“Between April 1 and July 31, Colorado’s music industry lost 8,327 jobs and $344.6 million in sales revenue, according to a report released this week by Denver Arts & Venues. This represents 51% of total employment in the industry statewide and 24% of its annual sales revenue, wrote Colorado State University researcher Michael Seman.
Denver took the hardest hit, with losses in the metro region estimated at 4,525 jobs and $213.7 million in sales revenue — or more than half of all jobs in the region’s music industry and 25% of its annual sales revenue. The majority of these losses at both the state and regional level are in the “musicians, managers and agents” and “live events” sectors of the industry, the report said.
And this is after only six months.”
This article from The Know/Denver Post hit me particularly hard this morning. I’m a “old timer” in the Colorado music scene. I’ve been here since the 70s – doing what I do – music and radio. In fact, music and radio is all I do and all I’ve done since the late 90s when I closed down my previous family owned/operated business.
RADIO can’t replace what we’ve lost. Not even close. However, as a fan one thing we can all do is support locally produced independent non-commercial public/community and college radio stations. There are over 20 such stations in Colorado today. That’s where most Colorado music is heard today.
Today, the Colorado Playlist is broadcast by 12 stations and is heard over 24FM frequencies 58 hours a week in Colorado. AND I NEED YOUR HELP. I borrowed heavily to keep Colorado music on the airwaves, since my prime sources of revenue are now gone. At some point I need to generate revenue to pay back the loans and pay the bills.
I’ve reduced my normal ad-support rates by 50% for COVID affected businesses. Want your business mentioned statewide? Email me at coloradoplaylist@gmail.com for information.
If you’d care to make a donation pls do so via PayPal at coloradoplaylist@gmail.com or at Chrisk-2 on Venmo.
Sincerely and with Love,
Chris “K” Kresge
Founder / President / Producer / Host
Rocky Mountain Music Network LLC
The Colorado Sound
The Summer of No Music: Loss of concerts makes Denver question its cultural identity
Chris K's Colorado Playlist 