Bill Virgin's Radio Beat August 17, 2006

Includes archive of Bill Virgin's columns fromJ une 2006 - March 2009

Postby radiofan » Thu Aug 17, 2006 3:18 pm

Thursday, August 17, 2006

On Radio: What to do with all those shows?

By BILL VIRGIN
P-I REPORTER


Community non-profit radio stations generate a lot of their own programming, from public affairs interviews to specialty music shows.

And after that programming airs -- then what?

Maybe others -- particularly in the same region -- might like to hear it.

That's the theory behind an effort to organize a network of non-NPR community radio stations from Alaska to southern Oregon, and the subject of the Northwest Community Radio Summit, to be held in Seattle Sept. 15-17. Amy Goodman, host of the syndicated program "Democracy Now," will be the keynote speaker.

"Much of the best programming produced by local community radio stations is broadcast once, to a single community, then shelved forever," says a statement from Reclaim the Media, the organization that is acting as a catalyst to bring stations together, according to executive director Jonathan Lawson. "Lacking resources or a structure for coordination, community stations rarely share their voices and their strengths with one another. The resulting fragmentation contributes to the overall marginalization of independent radio voices."

KBCS-FM (91.3), which operates from Bellevue Community College, is one of the organizers of the efforts. KBCS general manager Steve Ramsey says the opportunities to share programming and mentor one another particularly interest him.

Unlike NPR stations, community non-profit stations "don't have lots of people doing news, but they do have lots of trained volunteers interested in uncovering the untold stories in their communities," Ramsey said.

KBCS already operates a volunteer training program and Ramsey thinks that experience and expertise can be shared with other stations so they "don't need to create that stuff from scratch."

Ramsey said there have been other efforts to organize such networks or affiliations that haven't worked. The trick to this attempt will be to come up with something that helps stations without overwhelming them.



If it works, he adds, the Northwest Community Radio Network would bolster those stations' status as "the last outpost of what the people's airwaves were really intended to be."

Information on the conference is available at www.reclaimthemedia.org

In other radio notes:


KUOW-FM (94.9) has launched its programming service on KXOT-FM (91.7), the Tacoma-South Sound station owned by Public Radio Capital. KXOT features shows currently heard on KUOW but at different times, as well as programming not heard on KUOW, from NPR and other sources.


Kirsten Kendrick has been named local host of "Morning Edition" on KPLU-FM (88.5), beginning Sept. 12. Kendrick has been a reporter and fill-in host for KPLU, and previously worked as deputy communications director for Gov. Gary Locke and as reporter and anchor for KIRO-AM. She succeeds Paige Hansen, who the station said will work part-time on programming and fundraising projects.


In addition to being co-host and program director at KPLZ-FM (101.5) and a host of "Northwest Afternoon" on KOMO-TV, not to mention his ventures in theater management and directing, Kent Phillips has been a radio station owner. At one time, he says, he owned a half-dozen; about nine months ago he sold a station in Cannon Beach. Most recently he joined with several other investors to buy KVLR-FM (106.3), a country station in Twisp. Phillips said he won't be involved in daily operation of the station.


KJR-AM (950) plans to add "The Warren Moon Show" each Tuesday at 5 p.m. through the football season, beginning Sept. 5. Mike Gastineau will co-host.


King County Executive Ron Sims takes listener calls at 10 a.m. today on "Weekday" on KUOW-FM.


Lizz Sommars' guests on "Conversations" at 6 a.m. Sunday on KBSG-FM (97.3), KISW-FM (99.9) and KKWF-FM (100.7) include former British diplomat to Iraq Rory Stewart, author of "The Prince of the Marshes."


Lee Callahan interviews Allen Coulter, director of "Hollywoodland," on "Mountain Magazine" at 7:30 a.m. Sunday on KMTT-FM (103.7).


Jim Wilke's "Jazz Northwest" at 1 p.m. Sunday on KPLU-FM features a concert by the Jeff Hamilton Trio.


Candidates for the 43rd District House seat are interviewed on "Weekday" at 9 a.m. Monday on KUOW-FM.


"Voices of Diversity" at 6 p.m. Wednesday on KBCS-FM looks at issues facing Cambodia and the Cambodian American community.


RADIO STATIONS

AM STATIONS
Freq. Format
KVI 570 Talk
KCIS 630 Christian
KIRO 710 News/talk
KTTH 770 Talk
KGNW 820 Christian
KIXI 880 Nostalgic pop hits
KJR 950 Sports/talk
KOMO 1000 News
KBLE 1050 Religious
KPTK 1090 Air America
KKNW 1150 News/talk
KWMG 1210 Spanish
KKDZ 1250 Radio Disney
KKOL 1300 Talk
KKMO 1360 Spanish
KRKO 1380 News/talk
KRIZ 1420 Classic soul/R&B
KXPA 1540 Spanish
KLFE 1590 Christian
KYIZ 1620 Urban contemporary
KDOW 1680 Spanish

FM STATIONS
KPLU 88.5 Jazz/news
KNHC 89.5 Top 40/dance
KGRG 89.9 Alternative rock
KEXP 90.3 Alternative/ world music
KSER 90.7 Public affairs/music
KBCS 91.3 Jazz/folk/world
KQMV 92.5 Rhythmic hits
KUBE 93.3 Urban contemporary
KMPS 94.1 Country
KUOW 94.9 News/NPR
KJR 95.7 Classic rock hits
KJAQ 96.5 Rock/pop hits
KBSG 97.3 Oldies
KING 98.1 Classical
KWJZ 98.9 Smooth jazz
KISW 99.9 Rock
KKWF 100.7 Country
KPLZ 101.5 Adult contemporary
KZOK 102.5 Classic rock
KMTT 103.7 Adult alternative
KMIH 104.5 Contemporary hits
KFNK 104.9 Rock
KCMS 105.3 Contemporary Christian
KBKS 106.1 Contemporary hits
KRWM 106.9 Soft rock
KNDD 107.7 Alternative




P-I reporter Bill Virgin can be reached at 206-448-8319 or billvirgin@seattlepi.com.

Bill Virgin's Radio Beat in The Seattle P-I
Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who couldn't hear the music.
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