SPAM, but for a good reason I promise

[SDC]

All,

WKCR is a radio station in NYC that broadcasts from Columbia University. They have been on the air since 1941, and although they have been primarily a jazz station for the last 71 years, they also give plenty of air time to classical, bluegrass, old-time, reggae, rocksteady, blues, gospel, Indian music, Chinese music, Spanish music, opera, a wide range of avante garde musicians, not to mention the reading of poetry, novels and plays. None of the programmers or DJs get paid. They have no commercial sponsors and no corporate funding. Although this allows them to play what they love with no commercial interruptions, it also means that money will always be needed. Well they have reached that point and desperately need support to keep operating. They maintain old equipment in order to deliver the records with a high quality sound and if they do not raise enough funds they will have to shut down.

I just want to stress how very rare this type of operation is nowadays. On Saturday nights you can listen to an entire opera. On Saturday mornings you can listen to old reggae and rocksteady. You can get a college level education in jazz from numerous programs. This past Christmas I listen to an hour of old Colombian Christmas songs and they were really good! They play incredible music and really help you appreciate it. There are NO other radio stations doing this anymore, as it is very difficult. I feel it is important to preserve such a station in order to have some entity that stands amongst the other corporate driven stations.

So if you have a love for music and the arts please visit the site. You can stream their signal. If you see the worth in such an organization perhaps you can throw them a few bucks.

Yes, I realize music is an attachment and that there are more helpful places to spend money, but as I said, if you see the value in what this station does perhaps you may want to help out.

Sorry for the spam.

SDC

[James the Giant]

Hmm, good cause I guess, but there are hundreds of stations like that on the internet.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

Hmm, good cause I guess, but there are hundreds of stations like that on the internet.

Even on the FM radio dial, there are subscriber-based stations that do similar things with different DJs presenting differently themed sessions throughout the week, and whilst they do have some advertising, it's local/niche advertising as opposed to full on "corporate" advertising. Because the shows themselves are quite "niche", advertisers (who may consist of event organisers, pubs, record fairs, local restaurants etc.) can specifically target particular demographics with relevant advertising.

Here in Melbourne, Triple R and PBS come to mind as examples of that kind of model. Perhaps they may wish to review their operating model, as it needn't be a case of all or nothing... they just need enough specialised niche advertising to be self-sustainable.

Metta,
Retro.

[SDC]

Hmm, good cause I guess, but there are hundreds of stations like that on the internet.

Yes, but they are a regular radio station. I do not get the internet in my car.