I'd have to say I agreeonecity wrote:I'm saying way more coin operated radio, way more beep beep boop boop, way more wax murderer - music from this century. A heavy focus on things reviewed on Pitchfork, Stereogum, AVClub, living acts that are currently touring, and local startup bands. Way less ancient blues, hillbilly, folk - music from the middle of last century that currently dominates KDHX. It would massively boost the station's listenability and finances.
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^^ I agree....regardless of genre, it needs to be music that millenials would find appealing.
This so much.onecity wrote:I'm saying way more coin operated radio, way more beep beep boop boop, way more wax murderer - music from this century. A heavy focus on things reviewed on Pitchfork, Stereogum, AVClub, living acts that are currently touring, and local startup bands. Way less ancient blues, hillbilly, folk - music from the middle of last century that currently dominates KDHX. It would massively boost the station's listenability and finances.
I'm trying to make a word cloud based on all of their program descriptions. You're not far off.
There's a station in Champaign-Urbana run by a small school (maybe a junior college, not sure) called Parkland College. They play alternative-indie radio, and I loved it. (U of I's station was somewhat alternative too, but I just preferred Parkland's.)
When I moved back to St. Louis and learned about KDHX, that's what I was hoping for. But that's not what I got and I didn't listen for long. I'd love for that to be the format.
When I moved back to St. Louis and learned about KDHX, that's what I was hoping for. But that's not what I got and I didn't listen for long. I'd love for that to be the format.
It exists in the Twin Cities, and it's funded by MPR, and it's huge:
http://www.thecurrent.org/
With few exceptions it's listenable 24/7. The lack of this format sends a message that STL really isn't a 21st century, creative class city. Especially when the only other "alternative" station basically plays adolescent welfare metal.
http://www.thecurrent.org/
With few exceptions it's listenable 24/7. The lack of this format sends a message that STL really isn't a 21st century, creative class city. Especially when the only other "alternative" station basically plays adolescent welfare metal.
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It's a community radio station. It s should serve ALL of the community. Not just millennials and whatever band they are currently following.
St. Louis is a center for the blues and soon to house a national museum dedicated to the genre.
Could some of their programs be adjusted? Sure, but let's not lose track of our rich musical heritage just because some it's not deemed young and sexy enough by some 24 yr old Pitchfork hipster.
St. Louis is a center for the blues and soon to house a national museum dedicated to the genre.
Could some of their programs be adjusted? Sure, but let's not lose track of our rich musical heritage just because some it's not deemed young and sexy enough by some 24 yr old Pitchfork hipster.
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I think a focus on LOCAL music would make sense in that context. Rather than focus on a genre focus on building and reinforcing a vibrant local music scene, even if its a lot of hill billy music 
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Maybe it's just me but I feel like I hear a lot of local bands on KDHX. It seems like I hear the announcers say "from right here in St. Louis" or" St. Louis own" after songs and I often hear where these bands/artists are going to be playing.
I think it is you. Why must stl endlessly pay respect to dead musical styles few people under 40 care about? It's 2015 and post punk and grunge and hip hop count as heritage styles they've so long ago surpassed the stuff on kdhx in influence and importance.
I'm not saying their isn't value to a station like that southside, but the bottom line is I don't really want to listen to it AND St. Louis lacks the type of station we're describing. It doesn't really have to be KDHX, but given that "us hipsters" are often the people most initially inclined to give the independent radio station a shot, it seems like a decent way to hook an audience. And that's why you see that format from other independent/community stations in the country.
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Realistically. St. Louis deserves to have a station that serves the fans of blues jazz and bluegrass as well. I do wish there was more variety available as top twenty country and top twenty everything else seem to dominate every music station I find. I would say less of that and more alternatives in general.
That said I hope kdhx is successful with whatever format they go with. Millennialist do have a bad habit of thinking if they are not the target audience then there is something wrong with the business.
That said I hope kdhx is successful with whatever format they go with. Millennialist do have a bad habit of thinking if they are not the target audience then there is something wrong with the business.
KDHX plays more local bands than any other station, by far. Anyone who questions that is simply not listening.
Maybe it's time they shook-up some of their programming, but I'll bet the old-time country and blues shows probably bring in the most money at pledge time; after all, that's partly how they determine what shows stay on the air. Those of you who want something else should perhaps put your money where your mouth is.
