KEXP

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KEXP (formerly KCMU) is a public radio station based in Seattle, Washington, that specializes in independent and alternative rock programmed by its disc jockeys. Its broadcasting license is owned by the University of Washington, which operates the station in a partnership with Paul Allen's Experience Music Project.

For the majority of its schedule, KEXP broadcasts an eclectic mix of primarily alternative music. The station also features weekly specialty programs dedicated to particular musical genres, including rockabilly, world music, hip hop, electronica, punk, and alternative country. Live, in-studio performances by artists are also regularly featured.

KEXP is broadcast in the Seattle area on 90.3 FM; on the Internet via streaming audio [1]; and on PanAmSat's Galaxy 10R satellite [2].

KEXP's streaming costs are covered by the University of Washington (UW), which also provides most of the Internet technology used by the station. KEXP is often a testing ground for the university’s Computing and Communications department, leading to features not found by other stations. In addition, music licensing fees associated with internet radio are covered by the station's affiliation with National Public Radio. The association and financial help by these two organizations have allowed KEXP to experiment with its online offerings.

Contents 1 History 2 Website 3 Tax Return Forms 4 Former DJs 5 Current DJs 6 External links 7 References

[edit] History

In 1972, KEXP started operations as KCMU, a small album rock station staffed by University of Washington students that broadcast at 90.5 FM to the UW campus. (The "CMU" in its call letters referred to the abbreviation of the campus's Communications Building, the station's home.) The UW also owns the NPR affiliate, KUOW (94.9).

In 1975, its signal strength was boosted to 182 watts, up from the initial 10, carrying the signal off campus for the first time.

In 1981, under the direction of Jon Kertzer, KCMU turned to its listening audience for public funding after the UW's budget was cut. KCMU played mostly indie rock but also was the first station to play rap artists like Grandmaster Flash. Throughout the late 1980s, the station tapped into Seattle's burgeoning music scene. Members of local bands Soundgarden and Mudhoney worked as volunteer DJs as did both Jonathan Poneman and Bruce Pavitt, the founders of Sub-Pop. During these years, Billboard Magazine called KCMU "one of the most influential commercial-free stations in the country."

From 1983–1985, Kerry Loewen (former station manager at KFJC-FM) was station manager.

In late 1985 Chris Knab (former owner of Aquarius Records in San Francisco) became station manager. Mr. Knab moved the station away from alternative rock-only programming, adding jazz, hip hop, world music and other genres to its lineup.

In 1986, KCMU switched frequencies to 90.3 FM and upped its transmitter signal to 400 watts, increasing its broadcast radius to 15 miles.

In 1992, KCMU dropped many of its volunteer DJs and elected to run syndicated programming. Some listeners and DJs considered this a betrayal of KCMU's democratic mission, and formed a group called CURSE (Censorship Undermines Radio Station Ethics). A program called World Cafe, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was a particular bone of contention.

CURSE encouraged local KCMU supporters to stop donating money to the station in protest. Volunteer DJs who criticized the station's policies were fired, although a lawsuit from CURSE resulted in that policy being struck down by a United States District Court. World Cafe was dropped from KCMU's lineup in 1993, but none of the fired volunteer staff returned to the station.

KCMU hired its three full-time paid DJs in 1996, a move that cost several volunteer DJs and led to further complaints from some listeners who decried what they perceived as commercialization of the non-commercial radio station.

In 2000, KCMU started streaming uncompressed audio over the Internet. The kexp.org website was nominated for two Webby Awards in 2003, Best Radio Website and the People's Voice Award.

KCMU changed its name to KEXP in 2001. At the same time, it moved to a new studio near downtown Seattle, partnered with the Experience Music Project (EMP), and increased its power to 720 watts.

In 2004, KEXP started broadcasting on KXOT 91.7 FM in Tacoma, Washington, which extended the station's broadcast range to Olympia and the south Puget Sound region. Before then, KXOT was known as KBTC, was owned by Bates Technical College, and featured a classic rock format. Bates sold the station to Public Radio Capital for $5 million, and PRC leases it to KEXP.

As of 2005, the station has construction permits to increase the power of KEXP 90.3 FM from 720 watts to 3,300 W effective radiated power, and KXOT from 7,900 W to 39,000 W.

KEXP began podcasting their live, in-studio performances beginning with Seattle hip hop trio Boom Bap Project who appeared on 21 July 2005.

On 3 November 2005, KEXP announced it was terminating operation of KXOT 91.7 FM at the end of the calendar year. The agreement made with EMP in 2001 is set to expire, and the radio station is preparing to support increased operating costs with a smaller budget. [3]

On 10 March 2006, KEXP increased the power of its terrestrial frequency to 4,700 W effective radiated power. The signal is radiated in a cardioid pattern.

In May 2006, "KEXP’s Audioasis local music program announced a "community partnership" initiative "designed to create connections between KEXP listeners and deserving local charities. The hope is that these connections will result in an increase in awareness of the mission and work of local organizations and the impact they have on the larger community."

