TAKOMA RADIO IS ON THE AIR • PRX “REMIX” SURGES IN SPOKANE

A highly anticipated LPFM station has signed on in the Washington, DC suburb Takoma Park, Maryland. Tacoma Radio, aka WOWD FM 94.3, began broadcasting on July 16^th. Takoma Radio [link] is owned by Historic Takoma [link], a 501c3 organization that preserves and presents local history.

 

Journalist Courtney Sexton, in an excellent story on WAMU’s Bandwidth [link], says Low Power, High Spirits: Takoma Radio Prepares To Bring FM Airwaves To The People. 

According to Sexton, the prime mover behind Takoma Radio is Marika Partridge, a well-known radio producer and longtime Takoma Park resident. Partridge learned in 2013 that a new LPFM station was possible she submitted an application to the FCC. The result was WOWD.

Takoma Radio is designed as a hyper-local service but its coverage includes a decent chunk of the DC metro (map is on the left). Partridge told Sexton:

“I’m talking about a mission to serve the community and pockets in the community. If you look at the radio dial in D.C. it’s a wasteland. I think also our ideas about ‘internet has killed radio’ is a very privileged perspective and that still a lot of people listen to the radio in their native languages, read newspapers in their native languages and in their communities.”

Marika Partridge

Partridge said Takoma Radio, affectionately known as T-Rex, has unique programming:

“We just have to consider who’s not going to NPR programming and offer some really strong programming for niche audiences right up against those shows. Who listens to All things Considered? Well, not people who only speak Amharic.”

The path to the new station was not easy.  After other organizations passed, Historic Takoma stepped up as the project’s fiduciary. It was founded in 1979 with a mission of preserving the heritage of Takoma Park and the nearby Takoma neighborhood in DC.

What does Radio Takoma sound like? According to the station website, there is LOTS of music: jazz, soul, roots, reggae, blues and alternative rock.  There is special emphasis on music by local musicians. One particularly interesting show is The Thought Bowl, featuring interviews with science writers mixed with music. It is sort of like combining pinball with astronomy. May the force be with you!

RECOMMENDED VIDEO CLIP

I love to watch events live on C-SPAN.  I feel like I am in the room with the participants.  Plus, there are no commentators saying the same thing over and over again.  There was a true gem on Monday night at the Democratic National Convention.  Paul Simon sang his classic Bridge Over Troubled Waters, backed by a bluesy band. Gave me chills.

SPOKANE NEWS STATIONS ADD LISTENERS & PRX’s REMIX RISES

Spokane is one of my favorite noncom radio markets. There are a nice variety of stations and no hesitation to try something new. One such experiment is Spokane Public Radio’s KPRZ-FM which airs PRX Remix 24/7. Many stations use Remix during occasional hours but I believe KPRZ is the only station using it all the time in a rated market. Though KPRZ is not a major factor in the market, the number of estimated weekly listeners went up 25% between Spring 2015 and Spring 2016.

Spokane Public Radio’s other two stations also did well.  News/Classical KPBX was up 23% and all News KSFC was up 17%.  Another noncom station not listed because they are not a Nielsen subscriber, is Classical KSGU.

Monday-Sunday 6AM-Midnight Persons 12+

These data are provided for use by Nielsen subscribers ONLY,

in accordance with RRC's limited license with Nielsen Inc. Data Copyright Nielsen Inc. Format distinctions are the sole responsibility of Ken Mills Agency, LLC.

KCRW EXPANDING INTO SAN LUIS OBISPO • BIG LISTENER GAINS FOR CLASSICAL STATIONS IN TUCSON & TULSA

KCRW is expanding its coverage area to San Luis Obispo courtesy of a donated station from commercial station owner El Dorado Broadcasting. The station is KJRW 101.3 FM licensed to Los Osos, California. When the deal is finalized KJRW will become a full-time repeater of KCRW.

According to news sources, El Dorado is in the process of divesting four stations they own and/or operate in the San Luis Obispo market. The donation will likely give El Dorado a nice tax write-off.

KCRW now has one of the most extensive repeater and translator networks in the nation (see map on the left). KJRW is the sixth full-power station owned by KCRW.

The new San Luis Obispo station has one thing in common with KCRW’s other broadcast frequencies: terrific line-of-site coverage.  KCRW’s Chief Engineer Steve Herbert is a master at maximizing facilities.  Look at the Google Earth slide on the right showing KJRW’s transmitter location. Not only does it have blanket coverage of San Luis Obispo, it provides dominant penetration of US 101, a very, very busy freeway.

It appears KCRW wants to be a presence in the entire Southland, a mega-city stretching from San Diego to Santa Barbara to San Bernardino. The Southland is home to more than 25 million people.

YOU ARE INVITED TO TALK AT “TED”

TED, the nonprofit organization devoted to spreading ideas, is lining up speakers for their FY 2017 season. To encourage applicants TED is offering twenty fellowships to help those without the means to attend. The fellowships pay for food, lodging and travel. Fellows participate in skill-building workshops, deliver their talk on stage, and participate in the conference as a regular attendee. The deadline is July 30, 2016. More information is at [link]. 

SPRING NIELSEN AUDIO: CLASSICAL MUSIC TRULY IS RISING IN TUCSON & TULSA

Results from Nielsen Audio’s Spring 2016 Diary market continue to arrive via the Radio Research Consortium (RRC). Today we are comparing estimated weekly listeners from Spring 2016 with Spring 2015 in four markets: Tucson, Tulsa, Harrisburg and Omaha.

