I don't even live in the St. Louis area, but this issue still matters to me. I used to live in the Chicago area, where if you scanned the radio for different stations, you could have a wide diversity of different cultures and musical styles represented in station programming. I didn't appreciate how unique this was until I moved to Denver and found that Denver's radio programing had little cultural diversity and only a few musical styles represented. KDHX programming was great in that it had wonderful diversity in its content, each "DJ" had a unique personality, and each DJ was enthusiastic and highly knowledgeable about their material. DJs were not cookie-cutter DJ clones that you find on many stations. Where else could you ever find a program like "Music from the Hills"?
I’ve been an avid listener & contributor since around 1992 and I can’t express how much of a positive influence the station has had on my life in general.
I know & have known too many disc jockeys, listener/contributors, showcased artists & even ex-board members to count and I say with complete & utter honesty that this station & these people are a part of my life as much as eating food & drinking fluids keep me happy, healthy & alive.
We cannot let this institution dissolve.
Jamie McP.
Maplewood
KDHX is an original and diverse voice. I have listened every Sunday afternoon for years - often scheduling my day to be able to do this. Losing this programming will be such a sad (and unnecessary) thing!
My dial was locked on 88.1fm the entire 15 years I lived in St. Louis. I admired the station's strong, welcoming ethos. It set an example for my career, which has been dedicated to culture and community nonprofits. KDHX has been one of the best examples of community media in the world - its loss would have a ripple effect beyond St Louis. It should continue to be an example of a vibrant, uplifting resource for culture and community.
It was magical to grow up with a community radio station that helped turn me toward Saint Louis music and my help me develop my passions. What has been done over the past few years is a travesty. The executive director and board should be ashamed of their blatant failure.
I've been a listener from day 1 at the old location. I was a yearly donor for many years. However, the past couple of years have caused me to think twice about what's goin' on. From losing my friend's shows on KDHX, to the evolving (not to my tastes) music genres, it's really not been on my radar as much. And that's a shame b/c that's entirely opposite of the point. I'd like much of what KDHX WAS..to return to what it was.
I warn this station to not make knee jerk decisions that are against community radio standards and public radio ethics. I not only ran as the Executive Director a non-profit radio station in Austin, Texas, I was a broadcaster for 40 years and on the Board of Directors for another. Many of the mistakes I see unfolding here happened at one of these stations in Austin and nearly destroyed the reputaton and value of the station but essentially became the enemy of the people who supposedly own it (that is- the community). Beware of careless decisons and work in unity with those who love the station to demonstrate principles of community media. Does the station have a strategic plan? Was a cross section of the shareholders included? Is there a five year goal?
I have been a member,volunteer and proud supporter of KDHX since 1990! The volunteers week in and week out are amazing! They bring their music and music history expertise to every show. I heard great music and learned about the artists. KdHX gaclve back to the community everyday on air 24/7 with updates, outreach, concert calendars,humor, birthdays, the passing of friends and colleagues. You always could count on the station to let you know what's happening in and around town! The crap they have playing before the shut down,in my opinion, was a way for the Board to deteriorate the station's quality programming and ruin donations. In this way, they can falsely claim need to restructure. I stand by all of the volunteers that have been terminated, went on strike, and stayed behind to keep a little of what was known as KDHX 88.1 FM.
I'm a musician and producer who was directly affected by the mass firings. What's happening at KDHX is absolute madness. The chaos there has had real world consequences for musicians, music fans and programmers. The community that built this station is fighting back. We'll have to wrench it from their hands after the mess they've made. We have to block the sale of the license if we can.