumps amateurish newstainment any day.
Has anyone noticed the irony of the replacement of Drive Time Jazz and Bud’s, Bernie’s, Joanie’s and Al’s shows with a show called “The Takeaway”? Talk about salt in the wound! Ha!
I would just like to say do not despair for diversity is not entirely lost at KBCS!
Though we may be beyond the periphery of prime radio time, diversity in music programming and diversity behind the mic still exists at KBCS.
Our local overnight programming is diverse. For instance, from Friday night to Saturday morning you can find Variations hosted by DJ Gregory, Transeurope Express hosted by DJ Dragan and Overnight Groove hosted by DJ Todd Juan.
Saturdays on KBCS represent some very ethnically diverse programming both in terms of the music and the DJs.
On Saturdays on KBCS you will find The Gospel Highway co-hosted by African-American hosts from the community, Hawaii Radio Connection hosted by Hawaiian and Asian-American DJs, Brazilian music, Spanish-language and Latin music and jazz on !Sabor! and Al Lado Latino, classic soul and locally produced and hosted hip hop music on Zulu Radio.
I am a Chinese-American woman. I created, host and produce Musica de la Raza -Aztlan to El Barrio featuring the music of the Mexican and the Mexican-American people airing Saturday mornings 5-7. I am a nonwhite female hosting her own show at KBCS, a pioneer achievement I’m proud of. I’ve been on the air now for almost six years. I appreciate the rare opportunity I have been given on community radio. I’m proud of the contribution to diversity that I as a DJ and the Mexican and Mexican-American music I feature have made to radio, community radio KBCS and to our community! I feel that diversity behind the mic is just as valuable as diversity in music programming.
On Wednesdays you can find Womanotes co-hosted by Tracey Wickersham and Carlotta Spears and the music of India on The Spice Route hosted by South Asian hosts Arpana, Ramendra and Ajay.
On Wednesday night, you will also find Sounds from the Four Directions hosted by Native American DJ Annette Squetimkin-Anquoe, currently being filled in for on the sudden death of her husband, Karl, by a great Indigenous-hosted, produced and oriented show, Voices from the Circle out of Chicago with that Indigenous community’s perspective. We are fortunate to have a Native American DJ and Native American programming at KBCS!
There is still a lot of incredible diversity – on the ethnic tip as well as musically – at KBCS! Check it out in real time or anytime on-line!
Finally the mixture of diversity found at KBCS includes young people getting their start in radio who wouldn’t have an opportunity to be on the air but for community radio.
These aspects of community radio – diversity, opportunity and nurturing new talent and creativity – make supporting community radio for the entire community important and worthwhile for the long-term.
I hope that, from my perspective, the ethnic and cultural diversity behind the mic at KBCS and among our listening community continues to grow.
It will take extensive outreach, marketing and relationship-building to develop more hitherto untapped communities that could be listening to KBCS and that truly reflect the diversity of our local community. We need a strong diverse,local,community grassroots base to support and keep KBCS relevant, representative and strong.
We need continued involvement from the whole community to keep community radio diverse, relevant, honest, ethical, representative and flourishing!
I sincerely hope everyone who misses their favorite shows that have been taken off the air – and I understand and feel your pain and disappointment – will nonetheless give the many other fine (and equally diverse) shows and creative programmers on-the-air at KBCS a chance at winning your hearts, minds and ears! Give us a chance! We’re great too!
Thank you, muchas gracias, amigos, radioescuchas, for your kind attention to my opinion.
And as host Dave Gardner of The Lounge Room likes to say, “Keep on listening to the music”!
Patty Fong, Host/creator/producer
Musica de la Raza – Aztlan to El Barrio
Saturdays 5-7 a.m. PST
91.3 FM KBCS (on-line anytime at http://www.kbcs.fm)
!Viva la Raza!
I was going to write a detailed comment on my objections to the changes, but then I read Winston Haycock’s post (#17) and I can’t express my opinions any better than he. Yes, his post is a little rambling, but I urge everyone to read it, as it expresses the essence of why so many are opposed to what management is doing. Thank you, Winston!
The old saying “money talks” is appropos here. I made my annual contribution during the “extra” fund-raising effort in June, at a time when none of the changes had been announced….talk about “bait and switch”!! My anger and disappointment with management is such that I asked for, and received, a refund of my 2009 contribution. I would urge everyone who has contributed to think about doing the same…if enough people do this, perhaps management will actually reconsider what they are doing….it’s too late for the changes that will take place tomorrow, but perhaps this will get them to cancel the other phases of change.
I am very saddend by the lack of communication between management and membership in those last vital moments of decision making. It goes against previous years of both good and hard times. I understand right now the economic situation is difficult, but I don’t believe this is the right way to respond. Cutting out volunteers, people who don’t get paid but do what they do simply because they love it, makes no economical sense from any angle you look at. I have been a dedicated member for years, even when I really couldn’t afford it. However, I still came through for this station because I love it and believe in it. I fail to understand why the current management is not feeling this same dogged dedication.