Both Classical (KUAT) and NPR News (KUAZ AM & FM) are up substantially in Tucson. Triple A KXCI, one of best “community” stations in the noncom biz is holding its own.

 

In Tulsa things finally are happening for Classical KWTU. Over the past year estimated weekly listeners to KWTU almost doubled. KWGS was a dual format station until about five years ago. KWGS spent a bundle to acquire the license for KWTU.  Now both stations are reaping the benefits.

WITF’s estimated weekly listeners began to climb when they changed to 24/7 news a few years ago. WJTL is an excellent CCM station that has listeners in four rated markets.

Omaha’s KIWR The River is one of my favorite noncom stations. We did a story about them in February 2015 [link]. The River, operated from Western Iowa Tech in “the Bluffs” is the undisputed rock n roll king of Omaha.  Check them out at [link].  Apparently Classical KVNO does not subscribeto Nielsen but they likely have lots of listeners.

Monday-Sunday 6AM-Midnight Persons 12+

These data are provided for use by Nielsen subscribers ONLY,

in accordance with RRC's limited license with Nielsen Inc. Data Copyright Nielsen Inc. Format distinctions are the sole responsibility of Ken Mills Agency, LLC.

MARKETPLACE + EDISON RESEARCH = SMART COVERAGE • SPRING RATINGS: BURLINGTON, GRAND RAPIDS & DAYTON

One of the smartest things these days on public radio news stations is the Anxiety Index research by Edison Research [link] that appears on Marketplace. This is not a rehash of someone else’s work, it is original research done with a real sense of purpose.

American Public Media’s (APM) Marketplace is partnering with Edison to conduct ongoing research to measure Americans’ economic anxiety. The results are insightful and Edison’s co-founder Larry Rosin is establishing himself as a go-to commentator/explainer. Give a listen to Rosin’s analysis on the Marketplace Morning Report with David Brancaccio: [link].  

Larry Rosin

Larry Rosin is a researcher with eclectic tastes and the ability to see big-picture trends.  Though most of Edison’s research biz is not with public media, Rosin seems to value his association beyond just the money. Rosin has always hung with the brightest and most curious folks. He is a graduate of the Wharton School at Penn. Rosin has been doing media and lifestyle research since the 1980s. Back then his weekly newsletters for Bolton Research were required reading when I worked for Bill Moyes at Transtar Radio Network.

In 2014 Rosin presented definitive research about media usage by Classical music consumers at the PRPD.  I don’t believe there is a link to this story but I am glad to send you a copy of the results.  

Some of my favorite work by Edison includes studies such as Wake Me Up: An In-Depth Look at Morning Media [link] and the ongoing Share of Ear [link].

Public radio should commission more original research because the results often make news beyond the noncom world. I’ve heard the Anxiety Index quoted frequently om other news channels.  Stuff like this enhances the “halo” of public broadcasting. Marketplace is a perfect partner/collaborator with Edison because both excel in taking complex topics in ways that are easy to grasp.

SPRING NIELSEN AUDIO: VERMONT PUBLIC RADIO NEWS FAR EXCEEDS ITS MARKET SIZE

Results from Nielsen Audio’s Spring 2016 Diary market continue to arrive via the Radio Research Consortium (RRC). Today we are comparing estimated weekly listeners in Burlington/Plattsburgh, Grand Rapids and Dayton – three very different noncom markets – with results from Spring 2016.

Burlington is one of the best noncom markets in the nation. Vermont Public Radio’s (VPR) News network exceeds expectations. WVPR’s 145,400 estimated weekly cumulative listens tops NPR News stations such as WOSU in Columbus, WFYI in Indianapolis and KSTX in San Antonio, all with much larger populations.

Also in Burlington out-of market NPR News stations such as New Hampshire Public Radio and WAMC’s local repeater station WCEL both gained weekly listeners in the past year.

The Grand Rapids market has strong performers and a couple of mysteries. WCSG is one of the best performing CCM stations anywhere and NPR News station WUOM often has as many weekly listeners to GV repeater WVGR as it has listeners in Detroit.

Mystery #1 is WVGU AM and FM.  I have written before about WVGU’s inability to compete with out-of-market NPR News stations. Now WVGU-FM trails its twisted sister WVGU-AM.  In fact We’re Not Going to Take It by Twisted Sister is playing as I write this post. 

WVGU-AM [link] is known locally as Real Oldies. The last three songs played, in addition to Twisted Sister, were Alone Again (Naturally) by Gilbert O’Sullivan, The Happiest Girl in the Whole USA by Donna Fargo and The Candy Man by Sammy Davis, Jr. This un-hip music mix is likely not found anywhere else on noncom “educational” radio.

Mystery #2 is how many listeners there are to Triple A WYCE.  They don’t subscribe to Nielsen Audio but locals tell me they are doing very well.

Nice to see local Classical outlet WDPR doing so well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These data are provided for use by Nielsen subscribers ONLY,

in accordance with RRC's limited license with Nielsen Inc.

Monday-Sunday 6AM-Midnight Persons 12+
Data Copyright Nielsen Inc

 Format distinctions are the sole responsibility of Ken Mills Agency, LLC.