From February through July 2019, WRTI invited residents of its North Philadelphia neighborhood to the station’s studios for Freestyle Friday – weekly performances, recording sessions with local rappers, training on music production software, and screenings of an Emmy-nominated documentary called “Quest,” a film that inspired this initiative These engagement events serve to bridge the community and the campus and heal a volatile relationship through the power of music.
Triple A radio station KXT’s Local Music Month introduces listeners to homegrown, regional acts by recognizing those artists who make North Texas so unique During Local Music Month (October), KXT highlights local music on the air and hosts a free Local Music Showcase, featuring a diverse lineup of live music from bands in Dallas, Fort Worth, and Denton. In 2018, over 800 people attended this celebration of the music scene in North Texas.
Ross Fest was organized by WNIN to celebrate painter and art instructor Robert Ross, the creator of The Joy of Painting. The station asked a certified Bob Ross landscape instructor to help create an experience that would give participants a certified Bob Ross painting to take home and enjoy forever. WNIN added a light wall to play a Joy of Painting episode, threw in some music, food trucks, a bar trailer and a Bob Ross costume contest… attracting hundreds of people to a made-for-social-media engagement event.
The “Only Here” podcast provides an intimate look at one of the world’s busiest border crossings, where San Diego and Tijuana meet. Over time, the podcast has attracted an audience on both sides of the border with stories about the culture and creativity forged in this tense region. Hosted by a member of a bilingual hip-hop band in Tijuana, the podcast deepens understanding and connection between listeners on both sides of the border.
Launched in February 2019 as part of Wisconsin Hometown Stories: Eau Claire, “Joe Bee Xiong: War to Peace” explores Hmong-American history with student-focused educational resources created to help fill the Hmong history gap in Wisconsin classrooms. This project includes an animation illustrated in the artistic style of a traditional Hmong story cloth, narrated in both Hmong and English and downloadable, printable and electronic biographies written at three reading levels in English and Hmong.
“Eye on the Arts” is a half hour TV series that showcases a diverse range of local artists, artistic organizations, events and stories, demonstrating the power of arts in people’s lives. The series draws attention to regional artists and cultural programs across the entire Chicagoland area, including many of Northwest Indiana’s under-served populations, people who often feel that the arts are inaccessible. “Eye on the Arts” also retains a radio presence through weekly segments on Lakeshore Public Radio.
The PBS39 Kids Summer Series featured free educational activities for children including music, stories and crafts at PBS39’s studios during June and July 2019. TeleBear’s Summer Jam, part of the longstanding annual, regional Musikfest, was an extension of the series and featured free performances with nationally-acclaimed ‘Kindie’ musicians (independent artists who perform for children).
Modeled after NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts and KLRU/PBS’s Austin City Limits, Small Studio showcases some of the best bands in Indianapolis, giving local and regional talent a chance to shine. National and regional artists have also performed in WFYI’s Small Studio, with an emphasis on bands and musicians with a connection to public media and/or the Hoosier state. The series is WFYI’s inaugural digital-first program.
Twin Cities PBS’s groundbreaking multi-platform arts program, ART IS, elevates renowned Minnesota artists of color who pick three up-and-coming artists across any genre and develop a series of media and public events. Over a nine-month period, TPT and artists co-create powerful short digital films that provide context and visibility for the artists’ work, enhanced by a series of public events in our studios.
“Working Together” is an ongoing project to establish deep and meaningful connections with the Alaska Native community in Southeast Alaska. KTOO partners with the local Native communities to use television, radio, and engagement events to preserve Native languages, cultures, and identity.
On the fourth Monday night of each month, KASU presents “Bluegrass Monday,” a concert series in its 17th year, bringing professional bluegrass musicians to Paragould, Arkansas, for affordable, family-friendly concerts. Admission is always free. KASU feels presenting these concerts not only promotes its radio broadcasts of bluegrass music, but the concerts also help to promote the culture of the region that includes the nearby Ozark Mountains. All concerts are recorded for broadcast on KASU at a later date.
Today, WERS stands alone as Boston’s home for music discovery. A small but mighty staff of students and professionals carry the torch on the only radio station dedicated to featuring local artists. This is done on a daily basis through conscientious programming, but also through special features like “Wicked Local Wednesday.” In 2018, WERS launched its first (and totally free) Wicked Good Festival on Boston Common featuring a national touring act as well as local favorites.
Radio Fest is a showcase of local classical music in Nashville. For a full day in November, WFCL broadcasts a live performance every hour, on the hour. Leading up to each Radio Fest, the 91Classical team asks listeners to call in and tell them about particular pieces that are special to them and why.
Every spring, Valley Public Radio partners with local youth orchestras and symphony to host a 12-week-long series featuring live performances from talented student musicians from throughout the San Joaquin Valley. The performances are largely classical music,with some exceptions. Host David Aus interviews students in between their performances, and also serves as program producer. KVPR serves a wide and diverse region covering two markets (Fresno and Bakersfield) and Young Artists Spotlight is an opportunity to bring together our communities and celebrate the unique platform that Valley Public Radio brings our region.
Donate a Recorder is a “give back” initiative that tackles a genuine need in our region while embracing the mission of WDAV – to build a community focused on classical music. Donate a Recorder combines fundraising, education, musical discovery and community engagement all in one initiative. When people make a membership gift on air or in renewal mailings, instead of receiving a CD, coffee mug, or baseball cap, they can choose the “Donate a Recorder” option as a benefit at the $100 level.
North Shore Morning is a daily, two-hour morning news and information program that connects residents of remote Lake Superior communities with the people, culture and events of their region. Daily content includes live interviews, local news, weather updates, event announcements, music, school news, a daily Pop Quiz and features on the area’s arts, culture and history, all geared toward creating a sense of place and a spirit of community.
Valley Sounds is an all-local show featuring original music from classical to rap to punk to country to gospel to electronica and everything in between, all performed in the Tennessee Valley. Artists are encouraged to submit their recordings to Valley Sounds online or at an in-person meet and greets. The meet and greets, held at local bars and music venues, act as a community producers meeting, where musicians and fans can share ideas about the show.
Amplifier is a biweekly podcast that shines a light on Charlotte’s local music scene. More than 500 musicians have submitted their songs and shared their experiences. It features everything from award-winning jazz singers to emerging pop acts, DIY venue owners to established record producers, and beyond. Amplifier was named Charlotte Magazine’s “Best Podcast”, and received a Webby Award for innovation in music/arts podcasting.
“Framed by WDET” is a multimedia series that integrates photography and audio storytelling to present the story of Detroit’s ethnic and cultural communities on the radio, online, in a photobook, and at pop-up exhibitions in more than 20 art spaces in the Detroit region and beyond. It explores the moments and spaces that Detroiters share with one another through the work of 18 Detroit-based photographers and audio producers.
