Tag: public radio

News, Notes & Spins – November 1, 2010

I love this time of year.  I love the weather.  I love that there are more new releases that come out every October than at any other time of year.  At least it seems that way to me.  Look at October’s spins and there seems to be a record number of DEBUT titles.  Leading the charge is Fierce Bad Rabbit, which on the strength of spins at KCSU, KRFC and the Colorado Sound is one of the highest charting DEBUTs I’ve tracked the past few years.  This being the first of November (or thereabouts) the next couple of monthly reports will no doubt focus on end-of-year stuff … your picks, and the top spins of 2010.  Have a great November — and for my friends in RMCR, see ya all soon 🙂

MUSIC CHART LEGEND
DEBUT = 1st time appearing on chart
(NC) = not charted in previous month
(XX) = last month’s chart position

Colorado TOP 40 Spins October 2010
(235 titles listed, 117 reported as played)
(1) 1.  Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore – Saints & Sinners (Remington Road) folk, americana
(2) 2.  Halden Wofford & the Hi-Beams – Sinners and Saints (self) Americana, alternative country
(DEBUT) 3.  Fierce Bad Rabbit – Spools of Thread (FBR) rock, alternative
(17) 4.  Apples In Stereo – Travellers in Space and Time (Yep Roc) indie pop
(DEBUT) 5.  Lynn Baker Quartet – Azure Intention (OA2) jazz
(DEBUT) 6.  Boulder Acoustic Society – Champion of Disaster (self) americana, folk-rock
(14) 7.  Nathaniel Rateliff – In Memory of Loss (Rounder Records) modern folk
(DEBUT) 8.  Chris Thompson – The Road Ahead (self) rock, jamband
(3) 9.  Big Head Todd & the Monsters – Rocksteady (BIG) rock, adult alternative
(DEBUT) 10.  the Heyday – Till We See the Sun (self) rock
(DEBUT) 11. Brad Goode – Tight Like This (Delmark) jazz
(10)12.  John Common & Blinding Flashes of Light – Beautiful Empty (Free School) rock, adult
(21) 13.  Jeff Brinkman – To the Bones (Devonshire Records) rock, adult alternative
(4) 14.  White Water Ramble – All Night Drive (self) bluegrass
(9) 15.  Blue Canyon Boys – Mountain Bound (self) bluegrass
(25) 15.  Otis Taylor – Clovis People, Vol. 3 (Telarc) blues, trance blues
(26) 16.  Sweet Sunny South – Carried off by a Twister (2Dolla Reccas) americana, bluegrass
(DEBUT) 17.  Musketeer Gripweed – Dyin’ Day (self) rock, jamband
(16) 18.  Jeff Finlin – The Tao of Motor Oil (Bent Wheel) rock, adult alternative
(8) 19.  Danielle Ate the Sandwich – Two Bedroom Apartment (self) folk, pop, modern
(NC) 20.  Paper Bird – When the River Took Flight (self) folk, americana
(23) 21.  Grant Gordy – Grant Gordy (self) neo-acoustic, new grass
(NC) 22. Something Underground – Intention and Release (self) rock, pop
(19) 23.  Greg Harris Vibe Quintet – Glass Gold (Greg Harris) jazz, vocals
(11) 24.  Kinetix – Let Me In (Steel Giant) rock, pop
(24) 25.  The Foot. – Primary Colors (self) rock, adult alternative
(NC) 26.  Bailey Stauffer & the Katy Janes – Bend or Break (self) rock, alt-country
(NC) 26.  Pretty Lights – Passing By Behind Your Eyes (self) electronic
(NC) 27.  Dan Craig – Alchemy (self)  rock, folk-rock
(NC) 27.  David Rynhart – By the Hollow Tree (self) rock, adult alternative
(NC) 27.  Fuzzy Killing Machine – Enjoy & Destroy (Chair 8 Records) rock, alternative
(16) 28.  Bobby Walker – Way Back When (BWM) blues, r&b
(6) 28.  John McVey – Unpredictable (self) folk, singer-songwriter
(17) 29.  Lonesome Traveler – Looking for A Way (self) bluegrass
(26) 30.  30db – One Man Show (SCI Fidelity) rock, adult
(15) 30.  After Midnight Jazz Band – Midnight in Madison (self) jazz, trad, vocal
(DEBUT) 30.  Air Dubai – Wonder Age (self) pop, hip-hop
(8) 30.  Big Jim Adam & John Stilwagen – Back in My Hometown (Fossyl Records) blues
(NC) 30.  Dave LeMieux & House of Soul – Jazz Shaped (House of Soul) jazz
(DEBUT) 30.  Jubilant Bridge – Power Lines (Get Over It) folk

