Dan Savage on KRCL Tonight

[More Prop 8] Tonight from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., KRCL-90.9's Troy Williams will host a conversation with Dan Savage*, editor of Seattle alternative newspaper The Stranger and a nationally syndicated sex advice columnist, on the station's public affairs program RadioActive.

Readers of City Weekly and Salt Blog might recognize the name. Savage was one of the first gay activists in the country to urge a total boycott of Utah (yeah, that's right. The whole state) the day after Californians passed Proposition 8 which bans same-sex marriage in their state. As is well-known by now, with the steady urging of the LDS hierarchy, members of the Mormon Church donated about $22 million to help pass the measure. Many of the biggest spenders live right here in Utah.

CW president John Saltas, who goes back years with Savage in the tight-knit community of altie papers, chose to drop Savage's sex column, which we had been running online. Saltas has explained his stand on the blanket boycott that Savage and others have been pushing, here and here.

I ran into Williams on a Main Street sidewalk earlier today. He promises the show will be lively. Williams, who is gay, told me he doesn't like the notion of a Utah boycott, nor does he support Saltas in his choice to drop Savage. "I want to heal the community," he told me, waving his arms in that big, expansive way of making a happy globe. Tune in, or better yet, call the show and be heard.

*That's Savage in the pix, though god knows how old that shot is. (Holly Mullen)

KRCL Meet & Greet Tomorrow

[Radio] No, City Weekly didn't receive an invite or even a media alert from KRCL 90.9 FM (guess they don't like us anymore), but this was forwarded to us from another local publication still in favor with the Community Radio Station:

KRCL 90.9 FM: New Hosts Meet Greet
Come and meet KRCL's three new hosts David Perschon, Ebay Hamilton and Brad Wheeler. Spend time with the voices that you listen to every weekday.
WHAT: New Hosts Meet Greet
WHERE: Pierpont Place, 163 Pierpont Ave
WHEN: Thursday, June 5, 7-9pm
LIVE MUSIC: Singer/Songwriter Brinton Jones of The Devil Whale

Stop in and give Dave, Ebay and Brad some encouragement--judging by the rantings of a handful of crank bloggers, they could probably use it. (Bill Frost)

The "Other KRCL" is Live

[Radio] Almost a month ago, City Weekly reported about UtahFM.org, an online radio station run by former KRCL 90.9 volunteers not thrilled with that station's new daytime direction (more on that in a moment). As of this morning, Utah Free Media is live and, well, strictly online--the number of people who listen to radio online grows every day, but it's still wee niche.

Right now, former KRCL show Melodius is on, to be followed at noon by something called The Come Monday Show With Brooke, "A comedy rock news talk show." OK, I'm intrigued. UtahFM is also hosting an open house at its Dakota Lofts (400 W. 200 South) basement studio this morning until 1 p.m.

Back on terrestrial KRCL, the new daytime lineup is finding a groove after a sleepy launch one week ago--the pace has picked up at least a little, and DJs Dave Perschon and Ebay Jamil Hamilton sound less tentative (but does it have to be sooo damn mellow all morning?). In the afternoons, Bad Brad Wheeler improved greatly between Monday and Friday, even if it still sounds like his previous KRCL blues/garage show with the occasional mandated playlist tune from upstairs. And the new daytime focus on local artists is the coolest development in SLC radio in years--that alone nearly wipes out all nagging complaints.

Drama aside, what you now have is two local stations playing quality music instead of just one. Not everyone is going to agree on that music (seriously, give me at least a couple of songs with an electric guitar and/or real snare drum in the morning), but it beats the hell out everything else on the dial. Let the bitching continue ... (Bill Frost)

The New KRCL: Day 1, Part 2

[Radio] After a snoozy morning launch with Dave and Ebay, Bad Brad Wheeler signed onto KRCL at 2 p.m. and rocked it up a bit--just as he did on his old Roots n Blues show. Actually, it IS his old Roots n Blues show, just longer, with some Smiths and Radiohead tunes thrown in.

Maybe the Grand New Radio Vision kicks in tomorrow, and today was only a test. Right? (Bill Frost)

The New KRCL: Day 1

[Radio] So far ... so sleepy. Really want to give the new guys (so far, Dave Perschon and Ebay Jamil Hamilton) a chance here, but KRCL 90.9's bold new plan for the daytime is really only inspiring me to crawl back into bed. Sure, it's all good, critic-proof music you're not going to hear anywhere else--but what's with the easy listening agenda? It's like naptime at the vinyl store.

Of course, Day 1's only half over; it wouldn't be fair to pass final judgement just yet. But unless somebody picks up the damned pace and quick, I for one ain't going to be awake to hear how the rest of Monday goes. (Bill Frost)

KRCL Update: Meet the Daily 3

[Radio] Remember the uproar over the January City Weekly story about changes going on at KRCL 90.9, specifically the hiring (as in, paid) of three weekday DJs to replace the 30-odd volunteer mash-up at the beloved community radio station? We finally have an update--not from the station, but from current Thursday Breakfast Jam host David Morrissey (no relation).

Morrissey runs the KRCL Facebook group; he sent out this bulletin to its 72 members today:

"So, here's the word ... The paid DJs you've all heard much about will take the studio beginning Monday, May 5. So you have about a month left with your (remaining) favorite volunteer daytime hosts.

The three DJs who have been selected are all current volunteers and talented programmers. So, that's encouraging. They'll certainly have a tough road to hoe, however. There's a lot of people who are still rightfully bitter. I wish them good luck.

Specifically, they are:

Ebay [Jamil], host of Rhythm Kitchen

Bad Brad [Wheeler], host of Wednesday & Thursday Roots 'n Blues

David [P], host of Friday & Saturday Breakfast Jams

If you have any other thoughts you'd like to share with the KRCL staff or boardmembers, I believe the email address is changes@krcl.org.

As I'll be losing my show in about a month and am not sure what my relationship will be with KRCL other than as a listener, I'll be bowing out as group 'officer' here on Facebook. Thanks for your support for all of the daytime programming and volunteer programming in general."

These are three excellent choices; disgruntled listeners should give them a chance. If not, there's always the new online-radio startup at UtahFM.org, headed up by former KRCL daytime volunteers. (Bill Frost)

What Women Want

[Talk Show Time] If you're not positively sick of every person with a pulse weighing in on Hillary and/or Barack, then tune in tomorrow (Tuesday, March 18) to KRCL (90.9 FM) and get an earful.

I will be yakking it up about the Democratic presidential candidates with frequent Salt Lake Tribune op-ed columnist Barb Guy (Obama supporter) and Donald Dunn, chairman of the Hillary Clinton campaign in Utah.

We'll be live with host Brandie Balken on the public affairs program RadioActive from noon to 1 p.m. Originally, we were asked to offer a female point of view on the two Democrats--afternoon chick talk. But then how would we explain the presence of Donald Dunn?

Just to put everything up front, I remain a Clinton supporter--though I'm starting to read the tea leaves on this deal. No matter how many lives Hillary has, the delegate count is not looking good for her. But I always love the scrappy underdog in a fight--so if you tune in, I promise to make a good case for Hills.

And the illustration I've included here about sums up the way the world feels about Clinton. Bitchy Devil or Dreamy Angel--nothing in between. (Holly Mullen)

Imposters Reunited!

[Radio] With all of the turmoil going on over changes at KRCL 90.9 FM, it's great to hear Drive-Time Imposters Renee & Dawn finally reunited this Wednesday afternoon--even if it is, in all likelyhood, for a farewell show.

R&D are among the 30-odd KRCL volunteer programmers who will be replaced by regular, paid daytime DJs in the coming months, and few of us on the outside (and few on the inside) know exactly when the current daytime folks will be outta there.

Though the pair often brush off their own show as a disorganized giggle-fest, Drive-Time Imposters' hyper-personalized mix of indie rock and international oddities will be sorely missed in City Weekly's offices, and no doubt everywhere else along the Wasatch--at least among that all-too-small chunk of discerning radio listeners with tastes beyond Fall Out Boy and Toby Keith.

If you're one of the few people who've not read or posted (several) comments on the KRCL saga, catch up:

City Weekly: Dead Air
Salt Blog: Follow-Up
KRCL: Blog of Fury

(Bill Frost)

KRCL Update: Get Ready for Baby Boom Radio

[Focus Group Hell] A consultant hired by KRCL 90.9 FM presented findings of his focus group research to the station’s board of directors last night (see City Weekly's Jan. 31 cover). The upshot: Focus groups really like listening to the Beatles, Stones, Doors, Dylan and Hendrix.

The KRCL focus groups can’t stand indie (“too crazy"), or Americana (too “twangy”). They really hate black music. (Those rap people use bad words.)

Babs De Lay, one of the KRCL’s volunteer programmers who attended the board meeting at Horizonte, wanted to know if the consultant had asked any black people?

The consultant’s response: How many minorities, are there really in the Salt Lake valley? (That brought grumbling from some at the back of the room, considering KRCL has for years been telling granting agencies that serving Utah’s minority communities was the reason for its existence.)

It’s all a numbers game, Peter Dominowski, principal of Market Trends Research, told volunteers and the board: Don’t get all high and mighty thinking you are providing some special service.

“Public service equals audience. They are synonymous,” he said. “Getting people to listen is the mission.”

Those who hoped focus groups of KRCL listeners would behave any differently than focus groups anytime, anywhere, were sorely disappointed. The pinheads who participate in focus groups said what they always say:

They want music that is “comfortable and familiar.” Music that is “appropriate” to listen to at work; that’s “uplifting and calming.” They don’t like to be challenged, or “work too hard” listening to the radio. As one focus group participant put it: “Different kinds of music, I just don’t like them.”

