Summary: The news director is primarily responsible for producing KOTO’s weekday newscast and local affairs programming. Other duties include strategic web planning, web content management, and co-production of KOTO’s live festival coverage.
Responsibilities:
Produce a daily newscast, determining local and regional content.
Hire, train, supervise, and schedule staff reporters/producers and volunteers.
Assign and edit reporters’ produced pieces to ensure they meet ethical and journalistic standards, as summarized by the following guidelines:
Seek the truth and report it;
Minimize harm;
Act independently;
Be accountable;
Prevent the broadcast of slanderous and/or libelous material.
Achieve a comprehensive and inclusive newscast that reports on the breadth of local community issues and subjects, including those underreported in the mainstream press, representing as many viewpoints as are available.
Produce public affairs programming and special coverage, including elections and emergencies.
Ensure web content is updated and accurate.
Advise executive director on website content and functionality
Assist in the broadcasting of Telluride town council meetings.
Assist, plan, and produce local public affairs programs, live broadcasts, and special event coverage.
Represent the News Department at San Miguel Educational Fund board of directors meeting as required.
Maintain equipment and make recommendations for replacement.
Cover on-air slots, Monday through Friday, from 5:58 until 6:30.
Act as news staff advocate, offering opinions and recommendations on KOTO news and public affairs programming.
Collect feedback and input from the community to make recommendations to the SMEF and CAB about news and public affairs programming.
Assist with station functions and events as requested by the executive director.
722. Multiply 1 x 24 hrs x 7 days x 4.3 weeks …that’s how much Colorado music can be aired in one month, if a station played only one cut per hour. If one song got played 3 times in 24 hours it would receive 90 spins in one month. That’s a remarkable number as I look at the spins data from this past month.
OpenAir 1340 spun Gregory Alan Isakov‘s new album, The Weatherman, 92 times in July. After that there isn’t any comparison at all. It’s actually pretty rare to see a Colorado album get even 30 spins in a month at any public / community or college station.
Pretty Lights latest, A Color Map of the World, had the most impressive gains of the month – in radio and in sales. In radio it jumped from #30 to #2 on the strength of repetitive spins at KRCC (Colorado Springs). In sales it was announced that the vinyl record went #1 nationally, while overall physical and digital album sales placed them in the TOP 40 nationally. Ironically, the album scored nowhere as many spins as Isakov’s record did at 1340 ..
Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams lays righteous claim to #1 “country” band in Colorado status with their now 5th album “Rocky Mountain Honky Tonk” rocking a debut at #5, with 6 of our 14 reporting stations showing spins this month.
It’s notable that only KRFC (Fort Collins) and OpenAir 1340 are presently in the 722+ cuts of CO music a month club. And if all goes according to the buzz, there will soon be a commercial radio station committed to the same kinds of numbers – with much higher per month rotations per song than we see now.
722 … a remarkable number.
I updated the entire rotation at The Colorado Sound Live365. Check out the schedule page to see when the TOP 40 is playing. I posted the current rotation of artists here. The Colorado Sound Live365 is the only 24/7/365 all Colorado (and Colorado connected) music station online (that I know of). So, if you’re in the mood to catch 20 mins of some Rocky mountain goodness, tune in .. and share, pls. It’s different than the show I do weekly. That show features the latest breaking music, news and notes from around the scene – so catch both as often as you can 😉
One more major festival this season for me –> Bohemian Nights at New West Fest. Aug 16-18. I’m stoked. This is the 9th year now for this event. And aside from the big national acts who are brought in to anchor the event, it’s the insane representation of acts from here in Colorado that gets me giddy. The Samples come off a summer filled with successful regional festival shows to headline the Friday night kick-off show with Fierce Bad Rabbit, SHEL, and Samuel Mouton. Born In the Flood does one of their reunion shows this summer to open for Ben Harper & Charlie Musslewhite on Saturday night … and Colorado Music Hall of Fame inductee (November) Chris Daniels brings his Better Days show to the Mountain Ave stage to open for Leon Russell on Sunday. In between? Download the app …
STATION NEWS and NOTES
KGNU is hiring a station manager. Interviews are underway, and there should be an announcement by mid- to late-August. Shawna Sprowls is serving as Interim Station Manager through August.