Fell out of Top 40 in October
(5) Great American Taxi – Reckless Habits
(7) Eric Shively – Eden’s Light
(12) Adam Bodine Trio – Blue Mud
(13) Gabrielle Louise – Mirror the Branches
(17) Dominant 7 & the Jazz Arts Messengers – Fourteen Channels
(19) Ash Ganley – Universe Acceptable
(19) Eddie Turner – Miracles and Demons
(20) Candy Claws – Hidden Lands
(20) Romano Paoletti – Story of a Lifetime
(20) Tequila Mockingbird – Luck & Trouble
(21) Snake Rattle Rattle Snake – Snake Rattle Rattle Snake
(22) Haunted Windchimes – Honey Moonshine
(23) Euforquestra – Soup
(24) Matt Morris – When Everything Breaks Open
(24) Tickle Me Pink – On Your Way Down
(25) Head for the Hills – Head for the Hills
(26) Hello Kavita – To A Loved One
(26) Selasee – African Gate

ADDed
Air Dubai – Wonder Age
Boulder Acoustic Society – Champion of Disaster
Brad Goode – Tight Like This
Brett Brady – After All
China Venture – Blows the Fuck Up
Clam Daddys – People Like Us
Chris Thompson – The Road Ahead
Feverbird – Feverbird
Fierce Bad Rabbit – Spools of Thread
Heyday, the – Till We See the Sun
Jenn Cleary – Back to the Wheel
Jim Bradford – Redraw the Line
Jonathan Stark – Comfort
Joshua Novak – Dead Letters
Jubilant Bridge – Power Lines
Lawn Chair Kings – Lawn Chair Kings II
Lynn Baker Quartet – Azure Intention
Matt Shupe – The Greying Heart
Michael Adam – The Maybe EP
Munley & the Lepercalians – Petr & the Wulf
Musketeer Gripweed – Dyin’ Day
Otem Rellik – Elephant Graveyard
Overcasters – The Whole Sea is Raging
The Raven & the Writing Desk – Somnambulist
Remember May – Feather
Robert Marcey & Familyman Barrett w/the Wailers – Wailin’ for Justice
Thrifty Astronaut – Caffiene Heartache
Waiting On Trial – W.O.T.
Wonderlic – Wonderlic

DROPPed
Andy Ard – What She Did
Apples In Stereo – #1 Hits Explosion
Asia Jazz Project f/ Molina Soleil & Aju – Sacred Paths
Candy Claws – In the Dream of the Sea Life
Coles Whalen – The Whistle Stop Road Record
Danny Shafer – One Morning
Devil Got Five – Devil Got Five
Dubskin – No End In Time
Emmitt-Nershi Band – New Country Blues
Erik Applegate – Red Skies
Gadzukes! – New & Used
In the Whale – Songs About You
Inactivists – Love Songs and Other Songs About Love
Jen Korte & the Loss – Jen Korte & the Loss
Los Rojos Calientes – Corazon
M. Pyres & New Past Tense – Apart The Echo
Martin Gilmore – Martin Gilmore
Mary Louise Buirgy & Pamela Robinson – A Call To Prayer
Post Paradise – Here to Anywhere
Yonder Mountain String Band – The Show

KAFM (Grand Junction)
1. Stray Grass – Written in the Stars
2. Mollie O’Brien and Rich Moore – Saints & Sinners
3. The North 17th Street Band – Dirt on the Tires
3. White Water Ramble – All Night Drive
4. Bobby Walker – Way Back When
4. The Blue Canyon Boys – Mountain Bound
5. Head for The Hills – Head for the Hills
5. John McVey – Unpredictable
5. Otis Taylor – Clovis People Vol. 3

KCSU (Fort Collins)
1.  Fierce Bad Rabbit- Spools of Thread
2.  Act So Big Forest Compilation- Volume 1, Triton
2.  Brett Brady – After All
2.  China Venture – Blows the Fuck Up
2.  Fly and Family Stone- Demo

KGNU (Boulder)
1. Nathaniel Rateliff – In Memory of Loss
2. Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore – Saints & Sinners
3. Otis Taylor – Clovis People, Vol. 3
4. Great American Taxi – Reckless Habits
5. Blue Canyon Boys – Mountain Bound
5. Danielle Ate the Sandwich – Two Bedroom Apartment
5. Halden Wofford & the Hi-Beams – Sinners and Saints
5. Haunted Windchimes – Honey Moonshine
5. Jeff Finlin – The Tao of Motor Oil
5. Lonesome Traveler – Looking for A Way
5. Paper Bird – When the River Took Flight
5. Romano Paoletti – Story of a Lifetime

KRCC (Colorado Springs)
1.  Apples In Stereo – Travellers in Space and Time
2.  Apples In Stereo – #1 Hits Explosion
3.  Big Jim Adam & John Stilwagen – Back in My Hometown
4.  the Reminders – Recollect
5.  the Changing Colors – Ghost of Red Mountain
6.  Eric Shively – Eden’s Light

