Kicking the tires of philanthropy.

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To give or not to give, that is the question.

Not-for-profit radio stations around the country are entering into the spring fund-raising season, facing the same challenges as last year and the year before that, and the year before that. The perennial challenge is engaging the listener in a conversation about the relevance of the station in peoples’ lives and the need for voluntary contributions to cover the station’s expenses. There’s a cause and effect dynamic at work. Programming causes listening, good programming causes loyalty, loyalty causes giving. In theory. Is that all there is to it, do the best we can with creating content and then ask for money – and we shall automatically receive?

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All-Music (But Not Classical) at WKNU

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After the bad news about WETS dropping most of its music in favor of talk, David Duff, President of the Association of Music Personnel in Public Radio, writes: WNKU–which serves the Cincinnati market–is changing their format to go all music. WNKU is a AAA station, but Cincinnati is already served by WGUC, a 24-hour classical outlet, and WVXU, an all-news outlet.  Claiming a victory when I see one.  The AAA format will include indie rock, world music, alternative rock, alternative country, and blues.  Not classical.

“In this economy”

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If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a hundred times, “We’ll be lucky to achieve our goals in this economy”.

We’re all in the same boat, this challenging economic boat – in the doldrums yet relatively secure, generally insulated, and comparatively safe – not untouched mind you, but our lifestyles are barely altered – we’re afloat. We may be thinking greener, driving less, recycling more, watching household expenses, packing lunch, eyeballing boxed wine for the first time and generally curbing our consumption but at a pace that  could be characterized as a stroll. No real urgency.

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