Focus groupies do like to hear the same songs over and over again. People don’t form emotional attachments to music, or a music station, without repetition, said Dominowski. And those emotional attachments are what make listeners contribute to fund drives.

KRCL should “adapt” techniques used by commercial stations. It should play “time tested artists,” and avoid “stressful,” “odd” or “polarizing” music during primetime, said Dominowski, who has been consulting public radio since 1985, providing focus group magic to more than 100 stations in the past two years.

Dominowski knows what the people want, because, with KRCL’s program director, he played music to six focus groups of 10 people each in late November. All participants were KRCL listeners. Two groups said KRCL was their favorite station. The other four were made up of people who sometimes listened to KRCL, but liked other stations better.

The guinea pigs were played five different two-and-a-half-minute music mixes, then asked to rate the music and give their thoughts.

Focus groups weren’t played any blues, jazz, or R&B. Those music types had already been excluded by analysis of Arbitron data measuring KRCL’s historic listener numbers.

• The “heritage rock” mix of Beatles et al. had the broadest appeal across age and gender lines. (“All bands that I know,” said a focus groupie. “Felt like an old friend.”)
  
• The Americana mix (including Lyle Lovett and Alison Krauss) got the thumbs down.
  
• The indie mix (including Tegan and Sara and TV on the Radio) was “not uplifting” said focus groupies, who somehow were scared by the poppy The Thermals.
  
• Older listeners hated the “urban contemporary” mix including M.I.A. and The Roots.
  
• On the other hand, the “modern adult contemporary” mix (including Josh Ritter and Feist) was “well accepted.”

The consultant’s bottom line: KRCL should play a mix of “heritage rock” and “modern adult contemporary.” In the future, the difference between KRCL and the oldies station will be that KRCL will play the B sides.

Dominowski said the sound would be like (all together now) WXPN in Philadelphia. That just happens to be the direction station management was hinting at more than one year before the consultant ever set foot in Salt Lake City.

Much of Wednesday’s presentation to the board was made up of bar graphs segmenting KRCL’s listeners in categories like “loyalty by half hour.” Several volunteers noted that, according to the Arbitron charts, KRCL’s most successful current programs were playing exactly the types of music that would be banished from daytime in the proposed format switch. ("That's half of what we play," one said.) Currently KRCL's days from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. have among the highest listener “loyalty.”

But the consultant said people tuning into today’s popular KRCL programs were “fringe” listeners who listened only to a few programs and would never become “loyal.”

In addition to the recommended format change (KRCL should be all-music “minimally” from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays), the consultant recommended KRCL hire paid programmers.

Also, that KRCL’s music director program all music that is played during the days. No more having “inconsistent” DJs picking the music that goes out over the air.

Formally, KRCL’s board of directors won’t vote on the recommendations until Feb. 7, two days after a scheduled meeting of volunteers to discuss the proposal. But in fact the train has left the station. KRCL is already advertising for a new music director. Volunteer daytime station DJs were given their walking papers two weeks ago. It now appears that station directors agreed to hire paid DJs sometime this summer when KRCL signed a contract with the Corporation with Public Broadcasting, the agency paying for the station makeover.

All but lost in the general confusion and hubbub of the consultant’s presentation Wednesday was one of the his last recommendations: “Weekend primetime is just as important,” read the phrase projected on the wall.

Meaning that KRCL’s remaining volunteer DJs—the weekenders who thought they’d been saved in the switchover—may want to start getting nervous. (Ted McDonough)

KRCL ... WTF?

[Radio] The stupidest move KRCL 90.9 FM has ever made, besides giving me my own show for a year and a half? Instructing volunteer DJs to not give the names of local venues where the bands and artists they're spinning on their shows are performing.

It's been going on for a few months now; according to some volunteers, they've been told that it's an FCC regulation--every other radio station across the country, commercial or not, does it, but now it's suddenly "illegal." It's ridiculous to hear a DJ on the air say "And that was Galactic--you can see them ... somewhere in west Salt Lake in February." What's next? Don't hint at the date? What other station is going to give out such info on bands actually worth hearing? If you can name another station that plays music worth hearing, I'd love to know about it. Ditto if you can find that bullshit FCC regulation.

Other volunteers have speculated that KRCL just wants to punish venues that don't underwrite the station--which sounds vaguely evil and not at all what a "community" radio station should be doing, so I'd rather not believe that one.

Fact: KRCL is the best music station in the market, period. Another fact: The masses don't like good music, so the station isn't exactly a ratings juggernaut--but its audience is fiercely loyal. This "Nix the Venue" practice is testing that loyalty, which is always a dumb-ass move. Plus, most of the indie artists KRCL plays survive on touring, not album sales. Why cut them off, too?

If you agree, let the station know--call 'em, e-mail, drop by the studios: KRCL, 1971 West North Temple; 801-363-1818; Contact@krcl.org. But, if I'm alone in this thinking, go ahead and let it slide--you can still find free concert info in City Weekly, after all. (Bill Frost)