The great thing about KDHX is that it offers something for everyone. If you don't like what they're playing now, check back later; it'll be something completely different.
Maybe it's time they shook-up some of their programming, but I'll bet the old-time country and blues shows probably bring in the most money at pledge time; after all, that's partly how they determine what shows stay on the air. Those of you who want something else should perhaps put your money where your mouth is.
The great thing about KDHX is that it offers something for everyone. If you don't like what they're playing now, check back later; it'll be something completely different.
^Good points. Also, KDHX is not just community supported radio, but also to an extent community produced radio. The hosts have paid their dues, taken time out of their lives and careers, and put a product on the air that they are passionate about. Someone willing to commit week-in week-out, who has put up with slots like 1p.m. on Tuesday or 5a.m. on Monday and put deep tracks of their favorite genre is going to get preference for air time over someone who just happens to be into contemporary indie rock music. The directors of the station need people passionate about music, who are willing to make sacrifices for no remuneration, not people who adhere to a certain style or sound the station is imposing from the top down.
That's a touch of a catch-22. I'm not going to listen if they're not playing what I like. So in turn I'm not going to be there to donate.framer wrote:Those of you who want something else should perhaps put your money where your mouth is.
The "check back later" thing isn't a great strategy. I won't. I'll be listening to a station that I can count on to consistently satisfy what I'm looking for.
I'm not trying to be argumentative though. I get it. And if KDHX wants to continue with what they're doing, so be it. I'm okay with that.
At this point I'm as much asking that someone pick up the indie-alt genre as I am asking the KDHX do it. It's sorely missing from St. Louis radio.
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I agree those musical styles are part of our heritage and KDHX has a great hip hop show on Friday nights. I do hear post punk and grunge on there but I agree they could play a little more.
But you seem to have it in for blues and what you call "hillbilly" music. And heaven forfend any station appeal to those of us over 40!
But you seem to have it in for blues and what you call "hillbilly" music. And heaven forfend any station appeal to those of us over 40!
Bottom line is I enjoy almost all genres of music, ad there are times when I turn off KDHX--sometimes when it's Albanian folk or EDM or even when they're playing blues and rockabilly. That's fine, it's not all about me and my tastes .
Its just the talk of having to appeal to millennial at all costs and dismissing" dead" music that strikes me as ageist and not in the spirit of what a community radio station should be.
Besides whenever I go to a Pokey LaFarge, Miss Jubilee or Tommy Halloran show I see millennials as well as those in their 40s 50s and 60s, and they all play music some might dismiss as old fashioned or hillbilly
Its just the talk of having to appeal to millennial at all costs and dismissing" dead" music that strikes me as ageist and not in the spirit of what a community radio station should be.
Besides whenever I go to a Pokey LaFarge, Miss Jubilee or Tommy Halloran show I see millennials as well as those in their 40s 50s and 60s, and they all play music some might dismiss as old fashioned or hillbilly
southsidepride wrote:Bottom line is I enjoy almost all genres of music, ad there are times when I turn off KDHX--sometimes when it's Albanian folk or EDM or even when they're playing blues and rockabilly. That's fine, it's not all about me and my tastes .
Its just the talk of having to appeal to millennial at all costs and dismissing" dead" music that strikes me as ageist and not in the spirit of what a community radio station should be.
The dead music is overrepresented in the number of shows and the monopoly it has on afternoon drive time.
Here's the problem, by my reckoning:
New music reviewed on Pfork, Sgum, AVClub etc: 12%, and only certain time slots
Music by currently active local artists from recent recordings: 8%, and only certain time slots
Music by dead blues/soul/bluegrass guys, or that was or could have been recorded before 1975: 65%, all the prime time slots
Music by current artists not in dead genres (whose past work has been reviewed on Pfork, Sgum, AVClub etc: 15%, only certain time slots
Here's a better KDHX
New music reviewed on Pfork, Sgum, AVClub etc: 50%, played 24/7
Music by currently active local artists, from recent recordings: 15%, played 24/7
Music by current artists not in dead genres (whose past work has been reviewed on Pfork, Sgum, AVClub etc: 20% played 24/7
Music by dead blues/soul/bluegrass guys, or that was or could have been recorded before 1975: 15% played 24/7
Any questions?
