Save jazz programming in Pgh Tell YEP they need to keep

[tigereye]

a jazz format along with NPR! Pass it on.

[demodonkey]

1. Linky, please? nt

[tigereye]

2. [e-mail] is the address for wyep

I probably should start a petition or something or find out if there is one. They just announced the sale/ plan yesterday.


Here's the DUQ link with the story. Apparently another group (not sure if it was the DUQ group) had a higher bid than the WYEP consortium, but the Duquesne board felt there was more stability with the WYEP offer. Personally I thought it was kind of a kick in the teeth to the folks at DUQ and their backers, who worked so hard over all those years and built such a great station as well as raising so much money over the last year. :(

http://wduqnews.blogspot.com/2011/01/wduq-sold-program-format-not-finalized.html

[savejazz.info]

3. WDUQ being stolen by Duquesne University

WDUQ is Jazz in Pittsburgh. It is partially owned by the public and we were not consulted about this illegal sale. They are selling for less money then was offered by other groups. They are allowing the buyer to set terms on financing and to change the price they are willing to pay, reducing this figure by at least one million dollars. They expect students to work for free to help finance this deal. WAKE UP PITTSBURGH

[Divernan]

5. According to my link below, the student internships are paid.

That's pretty unusual - typically, students only get college credit for internships.

http://publicradiocapital.org/news/index.php?id=90

25 May 2011
In-depth NPR News & Information Radio to Launch in Pittsburgh on 90.5 FM

24/7 jazz programming to air on HD channel; focus is on sustainable business model

PITTSBURGH, PA –- Essential Public Media (EPM) today announced plans to launch a digital journalism hub on July 1, 2011, that features a public radio format emphasizing in-depth local news coverage and National Public Radio (NPR) programs, an expanded jazz schedule on a High Definition (HD) channel—on-line and on-air—and enhanced internship opportunities for student reporters, all built on a long-term, sustainable business model.


EPM, a local, wholly-owned subsidiary of independent public radio station WYEP-FM/Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting Corp., in partnership with Public Media Company (PMC), last January offered to buy WDUQ-90.5 FM from Duquesne University for $6 million in cash and other considerations. An asset purchase agreement signed on May 2 includes cash, a note, underwriting credits and

PAID INTERNSHIP (EMPHASIS ADDED)

commitments to Duquesne University journalism students, according to EPM chair Marco Cardamone.

The Richard King Mellon Foundation and Heinz Endowments previously announced investments of $1.5 million each toward purchase and operating costs. EPM recently received $250,000 from WYEP’s strategic reserve and another $250,000 from a donor advised fund managed by The Pittsburgh Foundation (TPF). Additional requests have been made to TPF, and a dialogue is continuing with other leading foundations in Pittsburgh.

[Divernan]

4. Your link is from last January: here's a May 25th update.

http://publicradiocapital.org/news/index.php?id=90

There is a great deal more information at the link, which is a press release, including plans for jazz programming.

"The 30-day Federal Communications Commission (FCC) public comment period regarding the purchase continues until June 9, 2011. Pending FCC approval of the license transfer application, the format change is planned for July 1.


WHY NEWS AND INFORMATION
Pittsburgh is one of only two U.S. cities in the top 35 radio markets without a full-service NPR news and information station, according to NPR. National research also shows full-service public radio stations consistently outperform split-format stations in terms of community service and audience growth—essential to long-term sustainability. WDUQ currently airs NPR news magazines and local news; about 60 percent of the programming is jazz music.


“Current business models for journalism are eroding as the traditional media landscape continues to be disrupted by the Internet, digital technologies and changing consumer behavior,” said Cardamone. “Yet a significant need remains to provide listeners with in-depth coverage of local, national and global issues impacting their lives. It is our vision and intent to fill that void with cross-platform news and information programming.


“EPM will view local and regional life through a wide-angle lens to spot important stories that are not being told. Our focus is on quality, non-partisan news told by professional journalists that is accurate, comprehensive and compelling. We also intend to include stories offered by citizen and student journalists to engage the community in dialogue and action,” said Cardamone.

[Divernan]

6. Here's the jazz format currently stated by the purchasers.

PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS (from a press release, not a published article)

Jazz programming, currently airing about 100 hours per week on 90.5 FM, expands to 174 hours per week through three channels; HD radio, on-air and on-line:

•Jazz will be broadcast 24/7 on a companion HD channel and Internet audio stream;

EPM PLANS TO OFFER A VOUCHER PROGRAM FOR MEMBER LISTENERS TO HELP THEM PURCHASE HD RECEIVERS.
(My emphasis added)

•EPM will continue the production of JazzWorks, the U.S.’s only public radio jazz program originating from Pittsburgh.

•EPM will devote six hours of jazz programming every Saturday night on 90.5 FM.

•Live jazz events will be recorded for broadcast, celebrating the city’s jazz heritage and current scene.

•A jazz calendar of events will be posted on-line.

•Jazz reports and features will air on 90.5 FM

http://publicradiocapital.org/news/index.php?id=90

[savejazz.info]

7. Liars and thieves

EPM will say lots of things in a press release but what is not said is more important.

They said they were going to pay $6 million and now they will only pay $5 million and the university has to supply partial financing in return for UNPAID internships. It states they will attempt to find funding for the internships but if they are unsuccessful they will be unpaid. Don't hold your breath on them finding any more money.

They said they would probably try to come up with $50 vouchers but where not sure when interviewed. Vouchers for HD radios. HD is not the main channel and requires special equipment to pick up the signal when available.

They state 174 hours of jazz programming and have the nerve to count on-line as broadcasting hours. Currently WDUQ has 100+ hours of Jazz programming on the main channel. They have online broadcasting 24 hours a day.

EPM plans SIX hours of jazz programming on the main channel. SIX not 100+ not 42 hours requested by the public and certainly NOT 174 hours just SIX!!!!!

EPM plans to keep JAZZWORKS. Good move it make a profit for WDUQ. But they have told the host/originator that his services are no longer needed as he is also the the Jazz Executive Producer for the station. They will keep the show but not the host and simply syndicate streaming music to stations that do not have the record collection of WDUQ.

The Jazz calendar is already online but this is radio so it would be nice to hear the jazz calendar like we do now. This would require discjockeys whom they are eliminating.

Without live on-air broadcasting of Jazz the Jazz calendar becomes ineffective. Why would a Jazz musician come to Pittsburgh if there is no live venue to advertise on. Currently WDUQ promotes all Jazz in Pittsburgh. As a club owner how do I get the word out on attractions without a live venue?

All NPR means you need signal from NPR and no discjockeys.

Minimize overhead, maximize your non-profits and siphon that out in salaries to EPM execs. Sure Jazz dies, the station will go up for sale in a couple of years, but at least EPM will have made a basket of money and spent very little.

It seems EPM said a lot of things to Pittsburgh based foundations that are supplying the majority of financing for the deal. These are the same foundations that have spend millions annually to support Jazz as a integral component to every regional development plan.

[demodonkey]

8. I do not have an HD radio, and especially not in any vehicle I drive.

When I am on the road I want music, not blah-blah.

If I could afford it I would get an XM radio (and subscription) but alas, I can't.

Without DUQ playing jazz I guess I will switch to WQED but I really prefer jazz to classical most of the time when on the road.

RIP, WDUQ.

:cry: