urbanSTL

I doubt the station makes this information public, but I'd be curious as to which shows bring in the most donations. This is anecdotal, but I listen through most of the pledge drives, and I've heard some of the "museum music" DJs meet or almost meet their goals for callers (they don't announce $$ amounts), while a few of my favorite later evening shows seem to struggle.

I've been contributing monthly donations for years, but as it is set up to renew automatically, I never call in to any particular show to "renew". I guess maybe I should do that to show support? Or is that just for one-time donations or new contributors? Sadly, I'm not sure how that works.

If KDHX sent out a survey asking for favorite shows, I'd be glad to give them my top 5 (or 10, 15, etc...I'm always tuned in).

But I feel like some on here want the station to fail so they can stick it to the "olds". They're also crowing about how this--a community station--needs to be responsive to the whims of the "Millennials"

First of all, plenty of radio stations cater to the 18-29 yr. old set. 96.3, 107.7--Yep, that's "millennials" listening to that pap. You know what else Millennials like?

a) I am 38. Not a millennial.
b) I don't want the station to fail, I want it to evolve, and now is a perfect opportunity.
c) I can go to the public library any time, any day, if I want to write a term paper on the influence of delta blues or banjo music. I don't need a radio station in 2015 devoting half or more of its airtime to artists that have been dead and buried since before I was born. At the very least, that radio station doesn't need my money.
d) Plenty of radio stations play heavily promoted pop music, if that is what you are referring to wrt to 96.3 or 107.7. That has nothing to do with "millennials."
e) What I can't do in STL, is reliably or consistently tune in new music that is at the vanguard of critical consensus, aka AVClub/Pfork/Stereogum. I can't hear all of it thrown into a giant blender, anywhere, anytime. That has nothing to do with Millennials.
f) If the blues shows bring in more money, it is strictly because they broadcast when people are listening to the radio - drive time, and the 2015 shows broadcast when people are busy socializing in the evening and not listening to radio. Replace drive time blues with different shows, more money. It really is that simple.

Well if you're going to turn a community radio station into one that commercially appeals to a certain age demographic over the rest of the community--including those who worked and built the station--you're going to wind up with all kinds of unintended consequences!

Those consequences, I assume, include listenable radio 24/7, and better finances?

erina wrote:4/5 afternoon drivetime slots are indistinguishable blues/soul shows. The 5th is 3 hours of Zydeco. This is not a good thing.

3/5...drive time on Wednesdays is "The Big Bang!", which is pop-oldies. But yes, 60% is still too much blues in that time slot.

What FM frequency do KEXP or KCRW broadcast on in St. Louis?

^That. I want to tune in on FM anytime, anywhere.

KDHX is a community station, not a college station.

College radio stations are great and I wish one of our local schools had a frequency that could be heard across the region.

So that gets them off the hook for culturally irrelevant content at peak times? I wasn't aware there was any difference between college and community radio. College radio is community radio on a campus scaled frequency, but no different really. KEXP calls itself "Community public radio station operated by the University of Washington" and only relies on the U for technology and tech staff. KCMP is MPR, listener supported indie/alt/whatever. These significantly more successful listener supported stations are not relevant to KDHX's problems?

The only thing cultural relevant is stuff I like!!!!

Blues, Jazz, Zydeco, Bluegrass etc. ARE culturally relevant to St. Louis. How are we going to have the national Blues museum and no station to listen to Blues Music. Why should we have the museum if its just music for oldsters? Should the Blues museum focus on more modern musical styles to stay relevant?

By catering to one person there is inevitable someone listeners they will lose. That's the nature of entertainment. I don't complain that the Lifetime network doesn't have enough entertainment geared toward men. They have an audience hopefully those people understand their predicament and come out to support them through it.

Also, most likely their larger donor direct a lot of their focus. Basically older people like blues and jazz, AND they actually donate in significant chunks.

calling the blues, Chuck Berry, Tina Turner etc "cultutally irrelevant" in St. Louis shows you just have an axe to grind

No axes, no sharpening tools present. Just love for the relentless push forward.

Classic soul eg Otis, Ike, etc is great stuff. Chuck Berry (or Pinetop Smith) basically invented the first rock n roll. No one is disputing that. I believe despite this, it is no longer that relevant. With the exception of a small scene of fringe revivalists, today's music is about 5 generations removed from those sounds. It would be more accurate to be playing New Order, NWA, late Miles, The Clash, Springsteen, Nirvana, Replacements, Gang of Four and so forth on a "roots" show today, and even some of those are a stretch. That is how far the needle has moved. Sadly, STL hasn't been much of a force in music for some time. Sure, we've had Nelly, Uncle Tupelo/SonVolt/Wilco, The Urge, Angel Olson, Tef Poe, Pokey LaFarge and some others in the not completely distant past, but by no means has a critical mass of local performers succeeded in building a big St. Louis scene that attains any sort of escape velocity and is felt beyond the region's borders. Kids here form bands, but who plays their music? Kids that form bands here surely care more about AVClub/Stereogum/Pitchfork than they do a bunch of old timey 78s in grandpa's attic, or Ike Turner. That's what this is all about. STL can continue to live in the past, but that past is quickly fading.