Shawna’s last day as interim station manger is August 28. She’s taking a short sabbatical to take care of some personal items and do a little traveling, then will be looking for a job in the Boulder area to start late-Fall, early-Winter. Preferably in the radio/music/non-profit/event arenas. Keep an eye out for a cool opportunity for Shawna 😉
Shawna has worked at KGNU for 6 1/2 years, serving first as Membership Director, then Community Development Director and finally as Interim Station Manager. Shawna also worked as the Station Manager at both KDNK and KBUT, and started her career in community radio in the late 1990s in Crested Butte as the program director for KBUT. She also served a term on the NFCB Board as treasurer and was an active participant on the RMCR Board.
Meanwhile, over at OpenAir 1340 (Denver), evening host Kegan Warner got engaged to his long time girlfriend last week. And, Colorado Public Radio’s Art Bureau Editor Chloe Veltman began work last Monday.
Changes are happening at KOTO as longtime Music Director, Suzanne Cheavens, is making like The King, and leaving the building as of the end of August. She will remain on as the Electric Angel, spinning tunes on alternate Saturdays from 6-9 p.m.
Before taking on the role as MD at KOTO April 20, 2007, Suzanne served as a board member on and off for 15 years and took her first airshift February 1986. She’s logged countless volunteer hours for numerous KOTO events and produces KOTO Live Broadcasts of the Telluride Bluegrass and Blues and Brews Festivals. But now it’s time to get serious about the writing life. There’s a book in the offing … stay tuned.
In other news, KOTO is proud to present Thievery Corporation on Saturday, August 24 in Telluride Town Park. Opening acts DJ I-Gene and The Pimps of Joytime. Tickets and more info at http://www.koto.org. Call 970-708-2488 for more info. We’re pretty psyched about this day of music in our beautiful Town Park!
The San Miguel Educational Fund – KOTO – is looking for a full time Asst. Station Manager. This is a forty-hour a week position with health benefits and paid vacation. Salary range $28,000 – $31,000. Reports to Executive Director. Duties to include but NOT limited to:
*Assists the Station Manager in the day-to-day operations of KOTO
*Maintains community calendar and updates daily and on KOTO website
*Sends weekly emails to DJs
*Answers phone and assists walk-in visitors
*Maintains lost & found
*Coordinates online personal commentary calendar
*Produces reports for SMEF meetings
*Schedules Access programs
*Assists walk-ins with taping personal commentaries
*Maintains Green Book/Community items on website
*Assists with DJ training
*Maintains DJ training manual and annual renewal of DJ contracts
*Engineers/co-hosts Open Arts Radio
*Enforces KOTO rules and policies
*Assists in janitorial upkeep of building
*Special Projects as needed
*Operates as Station Manager when necessary
*Assists Executive Director as needed
*Assists with fundraising
*Co-produces live broadcasts
*Acts as positive KOTO ambassador in the community
*Mentors interns from THS
Skills necessary:
*Positive team-player attitude
*Trained/experienced DJ
*Knowledge of radio operations
*Excellent computer skills
*Excellent communication skills – verbal & written
*Management experience
*Ability to multi-task
*Ability to lift 30+lbs
If interested please email your resume to dina@koto.org or mail to:
KOTO
PO Box 1069
Telluride, CO 81435 NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE!
VIDEO PICKS of the MONTH
Our video six-pack this month rips out of the box with the ReMinders (hip hop) from Colorado Springs and flows thru electro pop from AdrienneO, jamgrass from Leftover Salmon, 12 yr old Jaden Carlson with a debut, a solo debut from Strange Americans frontman Matt Hoffman, and roots blues from Davey and the Blu Dog … enjoy and don’t forget to visit the Colorado Sound TV page for an up to date trip through some three hours of Colorado music videos.
