Public Radio Reaching Out Virtually To Keep Their Communities Connected

All For One

Public Radio Triple A stations are making a special effort to connect musicians (many of them locally based) with organizations that can help them during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as with their fans and station listeners. 

Below are just some of the things stations are doing -- thanks to PARAGON MEDIA STRATEGIES' MIKE HENRY for input on this story.

MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO Triple A KCMP (89.3 THE CURRENT)/MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL morning hosts JILL RILEY and ANNA have been interviewing artists around the country about how they’re experiencing all the COVID 19-induced change around us. They feature different artists each morning.

NORTH TEXAS PUBLIC MEDIA Triple A KKXT (KXT 91.7)/DALLAS has introduced FUNKY FRIDAY from 3-5p. In addition, there is a daily feature at 7a called a SOUNDTRACK SONG chosen by APD/Morning host BRAD DOLBEER since folks are watching so many movies from home.

UNIVERISTY OF PENNSYLVANIA Triple A WXPN/PHILADELPHIA (Triple A) is offering text-based interviews on their website and socials, eight new Spotify playlists curated by their hosts and musicians called XPN QUARANTINE PLAYLISTS, and a digital and on-air interview series with artists conveying the impact of COVID-19 on their careers. 

FRIENDS OF KEXP Triple A KEXP/SEATTLE is working in lots of requests and messages from listeners on-air. They are in the process of editing a back log of live performance videos that they’ve captured and will be posting three new live sessions a week. They’ve also put together a Virtual Events Calendar to connect listeners with artists and also to give listeners an opportunity to experience live music. and are hosting some of these on their FACEBOOK page.

PITTSBURGH COMMUNITY BROADCASTING Triple A WYEP/PITTSBURGH is planning for some cool music specials, such as Former Live Concerts they've carried, Live & Direct Sessions, Artist Spotlights, specials on specific years of music, and some other things to roll out in APRIL.

I lieu of its spring fund drive WYEP we partnered with GREATER PITTSBURGH COMMUNITY FOOD BANK for a one-day campaign which netted 4,500 meals from station members. 

RADIO MILWAUKEE Triple A WYMS (88NINE RADIO MILWAUKEE)/MILWAUKEE has decided to offer special weekday and weekend programming. Some of the shows they are offering include SCHOOL OF ROCK WEEKDAY MORNINGS in the EVENING they are doing DINE AND DANCE -- a dance party while folks are all cooking. On SATURDAYS there will be KIDS DISCO at 9a.

LOUISVILLE PUBLIC MEDIA Triple A WFPK/LOUISVILLE has designated WEDNESDAYS MENTAL HEALTH DAY. From 9a-6p listeners may call to request a song that helps them deal with the stress, dedicate a song to someone feeling overwhelmed, or ask a question about the COVID-19 virus. 

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN COLORADO Triple A KJAC (THE COLORADO SOUND)//FT. COLLINS-DENVER is engaging with its listeners by asking them to send their favorite songs that lift their spirits. They are reading their submissions on the air. They are still doing live shifts so the hosts can relay important information to its listeners. And are keeping a Concert Calendar with details on all canceled shows and running list of artists that are streaming shows or doing something digitally.

COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO Triple A KVOQ (INDIE 102.3)/DENVER is helping artists by allowing local and national artists who are doing living room video shows to post them on the station website and Instagram and doing SKYPE artist interviews. They are also sharing with listeners the MUSICIAN’S RESOURCE GUIDE, a comprehensive list of organizations to help artists with their careers during this time with the coronavirus (COVID-19) disruption, as well as “10 Ways To Help DENVER’s Music Scene.”

STU-COMM Triple A WNRN/CHARLOTTESVILLE-RICHMOND has launched a new show HOME STUDIO SESSIONS that is populated by their friends in the local music community featuring live streamed sessions. They’ve also pivoted their public services called “Hear Together” and “Community Connections” to tell stories of their non-profit partner’s needs and services related to the current situation and how people can stay involved.

AKRON PUBLIC SCHOOLS Triple A WAPS/AKRON, OH is playing a whole category of "appropriate songs." They have begun a Local Music Show at 3:30p every weekday (330 is its area code). They are also working on a new EVENING feature that will premiere soon. It will be called "Virtual Concert" where they’ll play a full hour of live music, either from their Studio C in-studio archives and/or selections from live concert albums from various bands.

TOWSON UNIVERSITY Triple A WTMD/BALTIMORE (Triple A) has added two new on-air features: a three-song set of listener picks called “Sound Prescription” and a 10 am feature “Home School” with Professor Sam who introduces a set of music about various topics such as math, geography, science and biology.  

KANSAS CITY PUBLIC TELEVISION Triple A KTBG (THE BRIDGE)/KANSAS CITY is using the morning show to do interviews with musicians who are out of work and organizing a streaming service called “The Quarantine Concerts” for local artists to perform..

TOWSON UNIVERSITY Triple A WTMD/BALTIMORE (Triple A) has added two new on-air features: a three-song set of listener picks called “Sound Prescription” and a 10 am feature “Home School” with Professor Sam who introduces a set of music about various topics such as math, geography, science and biology.  

KANSAS CITY PUBLIC TELEVISION Triple A KTBG (THE BRIDGE)/KANSAS CITY is using the morning show to do interviews with musicians who are out of work and organizing a streaming service called “The Quarantine Concerts” for local artists to perform..

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