[grc] Does KBOO survive on one fund drive a year?

[UnderCurrents Radio]

Thanks Ann for opening this conversation:

KPFA used to solicit and publish tons of advertising from small local businesses (food co-ops, fabric shops, book shops, music venues, etc.).  These funded the Folio printed program guide.  I don’t know if there was anything left after printing and postage, but KPFA certainly had no qualms then about receiving this income month after month from the private sector.  There well may have been guidelines then, and I believe that with appropriate guidelines now, underwriting could be made to work.  Listeners already hear thank-you messages to local bakeries, etc. during fund drives, and plenty of private music venues and book publishers are mentioned on the air as part of the arts programming.

Other opportunities for advertising:  a short pre-roll spot on the streaming service, ads on the website, sponsorships of live events.  

The main concern I’ve heard voiced is that listeners won’t feel as obligated to contribute if they perceive (perhaps wrongly) that the books are being balanced with underwriting.  There’s a certain urgency and power in being able to say “we depend on you, our listeners, entirely for the funds it takes to keep this station on the air."

KVMR in Nevada City has an active development department with lots of underwriting and they seem to be thriving, while at the same time promoting localism.

My 2-cents

Gregg McVicar
Producer (and occasional KPFA volunteer)
www.undercurrentsradio.net <http://www.undercurrentsradio.net/>
gregg at radiocamp.com <mailto:gregg at radiocamp.com>




> On Feb 9, 2017, at 3:19 PM, Ann Garrison via grc <grc at maillist.peak.org> wrote:
> 
> I just heard something else interesting on KBOO, a thank you for
> underwriting to Gazelle Natural Fiber Clothing (sp?), which I assume to be
> a local store there.
> 
> This kind of local, politically correct underwriting has often been
> discussed but never implemented at KPFA.  The fear, I believe, is that it
> would be a slippery slope.  I'm curious about KBOO's process for deciding
> what are acceptable underwriters.
> 
> For real,
> Ann Garrison <http://www.anngarrison.com/>
> Independent Journalist,
> SKYPE: Ann Garrison, Oakland
> 415-503-7487
> 
> 
> On Thu, Feb 9, 2017 at 2:42 PM, Per Fagereng <phantom at hevanet.com> wrote:
> 
>> I wish it were so. KBOO has two major fund drives, plus one or two
>> short ones. Our winter drive is Feb 8-15.
>> 
>> Per Fagereng
>> 
>> -----Original Message----- From: Ann Garrison via grc Sent: Thursday,
>> February 9, 2017 2:06 PM To: _GRC list ; Ann Garrison Subject: [grc] Does
>> KBOO survive on one fund drive a year?
>> I'm listening to a KBOO-Portland interview with Jeffrey St. Clair, re his
>> book "Bernie and the Sandernistas: Field Notes from a Failed Revolution,"
>> which they're giving away during their fund drive.  I heard them say "Keep
>> KBOO going for another year."
>> 
>> Does that mean that KBOO survives on one fund drive a year?
>> 
>> For real,
>> Ann Garrison <http://www.anngarrison.com/>
>> Independent Journalist,
>> SKYPE: Ann Garrison, Oakland
>> 415-503-7487
>> _______________________________________________
>> grc mailing list
>> grc at maillist.peak.org
>> http://maillist.peak.org/mailman/listinfo/grc
>> 
>> 
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