TOP 40 SPINS – JULY 2013
334 titles tracked in June
200 titles were reported as played at least once.
(CC) = Colorado Connection
(D) = album/ep debut on chart
(R) = reenter
[date] = Date added to reporting list
(5) 1. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman (Suitcase Town Music) Folk [Jun-13]
(30) 2. Pretty Lights – A Color Map of the World (self) EDM [Jul-13]
(1) 3. Cassie Taylor – Out of My Mind (Yellow Dog) Blues/rhythm and blues [May-13]
(8) 4. The Lumineers – The Lumineers (Dualtone) Americana [Mar-12]
(D) 5. Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams – Rocky Mountain Honky Tonk (self) Alt-country [Jul-13]
(12) 6. Otis Taylor – My World Is Gone (Telarc) Blues [Jan-13]
(33) 7. Fierce Bad Rabbit – Maestro and the Elephant (self) Rock [Jan-13]
(3) 8. DeVotchKa – Live with the Colorado Symphony (Cicero Recordings) Indie/New Alternative [Nov-12]
(10) 9. Paper Bird – Rooms (self) Indie/New Alternative [Feb-13]
(18) 10. Elephant Revival – It’s Alive EP (Ruff Shod/Nettwork) Folk [Nov-12]
(22) 11. 3 Twins – De Nada (self) Americana [Jun-13]
(R) 12. Sera Cahoone (CC) – Deer Creek Canyon (Sub Pop) Folk [Nov-12]
(R) 13. SHEL – SHEL (Moraine Records / Mad King Records) Folk [Aug-12]
(30) 14. Jeff Brinkman Band – Strange (self) Rock/AAA [Dec-12]
(17) 15. Wendy Woo Band – Live (Woo Music) POP/adult contemporary [Jun-13]
(14) 16. Josh Dillard – The Bright Light of Shipwreck (self) Indie/New Alternative [Jun-13]
(15) 17. Danielle Ate The Sandwich – {like a king} (Youngest Daughter Records) Folk [May-12]
(2) 18. Head for the Hills – Blue Ruin (self) Bluegrass [Jun-13]
(R) 19. O’Brien Party of 7 (CC) – Reincarnation, The Songs of Roger Miller (Howdy Skies Music) Folk [Jun-12]
(34) 20. The Changing Colors – Joan & the King (Blank Tape) Folk [Apr-13]
(10) 21. Thom Chacon – Thom Chacon (Pie Records) Americana/country-folk [Mar-13]
(21) 22. The Haunted Windchimes – Out with the Crow (Blank Tape) Folk [Apr-12]
(16) 23. Mike Clark & the Sugar Sounds – Round and Round (Blank Tape) Indie/New Alternative [Jan-13]
(R) 24. Jon Wirtz – Tourist (self) Jazz [Jan-13]
(35) 25. Andy Palmer – Hazard of the Die (self) Rock/AAA [Apr-13]
(19) 26. Leftover Salmon – Aquatic Hitchhiker (LoS Records) Americana/jamband [Apr-12]
(R) 27. Strange Americans – A Royal Battle (self) Rock [Jun-12]
(6) 28. Blue Canyon Boys – Next Go Round (self) Bluegrass [Jan-13]
(R) 29. Jeff Scroggins & Colorado – Western Branches (self) Bluegrass [May-13]
(11) 30. Hezekiah Goode – Two Billion Acres of Salt (self) Americana/country [May-13]
(D) 31. The ReMinders – Born Champions (self) Urban Contemporary/hip hop [Jul-13]
(27) 32. Chimney Choir – (compass) (self) Folk [May-13]
(D) 33. Colfax Speed Queen – Satisfaction Intended (Hot Congress) Rock/punk [Jul-13]
(R) 34. Kristi Stice – Under the Willow (self) Folk [Jan-13]
(R) 35. Joe Sampson – Kill Our Friends (Fellow Creature Recordings) Folk [May-12]
(R) 36. The Swayback – Double Four Time (self) Rock [Mar-12]
(4) 37. a. Tom Collins – Stick & Poke (Greater Than Collective) Indie/New Alternative [Apr-13]
(R) 38. Grant Sabin – Anthromusicology (Blank Tape) Rock [Jan-13]
(R) 39. Patrick Dethlefs – Fall & Rise (self) Folk [Jun-12]
(R) 40. Austin Young & No Difference – Blue As Can Be (Vizztone) Blues [Mar-13]
