WMMT 88.7 Holds Public Meeting to Discuss Program Changes
What: WMMT 88.7 Holds Public Meeting to Discuss Program Changes
When: Monday, June 16, 6:00pm
Where: Appalshop Theatre, 91 Madison Ave., Whitesburg, KY 41858
Contact: Cheryl Marshall, Station Manager, cmarshall@appalshop.org, 606-633-0108
WMMT 88.7 is considering making changes to our radio programming schedule in late summer or early fall of 2008. Changes are being considered so that we can respond to the desires of our listeners and enhance financial support for WMMT while remaining true to ourselves. At this time, WMMT Staff has reviewed many sources of data to create a proposed schedule. Two meetings with Appalshop Staff and Volunteer Programmers to discuss this data and the proposed schedule have taken place. Now, WMMT Staff is ready to hear from you, the listening public.
Join us on Monday, June 16 at 6:00pm in the Appalshop Theatre to learn more about WMMT, our listening public, and the changes that have been proposed. You will have an opportunity to comment on the changes or general thoughts on WMMT programming in a safe, objective environment. Your input and reactions at this meeting will directly shape the final proposal for schedule change.
For questions or more information, please contact Cheryl Marshall, Station Manager, by email at cmarshall@appalshop.org, or call us at 606-633-0108. We look forward to your participation in this important process, and to meeting our listeners and supporters.
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Like most listeners, I do not listen to everything that aires on WMMT. However, I am seriously interested in any proposed programming changes. I hope you will allow comments after a proposed new schedule is available for review.
Thank you,
Wesley Hambrick
Internet Listener
First of all, let me say that it is never a bad idea to discuss change. Change is not always bad. But neither is it always good. If the idea is to increase the number of listeners by changing programming,then those who are responsible for making the changes must ask themselves a very important question: What would we give up by making any change, and is the change worth giving up what might be unique to us?
The fact is that being "listener supported radio" means that the station is going to have programming that will not compete, nor can it compete, with commercial radio. To compete with commercial, you would about have to emulate their programming, and even if that was done, this still might not increase the number of listeners significantly.
Programs like "First Notes from Jazz" simply do not have a home on commercial radio. But then again, commercial radio does not have on-air personalities like Bronx Barney, Woody, or any of the people who work this wonderful collection of music, and who know it as well as they do their jobs. And commercial radio certainly misses the rich heritage that is big band music and jazz. The two hours or so on Saturday morning is but one show that makes WMMT worth donations each year. Saturday mornings, from 10:30-12:30 seldom find me anywhere outside the listening range of my living room stereo, where I enjoy music from an era that many seem to have forgotten. (BTW, the radio stays on till at least five so that I can enjoy the old time music featured in the afternoon shows.)
When the discussion begins, I hope those who are there will look at other ways to increase the number of listeners. One way, for instance, is to increase interest in the music or programming that is played. And that might be done by making public appearances at local annual events. For instance, there is the infamous "Hillbilly Days" each year in Pikeville. Has WMMT ever set up a booth? There are crowds here that would make it worth your time. The same thing could be done at the by-now annual "Hatfield-McCoy reunion" and other similar festivals around the area.
One more thing: There are many very talented musicians who play the old-time music that WMMT is famous for. I have suggested this before, and I'll suggest it again. If a group of these people could get together every now and again, and visit local area schools, where they could play for an hour or so, and explain what the music is about, about the instruments that are used to play them, etc., this investment in time and effort might be richly rewarded by getting converts to the cause of getting new listeners, and, in addition, could inspire some of these youngsters to begin playing old-time music, and so help preserve it for future generations.
Bottom line? Do not let your desire for new listeners cause you to change the uniqueness that is WMMT radio. Too many drastic changes could cost you more than you would gain.