Steve Penn: Radio station’s programming change a sad refrain for jazz, blues fans
A recent programming change by Kansas City’s community radio station is being called a business decision, but it represents yet another setback for the local jazz and blues scene.
And the move seems to run counter to the station’s mission statement.
According to that mission statement, KKFI 90.1 FM seeks to “stimulate, educate and entertain our audience, to reflect the diversity of the local and world community, and to provide a channel for individuals and groups, issues and music that have been overlooked, suppressed and under-represented by other media.”
Despite what it says, KKFI recently reduced the time devoted to two of the most underserved genres of music in town — jazz and blues.
In the past, jazz programming aired on KKFI from noon to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday. After the cut, which began in March, the hour of music from noon to 1 p.m. was replaced with syndicated and public affairs programming.
And blues, which had aired on KKFI from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, now will end at 5:30, with the last half-hour filled by a syndicated news program.
Dorothy Hawkins, known as “Lady D,” is a programmer for KKFI and is the station’s former interim general manager. Hawkins thinks the station is reneging on a promise.
“As a community radio station, KKFI is getting away from the mission statement,” Hawkins said. “Whether your show brings in a lot of money is not supposed to be a consideration. It’s all supposed to be about these underserved genres of music. That has nothing to do with who we’re supposed to be.
“If we’re tying to increase listeners, I still don’t understand the logic behind alienating the few loyal listeners that we do have. That logic totally escapes me.”
Richard Pirodsky, CEO and executive director of KKFI, defended the moves, saying the goal of the station is to give the public what it needs, what it wants and what it’s willing to support.
“If we can’t get people to support a certain type of programming, we can’t go broke trying to put on programming,” Pirodsky said. “We have a fiduciary responsibility to do what we can to keep this station running.”
Since the radio station is trying to move and is planning to acquire a new transmitter, the need to raise more money has been heightened like never before, he said.
“As a result, all aspects of the station come under scrutiny.” Pirodsky said. “This includes programming. Programming took a hard look and wanted to try something new. They wanted to see if they could generate more revenue. It’s unfortunate that we had to cut back on jazz.
“I don’t want anybody to think that the current schedule is written in stone and will never change. Part of public radio’s mission is take the pulse of the public and find out what it is they need, they want and what it is they’re willing to support. To be sure, when the jazz community decides that they want to bring to our attention their support for this programming … with an increase in donations, that’s something the station will have to consider.”
KKFI’s online Donor Edge profile with the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation states that the station mostly receives “positive feedback” from the public.
“But we carefully consider all complaints in order to evaluate how we’re doing,” the profile reads. “We keep a file of incoming comments to evaluate the success of our programming.”
It will be interesting to know where Pirodsky will file these comments and complaints.
According to that same profile, 1,500 people a year now help KKFI with its fundraising needs. Something tells me a whole lot of those donors are jazz and blues fans who now will be singing the blues.
To reach Steve Penn, call 816-234-4417 or send e-mail to spenn@kcstar.com.
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