FELL OUT OF TOP 40 JULY
9. Andy Hackbarth – Treadmill Horses EP
13. WhiteWater Ramble – Roots & Groove
18. Bad Brad & the Fat Cats – Eyes on the Prize
20. Bonnie & The Clydes – Wrong Side Up
23. Churchill – The War Within EP
24. Dan Treanor’s Afrosippi Band f/Erica Brown – Tangled Road Again
25. Catch Bees – Narratives from a Factory Town
26. Brad Goode – Chicago Red
28. Cary Morin – Streamline
29. Beautiful Loser Society – The Desperate Promenade
29. Danny Shafer – Wherever You Are
31. The Yawpers – Capon Crusade
32. Trout Steak Revival – Flight
35. Chris Daniels – Better Days
ADDED JULY 2013
Aakash Mittal Quartet f/Ron Miles – Oceans
Adam Bodine – I Alone
AdrienneO – Superchromatic`
Bobby Walker – Feelin’ Good
Colfax Speed Queen – Satisfaction Intended
Dave Preston – Come Alive
Elephant Revival – Birds and Stars (single)
Elway – Leavetaking
Foxfield Four – Weatherman EP
Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams – Rocky Mountain Honky Tonk
Joe Johnson – Who’s Gonna Go Your Bond [single]
Lee Holiday & The Time Off – Time Off for Bad Behavior
Leftover Salmon – High Country [single]
Lollygags – Christian Laytner
Matt Hoffman – Lateral Moves EP
Meadowlark Jivin! – Soul Connection
Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats – Look It Here/Trying So Hard Not To Know [single]
Rossonian – Rossonian
The Escape Goats – On the Lam
The Gristle Gals Band – Sweet Pea
The Indulgers – Whiskey Tonight
The Patti Fiasco – Small Town Lights [single]
The ReMinders – Born Champions
STATION BY STATION
[X] = number of “current” titles reported as played in reporting period. This is so you’ll not only see what the top five records getting the most spins are at any station, but also how many “current year” releases are getting played.
KAFM (Grand Junction) [30]
1. Cassie Taylor – Out of My Mind
2. Arthur Lee Land – Cracked Open
2. Hezekiah Goode – Two Billion Acres of Salt
2. Pretty Lights – A Color Map of the World
3. Bad Brad & the Fat Cats – Eyes on the Prize
KDNK (Carbondale) [30]
1. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman
1. Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams – Rocky Mountain Honky Tonk
2. Andy Palmer – Hazard of the Die
2. Cassie Taylor – Out of My Mind
2. DeVotchKa – Live with the Colorado Symphony
KDUR (Durango)[5]
1. Farmington Hill – Bridge to Nowhere
2. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman
3. Hezekiah Goode – Two Billion Acres of Salt
4. Jeff Scroggins & Colorado – Western Branches
4. Thom Chacon – Thom Chacon
KGNU (Boulder) [15]
1. Paper Bird – Rooms
2. Jeff Scroggins & Colorado – Western Branches
3. Blue Canyon Boys – Next Go Round
3. Cassie Taylor – Out of My Mind
3. Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams – Rocky Mountain Honky Tonk
KRCC (Colorado Springs)[15]
1. Pretty Lights – A Color Map of the World
2. Josh Dillard – The Bright Light of Shipwreck
3. Changing Colors – Joan & the King
4. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman
4. The Lumineers – The Lumineers
KRFC (Fort Collins) [>100]
1. Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams – Rocky Mountain Honky Tonk
2. 3 Twins – De Nada
2. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman
3. Cassie Taylor – Out of My Mind
3. The Escape Goats – On the Lam
KUNC (Greeley) [15]
1. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman
2. Otis Taylor – My World Is Gone
3. Danielle Ate The Sandwich – {like a king}
4. 3 Twins – De Nada
4. Churchill – The War Within EP
KUVO (Denver) [8]
1. Brad Goode – Chicago Red
2. Lynn Baker Quartet – LectroCoustic
3. Tom Gershwin – Sweet Pastimes
4. Eric Boa and the Constrictors – Boa’s Blues
5. John Gunther’s Safari Trio – Surrender
KVNF (Paonia) [12]
1. Paper Bird – Rooms
2. The Haunted Windchimes – Out with the Crow
3. Blue Canyon Boys – Next Go Round
3. Elephant Revival – It’s Alive EP
3. Wendy Woo Band – Live
OPEN AIR 1340 (Denver) [80]
1. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman
2. Colfax Speed Queen – Satisfaction Intended
3. a. Tom Collins – Stick & Poke
4. Paper Bird – Rooms
5. Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats – Look It Here/Trying So Hard Not To Know
The Colorado Sound [53]
1. Cassie Taylor – Out of My Mind
1. Fierce Bad Rabbit – Maestro and the Elephant
2. Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams – Rocky Mountain Honky Tonk
3. Jon Wirtz – Tourist
3. The ReMinders – Born Champions
GENRE/PROGRAM FORMAT
Americana / Alt-country / Bluegrass
1. The Lumineers – The Lumineers
2. Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams – Rocky Mountain Honky Tonk
3. 3 Twins – De Nada
4. Head for the Hills – Blue Ruin
5. Thom Chacon – Thom Chacon
Blues/R&B
1. Cassie Taylor – Out of My Mind
2. Otis Taylor – My World Is Gone
3. Austin Young & No Difference – Blue As Can Be
4. Cary Morin – Streamline
5. Bad Brad & the Fat Cats – Eyes on the Prize
Folk / folk-rock / singer-songwriter
1. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman
2. Elephant Revival – It’s Alive EP
3. Sera Cahoone (CC) – Deer Creek Canyon
4. SHEL – SHEL
5. Danielle Ate The Sandwich – {like a king}
Indie/New Alternative
1. DeVotchKa – Live with the Colorado Symphony
2. Paper Bird – Rooms
3. Josh Dillard – The Bright Light of Shipwreck
4. Mike Clark & the Sugar Sounds – Round and Round
5. a. Tom Collins – Stick & Poke
Jazz/Instrumental
1. Jon Wirtz – Tourist
2. Brad Goode – Chicago Red
3. John Gunther’s Safari Trio – Surrender
4. Mango fan Django – Indigo Dreams
5. Lynn Baker Quartet – LectroCoustic
Pop / Adult Contemporary / Crossover
1. Wendy Woo Band – Live
2. Dave Preston – Come Alive
3. Lisa Bell – The Italian Project
4. Andy Hackbarth – Treadmill Horses EP
5. Foxfield Four – Weatherman EP
Rock / AAA / ALT / AOR
1. Fierce Bad Rabbit – Maestro and the Elephant
2. Jeff Brinkman Band – Strange
3. Andy Palmer – Hazard of the Die
4. Strange Americans – A Royal Battle
5. Colfax Speed Queen – Satisfaction Intended
Urban Contemporary / EDM / Hip Hop / Soul
1. Pretty Lights – A Color Map of the World
2. The ReMinders – Born Champions
3. Flobots – The Circle In the Square
4. Beats Noir! – Where the Sun Goes Down
4. Selina Albright – Brighter
So I had an interesting meeting this week. I met with Clear Channel NoCO market manager Stu Haskell, whom I’ve known for a few decades now – and 107.9 The Bear morning man and program director Doc Jarnagin (he’s been on the air at the Bear for 13 years now .. WOW … who knew?) – about the new station, Radio 94.9FM. Essentially, it’s a transponder frequency tied to their HD2 signal (HD radio is not the same as HDTV).