[edit] Website

In addition to features such as playlists and live streaming radio, KEXP's website includes an archive of all programs from the last two weeks as well as a massive collection of previous on-air live performances [4]. The performers in the collection are representative of the station's eclectic musical mix. These include national and international artists such as Patti Smith, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and They Might Be Giants and local Pacific Northwest artists such as Harvey Danger, The Long Winters, and Maktub.

KEXP's website was the first site on the internet to offer a 1.4 Mbit/s uncompressed stream of live radio. Innovations such as the uncompressed stream helped KEXP's website to win a Webby Award for best radio website in 2004. It had also been nominated for the same award in 2003 but failed to win.

[edit] Tax Return Forms

• 2004 Tax Return / Form 990 PDF
• 2003 Tax Return / Form 990 PDF
• 2002 Tax Return / Form 990 PDF

[edit] Former DJs

• Amanda Ruth
• Amanda Wilde [5]
• Andrew Goodwine (a.k.a. Spencer Cliss, Guy Smiley)
• Andy Taylor
• Barry Rourk
• Bette Noir
• Bonehead
• Brian Less
• Captain Skillet Weasel
• Cruella
• Crusty Twinkies
• Damon Creed
• Darren the Rat Boy
• Dave Ehrich
• Dave Voorhees
• Dawn Jewell
• Debbie Letterman (aka Debbie Pain on KJET)
• Dexter Fremont
• DJ Scene
• Drawing a Blank
• Eli Messinger
• George Seinfeld
• Greg Jaspan
• Guy On The Radio
• Jah Bernard
• Jeff Gilbert
• Jeff Schrader
• John Conner
• John George
• Hazel Motes
• Laura Weller
• Mark Iverson
• Marlee Walker
• Malibu Ken
• Marsh Gooch
• Mike Fuller
• Mr. Here
• Matt Nichols
• "Nasty-Nes" Rodriguez
• Neil Sussman
• Oby Gyn (aka Cecil Bates, aka Mike Katell)
• Paul Aleinikoff
• Peter Blecha
• Poptart
• Redskin
• Satana Fury
• Scott Vanderpool
• Stickboy
• Sue Doe
• Wendy

[edit] Current DJs

• Brian Foss [6]
• Cheryl Waters
• Darek Mazzone [7] [8]
• Don Slack
• DJ B-Mello
• DJ Chilly
• DJ Ethx
• DJ Riz Rollins [9]
• DJ Mr. Smith
• DJ Shannon
• Greg Vandy
• Jo
• John Richards
• Jon Kertzer
• Kevin Cole
• Kid Hops
• Larry Metro
• Larry Rose
• Leon Berman
• Michele Myers
• Mr. West [10]
• Quilty 3000 [11] (formerly "Mr. Quilty's Widow")
• Rachel
• Nick Turner [12]
• Troy Nelson

[edit] External links

• KEXP home page

[edit] References

• Julia Kingrey, Radio-free UW: KCMU moves off campus, University of Washington Daily, July 15, 1998
• Jeff DeRoche, Radio Ga-Ga: With Paul Allen's Money at Its Disposal, Does KCMU — Wai...KEXP Really Need Any More of Your Money? The Stranger, Apr 12–Apr 18, 2001
• Gene Johnson, Radio Station Bucks Trends, Finds Listeners, Associated Press, October 16, 2005
• Reid Davis, KEXP Seattle – What Music Radio Could Be, Paste Magazine online, undated, appears to date from 2002, accessed 12 Dec 2005
• Nina Shapiro, The Expensive Expansion of KEXP: It's globally popular and flush with donations, but Seattle's seminal eclectic-music radio station is under financial strain that is affecting morale Seattle Weekly, December 7–13, 2005.
• Ernest A. Jasmin, Flow of Tunes from KEXP Finally Stops in Tacoma, The News Tribune, February 3, 2006.
• Laura Foy & Tina Wood, Touring KEXP, Internet Radio Super Station, 10, March 13, 2006.
• Dana Bos & Liz Riley, Live Show Review: KEXP Audioasis Showcase: Thee Emergency, New Fangs, Sera Cahoone, the Fading Collection, and Daylight Basement, Three Imaginary Girls, May 2006.
• Dave Segal, Fired KEXP DJ Clears the Air, The Stranger, July 28, 2006. Interview with DJ Greg Jaspan.
• David T. Atkinson, CD Review, Live At KEXP Vol II, Glide Magazine, July 31, 2006.
• Best of Seattle 2006: Readers' Picks, Seattle Weekly, August 2, 2006.
• Rachel Shimp, Best of Seattle 2006: Critics' Picks, Seattle Weekly, August 2, 2006.
• Kyle O'Brien, Discovering Local Gems, The Oregonian, August 4, 2006.
• Rachel Shimp, Music Make U Lose Control, Seattle Weekly, August 8, 2006.
• Keenan Bowen, Audacity Limits, The Stranger, August 10–16, 2006.
• Audrey Hendrickson, Ghostland, Observed, Seattlest, August 14, 2006.
• Jennifer Kelly, Various Artists: Live at KEXP, Vol. 2, Popmatters, August 22, 2006.