New music reviewed on Pfork, Sgum, AVClub etc: 12%, and only certain time slots
Music by currently active local artists from recent recordings: 8%, and only certain time slots
Music by dead blues/soul/bluegrass guys, or that was or could have been recorded before 1975: 65%, all the prime time slots
Music by current artists not in dead genres (whose past work has been reviewed on Pfork, Sgum, AVClub etc: 15%, only certain time slots
Here's a better KDHX
New music reviewed on Pfork, Sgum, AVClub etc: 50%, played 24/7
Music by currently active local artists, from recent recordings: 15%, played 24/7
Music by current artists not in dead genres (whose past work has been reviewed on Pfork, Sgum, AVClub etc: 20% played 24/7
Music by dead blues/soul/bluegrass guys, or that was or could have been recorded before 1975: 15% played 24/7
Any questions?
That's all nice, but it doesn't make the station good.The hosts have paid their dues, taken time out of their lives and careers, and put a product on the air that they are passionate about. Someone willing to commit week-in week-out, who has put up with slots like 1p.m. on Tuesday or 5a.m. on Monday and put deep tracks of their favorite genre is going to get preference for air time over someone who just happens to be into contemporary indie rock music.
Looking at the schedule, even flipping the 4pm and 9pm shows would be a huge improvement. It would actually be listenable in the car.
KDHX need only recreate KEXP's format. I first heard KEXP on a business trip years ago to Seattle. Listener powered. Almost the identical "type" of station. I think a strict focus on local music is a terrible idea.
Yeah, the KEXP format is great. But if you prefer KEXP why not just listen to it instead of wanting to mild KDHX in KEXP's image.
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Looks like it's getting desperate:
![]()
I'd send them a few bucks, but
a) like others have said in this thread, the prime radio times (5:00 am - 9:00 am and 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.) are dominated by too much blues, folk, country, bluegrass, jazz, and rockabilly from a time many decades before I was even born. Needs to be all or mostly modern music with a heavy emphasis on local... and
b) "That's one of the many questions for our recently fired director?" Really? You expect us to shell out with out being transparent about what went wrong and what will be done differently if we allow you remain existing?
Shame, really. St. Louis is lucky to have an independent station at all, and KDHX could be something great. But it's not.
Maybe if they disband, it'll open the door for a new independent station that I might actually enjoy listening to during the parts of the day that I actually spend in my car.
I'd send them a few bucks, but
a) like others have said in this thread, the prime radio times (5:00 am - 9:00 am and 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.) are dominated by too much blues, folk, country, bluegrass, jazz, and rockabilly from a time many decades before I was even born. Needs to be all or mostly modern music with a heavy emphasis on local... and
b) "That's one of the many questions for our recently fired director?" Really? You expect us to shell out with out being transparent about what went wrong and what will be done differently if we allow you remain existing?
Shame, really. St. Louis is lucky to have an independent station at all, and KDHX could be something great. But it's not.
Maybe if they disband, it'll open the door for a new independent station that I might actually enjoy listening to during the parts of the day that I actually spend in my car.
I am sure others can offer up other independent radio stations with a more diverse schedule of music than KDHX
http://www.wmnf.org/programming/
http://www.wmnf.org/programming/
I've told KDHX several times I'd gladly contribute if their formatting reflected the time we live in, never got a response. It would be a shame if they went down, but I have to think it would open the door to community radio that doesn't bury itself in museum music.
And here's 89.3 The Current's schedule:
http://www.thecurrent.org/schedule/mon
There are very few themed shows. It's just a DJ, and "here's some new music from...." They totally kick it.
And here's 89.3 The Current's schedule:
http://www.thecurrent.org/schedule/mon
There are very few themed shows. It's just a DJ, and "here's some new music from...." They totally kick it.
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I don't even mind the museum music, it's that it seems like every DJ spends an inordinate amount of time talking... talking... talking... about nothing. They're awful.
That and the lack of transparency about what's going on there.
*edit*
So it looks like what's going on there was that the exec director didn't pay the payroll taxes, which is not good. Sounds like she was put in a bad spot after they moved into the new building and the cash flow didn't add up to pay the debt.
http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyr ... r_kdhx.php
That and the lack of transparency about what's going on there.
*edit*
So it looks like what's going on there was that the exec director didn't pay the payroll taxes, which is not good. Sounds like she was put in a bad spot after they moved into the new building and the cash flow didn't add up to pay the debt.
http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyr ... r_kdhx.php