AMPLIFY DC Community Radio Mixer, SATURDAY JUNE 1ST!!

Join DC's indie music fans, media pros, neighborhood leaders, and entrepreneurs in creating a community *broadcast* radio station for showcasing local music and public affairs 3 p.m. Saturday June 1, 2013 @ Fire Station Restaurant & Brewing Company, 8131 Georgia Avenue Silver Spring, MD. 

Discover how to support the music of DC, MD, and VA as an on-air host, member, or sponsor of AMPLIFY DC.  Income and ownership opportunities are available.

10 Thoughts: WPFW

Once again tensions have boiled to the surface among listeners, announcers, staff, and management over upcoming program changes announced for Washington's WPFW 89.3 FM.  The non-commercial station and long-time voice of 'jazz and justice' in D.C. has seemingly operated for years on the brink of collapse as its parent company -- the Pacifica Foundation -- asserted more influence over programming and operations with individual affiliates.  Pacifica's finances are also shaky for reasons I believe to be largely self-inflicted.  However, it's individuals actively involved with WPFW who are mostly responsible for the station's predicament.  As I write this op-ed, there are rival factions within the station defined by complex and sometimes overlapping racial and ideological lines busily circling their respective wagons in response to the latest changes.

I'm reluctant to take a side in this internecine squabble because a) people I know on both sides of the issue are making valid arguments, b) I don't have the authority or inclination to act as arbitrator or mediator, and c) first-hand experience with WPFW instructs me not to volunteer solutions for a hot mess.  Nevertheless, I've compiled a brief list of my initial reactions to the station's latest melodrama: 

• WPFW retains enough autonomy to address its challenges
• the station's culture is dysfunctional
• the amount of programming devoted to local issues continues to steadily and precipitously decline
• Pacifica appears to be making station policy contrary to its core principles
• the station's management and station board members lack imagination and nerve, if not tact
• station resources are vastly underutilized
• the new schedule's evening jazz programming is an improvement
• its listener base is aging, shrinking, and contributing less.
• many of WPFW's 'publics' (volunteers, listeners, artists, etc.) put personal agendas ahead of the best interests of the station or its community of license
• the ongoing strife at WPFW symbolizes in the U.S., 'public' stations aren't so public; 'progressive' media isn't always progressive.

React 1480 AM WPWC Open House - Saturday, May 28

React 1480 AM WPWC is hosting an open house, Saturday, May 28, 11 a.m., of our studio located at 6621-A Electronic Drive in Springfield, VA.  This is a FREE event showcasing React's commitment to progressive radio art & culture in the Nation's Capitol.  Visitors will have opportunities on site to support React Radio as a Basic or Pioneer's Club member, as a program sponsor, or with an annual Business membership. 

Send an e-mail for more information on supporting React 1480 AM WPWC as a member or sponsor.

Do SOMETHING!!!

react Radio Open Conference Call - 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 11

React Radio is hosting an open conference call tomorrow night @ 9 p.m. to discuss the latest developments and opportunities.  For aspiring programmers, it's especially important that you participate in the phone conference if you're available, for we will announce our orientation period. 

The conference call is open to all who have expressed their support for react Radio and progressive radio art & culture in the Nation's Capitol.  We welcome your participation as a member, shareholder, and/or sponsor, and will discuss those alternatives during the conference call.  We ask that you R.S.V.P. with an e-mail reply if you can't participate tomorrow night so that we may keep you informed.

The phone number is (305) 848-8888; the conference code will be posted here and to our Facebook group, React Radio WPWC 1480 AM, tomorrow.

react Radio Network 1480 AM Announces $375K Offering

D.C. Radio Network's 'Deathstar Project' Unveiled at MLK, Jr.-Day Meetup

Plans for a listener-supported, free-form broadcast radio outlet featuring progressive content produced in the Washington, D.C. region were put on display in Shaw/Mid-City during Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday before a group of local investors, media & music pros, and community activists.  react radio's William Tucker, Jr. and Kymone Freeman outlined the network's business plan, including its mission, marketing strategy, and capital requirements, then followed with a Q&A session and open call for programmers/radio hosts.

So much positive energy flowed from those in attendance that the event lasted well beyond its scheduled 3 hours.  Two items that generated the biggest reaction were a soundstage/studio/public venue based in Anacostia, and a possible offering of shares in the venture directly to the public.  The soundstage idea merges a 'black box' performance space with an on-air studio as inspired by CBS Television City in Hollywood and, in an ironic twist, Radio One's old WOL 1450 AM studio at 4th and H Streets in Northeast D.C.  Opening react's studios to the public is seen as key to fulfilling a broadcaster's obligation to their community; a value abandoned long ago by many radio station owners and networks.

As the meetup drew to a close, the venture made significant progress toward its campaign's first stage goal of $50,000 before Spring 2011.  Efforts are now focused on setting up the temporary remote studio in anticipation of starting broadcasts on WPWC 1480 AM in the next few weeks.    

Call for Radio Hosts

A free-form broadcast radio network based in Washington, D.C. is accepting proposals for its 2011-12 program schedule. regional electronic arts and community telecom, react, is opening 360+ 'prime-time' (daytime) hours per month on an AM affilate in the nation's 9th rated radio market for  music- and public affairs-themed programs. Proposals for pre-recorded, 'live', or syndicated productions featuring local content from:

• performing artists (including DJs, spoken word artists, and comedians)
• educators & schools
• political activists
• non-profit organizations
• journalists
• webcasters
• recording labels
• event promoters
• small businesses & entrepreneurs

representing progressive politics and related music genres -- including Jazz, Neo-soul, House, Blues, Alternative Hip-Hop & Rock -- will be accepted. 

Early submissions will be given highest priority in scheduling, with time slots awarded on a first-come basis.  Programmers will be required to participate in the network's membership campaigns, but also permitted the option to use their time slots for fundraising on behalf of charitable causes, or for commercial purposes, earning income from securing 3rd party sponsorships and/or promotional agreements.  Financing is available.

To obtain a copy of the network guidelines and an application form, send an e-mail with your full contact information (full name, address, telephone number) to: neon_noodley2k@yahoo.com.  Make sure to enter 'react radio host opportunities' in the subject box.