KRFC (Fort Collins)
1.  Fierce Bad Rabbit – Spools of Thread
2.  Brad Goode – Tight Like This
2.  Nathaniel Rateliff – In Memory of Loss
2.  Halden Wofford and the Hi Beams – Sinners and Saints
3.  Musketeer Gripweed – Dyin’ Day
3.  Mollie O’Brien and Rich Moore – Saints & Sinners
4.  Boulder Acoustic Society – Champion of Disaster
5.  Jeff Finlin – The Tao of Motor Oil
6.  Danielle Ate the Sandwich – Two Bedroom Apartment
7.  The Lynn Baker Quartet – Azure Intention
7.  Grant Gordy – Grant Gordy
7.  Paper Bird – When the River Took Flight

KUNC (Greeley)
1.  Andy Hackbarth – the Last Love Song
2. Grant Gordy – Grant Gordy
3.  Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore – Saints & Sinners
4.  Jerry Palmer – Cherry Picking

KUVO (Denver)
1.  Lynn Baker Quartet – Azure Intention
2.  Greg Harris Vibes Quintet – Glass Gold
3.  Adam Bodine Trio – Blue Mud
3.  Brad Goode – Tight Like This
4.  Dominant 7 & the Jazz Arts Messengers – Fourteen Channels
4.  Erik Applegate – Red Skies
4.  Jeff Jenkins – The Healing

KVCU (Boulder)
1. Munley & the Lepercalians – Petr & the Wulf
2. Overcasters – The Whole Sea is Raging
3. Apples In Stereo – Travellers in Space and Time
4. Don’ts and Be Carefuls – Risk Assessment
4. Otem Rellik – Elephant Graveyard
4. Paper Bird – When the River Took Flight
4. Slim Cessna’s Auto Club – Buried Behind the Barn

KVNF (Paonia)
1.  Paper Bird – When the River Took Flight
2.  Nathaniel Rateliff – In Memory of Loss
3.  Blue Canyon Boys – Mountain Bound
3.  Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore – Saints & Sinners
4.  Otis Taylor – Clovis People, Vol. 3
5.  Gabrielle Louise – Mirror the Branches
5.  Halden Wofford & the Hi-Beams – Sinners and Saints
5.  Romano Paoletti – Story of a Lifetime

The Colorado Sound
1. Fierce Bad Rabbit – Spools of Thread
2. the Heyday – Till We See the Sun
3. Halden Wofford & the Hi Beams – Sinners and Saints
4. Boulder Acoustic Society – Champion of Disaster
4. Brad Goode – Tight Like This
4. Chris Thompson – The Road Ahead
4. Lynn Baker Quartet – Azure Intention
4. Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore – Saints & Sinners

So What’sup with CPR?

I got a very interesting email from a long time friend in public radio tonight.

Here it is … I’ve elected to not disclose the author, unless he wants to come on here and do it.    But his email to me does present some interesting issues that those of us involved in ANY kind of radio should pay attention to — public radio or otherwise.  We’re not in radio-Kansas anymore Toto….

Here’s the email:

Chris and friends in the Fort:

I’m not sure if you’ve seen this, but if you haven’t, you should:
Rating Outlook On Colorado Public Radio s Series 2002 Revenue Bonds Revised To Negative

8.2 million dollars in debt.  With a bond rating downgrade, all they can seem to do is re-finance their debt.

I hope the impact on community radio stations around the region will be minimal.  With the economy in terrible shape, Colorado Public Radio’s (CPR) need to sell their Ruby Hill property (the old KVOD location) in today’s real estate climate, and a years-long attempt (with no takers) to sell-off their 1340 AM signal in today’s radio world (CPR bought 1340 for 4.2 million dollars), there’s no place but DOWN from here for CPR.   The downturn goes to the core of operations as CPR staff morale is reportedly down.   Recently, staff began meeting with senior management to discuss items such as “benefits”; items that once seemed untouchable.  Beware of the possible fallout.

Why should everyone else in the public radio world in Colorado be concerned?

CPR is the largest public radio entity in the Rocky Mountain West, a prestigious distinction which can also translate into something much less attractive when finances start to fall apart.  The negative CPR bond rating blowback could make it more difficult for (smaller) public radio entities in the region, when they attempt to secure funding for larger ticket items (capital expenditures for equipment, etc.).

Questions can arise, such as:

–  If the region’s largest public radio entity is a financial risk, why should major lenders or investors (of CPR bonds) invest in smaller budgeted stations?

–  Aren’t smaller public stations naturally a higher risk than an entity the size of CPR?  Or

–  can smaller stations present a “mean and lean” proposal that can secure needing funding?

In this financial climate, it behooves smaller community stations to ask these questions and try to answer them honestly. Stations with solid ties to the communities they serve, with loyal local underwriting accounts, have a good start.  It’s a key part of this puzzle.  Here’s hoping you can move ahead through the financial fog.

Best wishes,

So, where DOES that leave the rest of us?  Do we have a product that people trust, that they want, that the community we live in needs, that creates a sense of urgency to engage in, and that we can afford?

Worth thinking about in this era of media contraction.