WDCB PARTNERS WITH WFMT TO BRING DEE ALEXANDER PROGRAM TO CHICAGO LISTENERS

Dee Alexander

Dan Bindert, station manager of WDCB, likes to build bridges in Chicago.   

He has crafted an unusual partnership with WFMT Radio Network to bring Sunday Jazz with Dee Alexander, to Chicago area listeners. 

According to a post by Robert Feder [link], the program will premiere on WDCB Sunday May 7th from 8pm – 10pm. 

Legendary Chicago jazz vocalist Dee Alexander is the host. The debut on WDCB is notable because it is the first show to air locally from WFMT Radio Network’s newly rebranded Jazz Network. Bindert told Feder:

Dan Bindert

“We’re ecstatic to have an artist of Dee Alexander’s stature joining our radio lineup. Dee’s wonderful voice and warm personality, combined with her unique insights and deep knowledge of the music – that’s an unbeatable combination for a jazz radio program.”

Bindert said WDCB’s arrangement with WFMT not a large scale partnership, but rather collaborative friendship built in recent years:

We’ve already had a good, friendly handshake type relationship with WFMT for several years now. We’ve cooperated with them on ISDN and other tech setups, for instance, that allowed us to broadcast live portions of the Chicago Jazz Festival from the Chicago Cultural Center for the last few years.

And we’ve also had a great relationship with Dee Alexander for years as a prominent Chicago musician performing at our jazz events and on-air as a guest or a guest host for occasional in-studio radio projects.  

Bindert said that WDCB wants to work with WFMT in the future on occasional projects that will that will be enjoyed by Chicago listeners.

GREAT GIG: NPR IS LOOKING FOR AN ASSISTANT PRODUCER FOR PROGRAMMING FUNDRAISING

Israel Smith

Israel Smith, NPR’s Senior Director of Promotion & Audience Development, posted a notice that NPR is looking for a creative fundraising pro to become Assistant Producer for Programming Fundraising. Smith describes a key attribute of the person NPR is looking for:

A person who wakes up most mornings thinking about how to engage audiences in new ways. Come join Team NPR and amplify public radio's story in America.

The person chosen will assist the production of fundraising material for use by stations and NPR on broadcast and digital platforms. The successful candidate will be a creative, collaborative producer who can successfully initiate content and strategies based on the news cycle and how NPR fits into listener’s lives.

The new Assistant Producer for Programming Fundraising will have plenty of contact with member stations and actively participate in public media fundraising discussions.  Perhaps most importantly, the successful candidate needs a “listener-focused approach.”

If this sounds like you or someone you know, more information is available here.

ANOTHER PREVIEW FOR JACOBS MEDIA TECH SURVEY 13

The folks producing the upcoming Worldwide Radio Summit 17 [link] have released another drop of information from Fred Jacobs’ presentation of Tech Survey 13, scheduled for Thursday, May 4^th at the commercial broadcasters conference. Tech Survey 13 is the commercial radio cousin of the Public Radio Tech Survey 9 which will be presented in August at the PRPD Content Conference.

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The sneak peek from Tech Survey 13 answers the question: What Are Consumers Doing When They’re Listening To Audio On Headphones? 

As you might know, headphone listening has been a big topic in recent months because Nielsen Audio PPM devices can’t “hear” encoding information embedded in station signals. Therefore, the listening may not be included in the ratings.

Tech Survey 13 probed the use of headphones and “earbuds” by survey respondents. The chart above on the right shows some of what Jacobs learned. About half of the sample said they frequently or occasionally wear headphones while listening to audio while working out. More than three in ten respondents use headphones/earbuds while at work.