- KEXP-FM
Infobox Radio station
name = KEXP
city =Seattle, Washington
slogan = "where the music matters"
airdate =1972
frequency = 90.3MHz (FM )
format =alternative rock /eclectic
erp = 4,700watt s
haat = 211meter s
class = C3
facility_id = 68668
former_callsigns = KCMU
owner =University of Washington
webcast = [http://www.kexp.org/ WindowsMedia/Real/MP3]
website = [http://www.kexp.org www.kexp.org]
affiliations = NPR, EMP, UWKEXP (90.3 FM) is a public
radio station based inSeattle, Washington , that specializes in independent andalternative rock programmed by itsdisc jockey s. Its broadcasting license is owned by theUniversity of Washington , which operates the station in a partnership withPaul Allen 'sExperience Music Project . The station was formerly operated under the call letters KCMU.For the majority of its schedule, KEXP broadcasts an eclectic mix of primarily
alternative rock . The station also features weekly speciality programs dedicated to particular musical genres, includingrockabilly ,blues ,world music , hip hop,electronica , punk, andalternative country . Live, in-studio performances by artists are also regularly featured.KEXP is broadcast in the Seattle area on 90.3 FM; on the
Internet via streaming audio; [ [http://www.kexp.org/ KEXP] , official site.] and onPanAmSat 'sGalaxy 10R satellite. [ [http://www.lyngsat.com/g10r.html Lyngsat, Galaxy 10R at 123.0°W, station listing] .]KEXP's streaming costs are covered by the University of Washington (UW), which also provides most of the Internet technology used by the station. KEXP is often a testing ground for the university’s Computing and Communications department, leading to features not found by other stations. In addition, music licensing fees associated with internet radio are covered by the station's affiliation with National Public Radio. The association and financial help by these two organizations have allowed KEXP to experiment with its online offerings. The station is located at 113 Dexter Avenue, on the corner of Denny Way.
History
Groundwork for the station that would eventually become KEXP began in 1971, started by UW undergraduates John Kean, Cliff Noonan, Victoria ("Tory") Fiedler, and Brent Wilcox.
KUOW-FM (94.9), then an instructional radio station, now an NPR affiliate, had recently made some cutbacks that had removed most opportunities for student involvement in the station. The four students convinced the Communications Department to provide space and a tiny budget with which they bought "turntables,tape cartridge s, and a few other items likeplywood ." They built their own console cabinets, successfully petitioned the UW and the FCC for a frequency and a license, and ultimately raised their own antenna. The 10-watt signal "barely reachedthe Ave " (the commercial heart of Seattle's University District).Christian Nelson, [http://www.washington.edu/alumni/columns/march07/content/view/78/39/ Strong Signals] , "Columns" (UW alumni magazine), March 2007, p. 54.]In 1972, the station started operations as KCMU, a small
album rock station staffed by University of Washington students that broadcast at 90.5 FM to the UW campus. (The "CMU" in itscall letters referred to the abbreviation of the campus's Communications Building, the station's home.)In 1975, its signal strength was boosted to 182 Watts, carrying the signal off campus for the first time.
In 1981, under the direction of Jon Kertzer, KCMU turned to its listening audience for public funding after the UW's budget was cut. KCMU played mostly
indie rock but also was the first station to play rap artists likeGrandmaster Flash . Throughout the late 1980s, the station tapped into Seattle's burgeoning music scene. Members of local bandsSoundgarden and Mudhoney worked as volunteer DJs as did both Jonathan Poneman and Bruce Pavitt, the founders ofSub-Pop . During these years, "Billboard Magazine " called KCMU "one of the most influential commercial-free stations in the country."From 1983–1985, Kerry Loewen (former station manager at
KFJC ) was station manager.In late 1985 Chris Knab (former owner of Aquarius Records in San Francisco) became station manager. Mr. Knab moved the station away from alternative rock-only programming, adding jazz, hip hop, world music and other genres to its lineup.
In 1986, KCMU switched frequencies to 90.3 FM and upped its transmitter signal to 400 watts, increasing its broadcast radius to 15 miles.
In 1992, KCMU dropped many of its volunteer DJs and elected to run syndicated programming. Some listeners and DJs considered this a betrayal of KCMU's democratic mission, and formed a group called CURSE (Censorship Undermines Radio Station Ethics). A program called "
World Cafe ", based inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania , was a particular bone of contention.CURSE encouraged local KCMU supporters to stop donating money to the station in protest. Volunteer DJs who criticized the station's policies were fired, although a lawsuit from CURSE resulted in that policy being struck down by a
United States District Court . "World Cafe" was dropped from KCMU's lineup in1993 , but none of the fired volunteer staff returned to the station.KCMU hired its three full-time paid DJs in 1996, a move that cost several volunteer DJs and led to further complaints from some listeners who decried what they perceived as commercialization of the non-commercial radio station.