At 100 watts of radiant power, don’t expect to hear this station outside of Fort Collins, Loveland, and perhaps Greeley (I haven’t made the drive to check it out). Once you drop south of Berthoud you lose it. However, iHeart Radio and their website are both good places to listen in at if you’re out of listening range to the terrestrial signal.
From a programming perspective, it’s what is known as a AAA station (adult album alternative) – akin if you will to KBCO with considerably more depth, and touches of early era KTCL programming philosophy. Both Doc and Stu made it a point that this new station would have a CO focus – but the details are still being worked out. The actual percentage of CO music to be focused upon appears to be up in the air. Stu commented at one point they might do one featured CO cut an hour (roughly 7-8% of an hourly playlist).
We agreed in principle that The Colorado Sound would be a nice addition to the programming, as well as my help in consulting them on what’s hot in CO. The actual day and time they’d place The Colorado Sound is also still being considered, with Stu suggesting Sunday nights. The conversation has only just begun –
— in the meantime don’t forget to check out The Colorado Sound @ Live365 for an all day all Colorado musical experience … stream it on your tablet, laptop, or pc … or via the Live365 app. G3 and G4 data plans work really well, and surprisingly doesn’t eat that much data as I’ve learned from listening to the station in the car and at the gym every day.
New music coming next week from: Dave Preston, Joe Johnson, the Escape Goats, AdrienneO, the Gristle Gals Band and more … make sure to check out the stations and schedules page ..
No new music shares this week — other than the Video of the Week pick from The ReMinders out of Colorado Springs – who I happened upon when I was invited to vote for the best of the Springs here recently …
PLAYLIST S7 EP25 July 2013
Bob Lind “Elusive Butterfly” from Elusive Butterfly (1966) (D) Bob Lind “How Dare You Love Me” from Finding You Again (2013) (N) 3 Twins “Now I See” from De Nada (2013) Thom Chacon “Ain’t Gonna Take Us Alive” from Thom Chacon (2013) The Lumineers “Big Parade” from The Lumineers (2012) WhiteWater Ramble “Dear Mr. Bankman” from Roots & Groove (2013) String Cheese Incident “Walk This Way” from The String Cheese Incident (1997) Chris Thompson “Traffic” from The Road Ahead (2010) Leftover Salmon “Sing Up to the Moon” from Aquatic Hitchhiker (2012) Otis Taylor “Blue Rain In Africa” from My World Is Gone (2013) Sera Cahoone “Naked” from Deer Creek Canyon (2012) SHEL “On My Way” from SHEL (2012) H2 Big Band “Singing In the Rain” from You’re It! (2011) Dianne Reeves “Afro Blue” from I Remember (1988) Electric Swingset “Middle Ground” from Inebriated Witchdoctor (1996) Devotchka “Along the Way” from Live With the Colorado Symphony Orchestra (2012) Jeff Brinkman “Face” from Strange (2012) Fierce Bad Rabbit “Time Machine” from Maestro & the Elephant (2013) (D) Halden Wofford & the Hi Beams “Zombies!” from Rocky Mountain Honky Tonk (2013) Cassie Taylor “New Orleans” from Out Of My Mind (2013) Dressy Bessy “Who’d Stop the Rain” from Electrified (2005) Bad Weather California “When You Smile” from Sunkissed (2012) Elephant Revival “Don’t Drift too Far” from It’s Alive (2012) Joe Sampson “Moon Up Above” from Kill Our Friends (2012) Fingers of the Sun “The Leaves Were So Green” from Fingers of the Sun (2011) Andrew Vogt “Jeep is Jumpin’” from Cats Afoot (2010)
Chris K's Colorado Playlist 