Listening this last and final week to true community radio has been hard. I honestly cried at the end of Al’s last show. I only hope that there will someday be another amazing outlet to provide the kind of community service that till now KBCS has been known and deeply respected for.
I wish all the volunteers the best.
-Yelena Voronin, Seattle
To whom it may concern — and evidently, it doesn’t concern anybody, or the membership would have been consulted before these moves were made — I am appalled by the recent changes. For years, I have contributed to KBCS regularly for one reason above all: Al Barnes’s Vintage Jazz. I owe him a lot: exposure to artists I would never have heard of, such as Annette Hanshaw.
I was in Jimmy’s produce market in Ballard yesterday morning, where Vintage Jazz was being piped through the store. I said, “You know, they are discontinuing that program.” The reaction of the staff was “No!” I said, yes, I guess they think it’s only old coots like me who like this music. “Get out!” said the young woman behind the counter, who is probably 18 or 19. “They are so wrong.”
If the station is concerned about the falloff in revenues, maybe they should consider that hard economic times, and plummeting stock market values, have hurt non-profits across the board.
I am afraid the station is going to learn the hard way that kicking out the old members to make way for new isn’t always a wise move. I now have no further reason to contribute to KBCS, and don’t plan to.
— Peter Crane, Ballard
Found an older (Jan 2009) article on KBCS in Bellevue College Student paper. Interestingly to note role of student government in procuring grant funding to support High Definition Radio. What is behind “new opportunity for the school” ?
Time for a follow-up article?
“The BCC student government recently assisted in the procurement of grants for the radio station. With this funding the station installed technology to broadcast in HD Radio. This monumental development has created new opportunity for the school. KBCS is offered online in streaming format from their website and through iTunes radio under the “Eclectic” category. iPhone and iPod Touch owners can also find KBCS as well as a wide variety of other public radio stations through the free application Public Radio Tuner.”
excerpted from http://www.thejibsheet.com/?p=498
In my continuing letter-writing mania, I wrote a letter to the editor to the Seattle Times about their article, and it actually got published today in the online version of the paper! It didn’t make the print version, but hopefully somebody saw it. Thought the folks here might want to see it:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/northwestvoices/2009693052_kcbs_radio_saying_goodbye_to_e.html
It is a sad week, but I am encouraged by some of these recent postings.
Cheers,
Steve
#20 by American Branding Association on August 20, 2009 - 2:39 pm
Dear “Save KBCS” patrons & others to whom it may concern,
after listening to the Vintage Jazz show for some many years, our organization was shocked, angered and gravely disappointed to hear that this program had been cancelled. Ironically, it came to our attention at the end of the last show this morning during a strategy meeting with several brand managers from WA state’s largest companies; In addition, this program was familiar to every one of these managers -we were all taken aback. So much so, that our meeting changed course.
After searching for articles on how this could have possibly happened, we came across various sources pointing to state-employees. We can’t believe the outright stupidity and complete lack of savvy KBCS mangers made in the decision to discontinue the only program of its type on the airwaves; not to mention a host of other programs with equal and unique appeal.
As our organization, the American Branding Association, enjoys partnerships with several hundred national corporate, non-profit and government entities, by default we hold a key role in the positioning of public opinion of brands. With this in mind, we have chosen to do everything in our power to bring this program back. In the interim, we have begun to initiate a strategic viral campaign to successfully sack those responsible for their gross incompetence and mismanagement of the KBCS legacy.
We have set up a facebook page as the first, or many acts to help facilitate this action, here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=122180438215
Sincerely,
ABA Staff + Members + Partners + Clients
Alas, the upcoming format changes will make KBCS much less valuable to me.
I’m a longtime listener and member, and the reason has been that kbcs’ format was novel and stimulating precisely because it showcased great music variety that was lacking in the other local noncommercial stations like the NPR stations.
It was with dismay that I heard the new format will include news/talk shows, like “THE TAKEAWAY” which is a talk-show rehash of news events. Did the planners realize the adjacent station 91.7 also plays that program in the morning?
It seems the new format will make KBCS one step closer to the 3 other local repetitive news discussion stations in the local area. At least 91.7 includes a variety of news content from around the world like “world radio network” and CBC content.
It is certainly sad listening to KBCS this week as all the DJ’s sign off for the last time. I am going to miss them all. I am currently planning to listen to the station for a while to see how it goes. I am also planning to call them at the next pledge drive and tell them why I am no longer supporting the station. I am also worried about the phase 2 and phase 3 changes. I wonder when they are going to say anything about them. I hope that they don’t get rid of the weekend programs that I listen too.
As I’m a charter member of Save KBCS!, you know what I think about the changes coming next week. You can see and almost feel by reading this blog and our e-mail comments, what my opinion and everyone else’s opinion is.
After 18+ years as a volunteer DJ at KBCS, I have decided to end my active participation. Last Saturday was my last broadcast. I want to thank everyone who listened to my shows over the years. I’ll miss you.
All the best!
Dave Long
citizen listener