In 2000, KCMU started streaming uncompressed audio over the Internet.
KCMU changed its name to KEXP in 2001. At the same time, it moved to a new studio near downtown Seattle, partnered with the
Experience Music Project (EMP), and increased its power to 720 watts.The kexp.org website was nominated for two
Webby Award s in 2003, Best Radio Website and the People's Voice Award.In 2004, KEXP started broadcasting on KXOT 91.7 FM in
Tacoma, Washington , which extended the station's broadcast range to Olympia and the south Puget Sound region. Before then, KXOT was known as KBTC, was owned byBates Technical College , and featured aclassic rock format. Bates sold the station toPublic Radio Capital for $5 million, and PRC leases it to KEXP.As of 2005, the station has construction permits to increase the power of KEXP 90.3 FM from 720 watts to 3,300 W
effective radiated power , and KXOT from 7,900 W to 39,000 W.KEXP began
podcast ing their live, in-studio performances beginning with Seattle hip hop trioBoom Bap Project who appeared on21 July 2005 .On
3 November 2005 , KEXP announced it was terminating operation of KXOT 91.7 FM at the end of the calendar year. The agreement made with EMP in 2001 is set to expire, and the radio station is preparing to support increased operating costs with a smaller budget. [Bill Virgin, [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/tv/247076_kexp04.html KEXP-FM will end KXOT simulcast] , "Seattle Post-Intelligencer",November 4 ,2005 . Accessed online25 March 2007 .]On
10 March 2006 , KEXP increased the power of its terrestrial frequency to 4,700 Weffective radiated power . The signal is radiated in acardioid pattern.In May 2006, "KEXP’s Audioasis local music program announced a 'community partnership' initiative 'designed to create connections between KEXP listeners and deserving local charities.' The hope is that these connections will result in an increase in awareness of the mission and work of local organizations and the impact they have on the larger community."
Joint venture with WNYE--Radio Liberation
In August 2007, it was learned that station management of a
New York City public radio station, WNYE, was planning a radical overhaul of their programming, moving to an all music format.Fact|date=January 2008 The plans, detailed in a February 11 2008 press release, are to partner with KEXP, and move to a simulcast and music format branded as "Radio Liberation." [cite press release
title = "KEXP and Radio New York liberate listeners from the norm"
publisher = Pyramid Communications
date = 2008-02-11
url = http://kexp.org/newyork/press.aspx
accessdate = 2008-02-18 ] Many public radio insiders believe that the radio management team assembled by NYC Media Group president Arick Wierson intends to do with radio what he orchestrated with TV, that is, to completely shed the "public" and "non-commercial" aspects of WNYE and leave a much more highly commercial format in its place.Fact|date=January 2008On 24 March 2008, KEXP DJ John Richards' (a.k.a., John in the Morning) broadcast was heard on 91.5 FM in New York City for the first time as part of [http://www.kexp.org/newyork/aboutradioliberation.aspx Radio Liberation] . Radio Liberation is the collaboration between KEXP and [http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycmg/wnyefm/html/about/marketing.shtml Radio New York] (91.5 FM) to introduce NY listeners to more independent music. The collaboration will simulcast one part of KEXP’s original broadcasting and three originally produced programs. John Richards’ morning show is the only program that will be simulcast on the dial in both Seattle and NYC. The other programs (Wake Up, Music That Matters, and Mo’Glo) will be produced specifically for Radio New York, but not available to Seattle or online listeners.
According to the [http://www.kexp.org/newyork/default.aspx Radio Liberation microsite] , “this partnership makes it possible for KEXP to reach another 14 million terrestrial listeners in New York.” KEXP has a long-standing relationship with New York, broadcasting live from there a couple times a year. In addition to information about the project, the microsite includes a list of NY concert events, Song of the Day Podcasts, and album reviews.
