IndieSF...Where being famous is not a prerequisite for airplay

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Santa Fe Brewing Company last Saturday. It was great to meet and talk about this issue with all of you. Thanks to Ross for putting it together and to Tom Knobloch for moderating the discussion.

If you weren't able to make it, the discussion is now available in two downloadable podcast files, just below these very words.

Note: This is a comment on ellie's "Media" post by vpozzebon that I felt should be seen by all - Chad

Let’s go beyond canned music, loud car commercials, and national ad campaigns. Let’s talk about the real reason losing independent media is a community concern.

Independent media is the voice of a community. It can tell the locals’ story, providing an opportunity that many small businesses and nonprofit organizations can’t get from a media corporation. Without an outlet to tell our stories, to let our community have a voice, we lose the opportunity to strengthen our community.

I must admit a certain amount of frustration with print media in this town. When we first started this station, someone told me that it wasn't worth talking to the papers as ultimately they would print the angle they were looking for regardless of what you say. I thought it a bit cynical at the time, but it's starting to feel that way.  

While we have had some great articles covering Indie over the last year, what stands out are the articles in which information was left out or taken out of context.

Yes YOU!!

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We want to hear from you, our listeners...We want to know what you think about the station, Santa Fe, Music, or the anything else thats on your mind....!

Dear Radio Fans,

This is a plea. Not once in the 23 years that I have been on radio here in Santa Fe have I made such a plea. Most of you have no doubt been following the recent radio news. All three of the local, alternative stations, KBAC, Blu 102 and Indie 1015, have been purchased by Hutton Broadcasting. See the story in the May 23, 2007 Santa Fe Reporter.

As you also know, my program, Brave New World, has been on the air here in Santa Fe since January, 1984. If I am not mistaken, it is the longest running specialty program on radio in Santa Fe. It started out in 1984 as The International House of Wax on KLSK, morphed into The World on KBAC in 1990 and then in 1991 became Brave New World on KIOT. Yes, I have been on many of the radio stations here in town...KLSK, KBAC, KBOM, KIOT, KENC, KBLU and now on the mighty Indie1015. In fact, I have made 10 radio changes over the 23 years that I have been on the air. Such is the nature of the biz.

We have recently learned that a big $$ corporation with multiple stations is planning to buy the frequency 101.5 to broadcast a "High Altitude Rock" format. That's what New Mexico needs, another classic rock station....

We are as suprised by this as you might be. It's par for the course in the radio industry though, that's one of the reasons independent radio is so important to us. We don't believe that any community should be restricted to the researched and formatted ideas of corporate radio - especially a community of eclectic music lovers like we have here in Santa Fe. We don't know how this will all turn out, but we don't intend to leave the music we love or the community we need up to the big guys.

We know that Indie is comprised of a lot of great music, passionate staff, and the great connection we're making in the community. That is not for sale. Stay tuned for how you can help decide what options are on your radio dial.

Thanks for listening and thanks for supporting local independent radio!