KHUM

KHUM
City of license Cutten, California
Broadcast area Humboldt County, California
Branding 104.7 KHUM
Slogan Radio Without the Rules!
Frequency 104.7 MHz
Translator(s) 104.3 K282AD (Eureka)
First air date January 7, 1996
Format Freeform
ERP 50,000 watts
HAAT 808 meters
Class C
Facility ID 33653
Owner Lost Coast Communications
Webcast Listen Live
Website khum.com

KHUM is a commercial Freeform music radio station licensed to serve Cutten, California, broadcasting to Humboldt County, Mendocino County, as well as Eureka, Arcata, and Humboldt State University on 104.7 FM. KHUM also broadcasts on translator K282AD 104.3 FM in Eureka. The studios are in Ferndale, California. Its parent company is Lost Coast Communications with sister stations KSLG-FM, KWPT and KXGO.[1]

History and operations

Founded by Jacqueline Debets and Cliff Berkowitz, KHUM signed on January 7, 1996.[2] Part of the station mandate is to "superserve" the local community in an entertaining way.

The station began webcasting in 1997, making it one of the early adopters of streaming radio, ceased in 2000 due to changes in stream law, but returned in 2005. The station began podcasting talk features and in-studio performances in 2007.

The program/music director is Mike Dronkers.[3] Station general manager,[4] CEO Patrick Cleary holds a controlling financial interest in KHUM.[5]

Programming

Past and present air staff include Kevin L. Hoover, Hank Sims, Lila Nelson, Michael Moore, Pam Long, Matt Brunner, and Gary Franklin.[6] Air staff also included "Digital" Dan Lawrence, who lost part of his throat to cancer and used a computer voice simulator during his two radio programs.[7]

The regular weekday lineup includes Cliff In The Morning, Mike Dronkers, Larry Trask, and Amy Berkowitz. Other hosts include Chas Lewis,[6] Darren Weiss, Ryan Lee, and Chas Lewis.

The music played includes rock, folk, lounge, funk, country/blugrass, blues, soul, motown, jazz, and chillout. While specialty shows focus on specific genres, the regular programming tends to mix genres during music blocks. Live in-studio performances are a common, as is local music.

The station's eclectic programming is chosen by the on-air hosts, making KHUM one of the only commercial freeform stations in the United States. While the station plays mostly music, it is often secondary to public service, extended interviews, and breaking local news.

Each year, KHUM undertakes a local Stop The Violence campaign, which includes three weeks of drive-time interviews with experts in and survivors of domestic abuse, street violence, and systemic violence.[8] KHUM maintains a Stop The Violence Fund at a local foundation, and annual donations are made to local charities.

KHUM broadcasts live coverage of the annual world championship Kinetic Sculpture Race, which was founded in Ferndale down the street the from studios.[9]

Awards

KHUM has won numerous national awards for production and programming, including an Edward R. Murrow Award from the Radio-Television News Director Association for its broadcast series, Picking Up: Meth on the North Coast,[2][10] an NAB Crystal Radio Award for public service on June 12, 2006,[11] as well as several awards for commercial writing and production.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Lost Coast Communications launches documentary series on marijuana, Redwood Times, February 7, 2012, accessed 13 June 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 KHUM to celebrate 15 Years On The Air, Humboldt Beacon, December 30, 2010, accessed 13 June 2013
  3. ↑ Mike Dronkers - Funk Prophet, KHUM, accessed 13 June 2013
  4. ↑ Sims, Hank, Lost Coast Communications Welcomes Tom Newhouse as new General Manager, Lost Coast Outpost, June 5, 2013, accessed 13 June 2013.
  5. ↑ Doran, Bob, KHUM hits the decade mark, North Coast Journal, January 5, 2006, accessed 13 June 2013
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Beech, Kai, KHUM tunes in on 15th birthday bash, Tri-City Weekly, January 4, 2011, accessed 13 June 2013
  7. ↑ Hastings, Deborah, Man Who Lost His Voice to Cancer Becomes Digital Disc Jockey, Los Angeles Times, February 1, 1998, accessed 13 June 2013
  8. ↑ HSU and KHUM Kick-Off Annual Stop the Violence Campaign Humboldt State University, accessed 13 June 2013
  9. ↑ Kinetic Grand Championship, Kinetic Universe, accessed 13 June 2013
  10. ↑ KHUM series earns Edward R. Murrow award, Eureka Times-Standard, March 31, 2007
  11. ↑ NAB Education Foundation Announces Service to America Winners , Radio Currents Online - May 1–7, 2006

External links

Coordinates: 40°07′16″N 123°41′31″W / 40.121°N 123.692°W