Additionally, "beginning this June, John Richards will split time between Seattle and New York, broadcasting his show live from both locations throughout the year." [ [http://www.kexp.org/newyork/qa.aspx Kexp/Wnye - Q & A ] ]
John Richards, who frequently creates playlists based on themes opened the first Radio Liberation broadcast with the following songs:
Pixies “Wave of Mutilation (UK Surf)” (his self professed favorite band)Harvey Danger “Pike St./Park Slope ” (Seattle band singing about Seattle and Brooklyn)
Death Cab for Cutie “Marching Bands of Manhattan” (NYC reference)Website
In addition to features such as
playlist s and live streaming radio, KEXP's website includes an archive of all programs from the last two weeks as well as a massive collection of previous on-air live performances [http://kexp.org/aspnet_client/live.asp] . The performers in the collection are representative of the station's eclectic musical mix. These include national and international artists such asPatti Smith ,Jimmie Dale Gilmore , andThey Might Be Giants and localPacific Northwest artists such asHarvey Danger ,The Long Winters , andMaktub .KEXP's website was the first site on the Internet to offer a 1.4 Mbit/s uncompressed stream of live radio. Innovations such as the uncompressed stream helped KEXP's website to win a
Webby Award for best radio website in 2004. It had been nominated for the same award in 2003 but failed to win.See also
*
John Richards (disc jockey) , current disc jockey and assistant program directorExternal links
* [http://www.kexp.org/ KEXP official website]
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*Notes
References
* Julia Kingrey, [http://archives.thedaily.washington.edu/1998/071598/radio.html Radio-free UW: KCMU moves off campus] ,
University of Washington "Daily", July 15, 1998
* Jeff DeRoche, [http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=7007 Radio Ga-Ga: With Paul Allen's Money at Its Disposal, Does KCMU — Wai...KEXP Really Need Any More of Your Money?] "The Stranger", Apr 12–Apr 18, 2001
* Gene Johnson, [http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/story/5258799p-4774131c.html Radio Station Bucks Trends, Finds Listeners] ,Associated Press , October 16, 2005
* Reid Davis, [http://www.pastemagazine.com/action/article?article_id=100 KEXP Seattle – What Music Radio Could Be] , "Paste Magazine " online, undated, appears to date from 2002, accessed 12 Dec 2005
* Nina Shapiro, [http://www.seattleweekly.com/features/0549/051207_music_kexp.php The Expensive Expansion of KEXP: It's globally popular and flush with donations, but Seattle's seminal eclectic-music radio station is under financial strain that is affecting morale] "Seattle Weekly , December 7–13, 2005.
* Ernest A. Jasmin, [http://www.thenewstribune.com/ae/story/5501843p-4959280c.html Flow of Tunes from KEXP Finally Stops in Tacoma] , "The News Tribune ", February 3, 2006.
* Laura Foy & Tina Wood, [http://on10.net/TheShow/200/ Touring KEXP, Internet Radio Super Station] , "10 , March 13, 2006.
* Dana Bos & Liz Riley, [http://www.threeimaginarygirls.com/audioasisshowcase06may.asp Live Show Review: KEXP Audioasis Showcase: Thee Emergency, New Fangs, Sera Cahoone, the Fading Collection, and Daylight Basement] , "Three Imaginary Girls ", May 2006.
* Dave Segal, [http://www.thestranger.com/lineout/2006/07/fired_kexp_dj_clears.php Fired KEXP DJ Clears the Air] , "The Stranger", July 28, 2006. Interview with DJ Greg Jaspan.
* David T. Atkinson, [http://www.glidemagazine.com/2/reviews1380.html CD Review, Live At KEXP Vol II] , "Glide Magazine ", July 31, 2006.
* [http://www.seattleweekly.com/news/0631/bestof-readers-ppm.php Best of Seattle 2006: Readers' Picks] , "Seattle Weekly ", August 2, 2006.
* Rachel Shimp, [http://www.seattleweekly.com/arts/0631/bestof-critics-ae.php Best of Seattle 2006: Critics' Picks] , "Seattle Weekly ", August 2, 2006.
* Kyle O'Brien, [http://www.oregonlive.com/entertainment/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/entertainment/1154469315102710.xml&coll=7 Discovering Local Gems] , "The Oregonian ", August 4, 2006.
* Rachel Shimp, [http://www.seattleweekly.com/music/0632/ghostland.php Music Make U Lose Control] , "Seattle Weekly ", August 8, 2006.
* Keenan Bowen, [http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=50116 Audacity Limits] , "The Stranger ", August 10–16, 2006.
* Audrey Hendrickson, [http://www.seattlest.com/archives/2006/08/14/ghostland_observed.php Ghostland, Observed] , "Seattlest ", August 14, 2006.
* Jennifer Kelly, [http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/various-artists-live-at-kexp-vol-2/ Various Artists: Live at KEXP, Vol. 2] , "Popmatters ", August 22, 2006.
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