For those students looking for something more than conventional radio programming, KKFI 90.1 community radio might have just what they're looking for. For nearly twenty years, 90.1 has been a station dedicating itself to the demands of the Kansas City community.
According to their website, KKFI seeks to stimulate, educate, and entertain their audience, to reflect the diversity of the local and world community, and provide a channel for individuals and groups, issues and music that have been overlooked, suppressed, or under-represented by other media.
"Our programming covers news, it covers public affairs. It covers a wide array of music genres from rock, but also blues, jazz, hip hop....You would probably be hard pressed to name a genre of music that we don't cover," said Richard Pirodsky, station manager of 90.1.
KKFI is not interested in taking people away from their favorite commercial station. They merely want people to be aware there's an alternative choice out there. And for those who often find themselves tortured by some of the songs played on mainstream radio, KKFI might offer the alternative airwaves that will satisfy their appetite for music.
"Our goal is not to grab listeners and hold them 24/7. Our goal is to offer choices to people that they can pick when they want to listen to," said Pirodsky.
KKFI 90.1 is different from commercial stations because it can gear itself towards exactly what Kansas City wants to hear. The station does not program their music for a national market, so many of the choices they make for their station are based on listener's feedback.
"The feedback from listeners is remarkable here, they're all so knowledgeable and willing to share thoughts with you," says Artie, DJ of the KKFI show, Blended.
"Our primary concern is what the Kansas City market wants....Wherever you go, Kansas City is associated with jazz and blues and yet oddly enough, if you notice, virtually none of the commercial stations play either jazz or blues in this market because that's not big nationally....Most of the music we play is either jazz or blues," said Pirodsky.
The station does not only concern itself with a vast assortment of musical genres, but also has a variety of shows geared towards smaller, more diverse audiences within the city.
"We have public affairs programs that might appeal to any number of the students who are active in this area in various events. If there are gay and lesbian students at the college, we offer gay and lesbian programming. If there are Spanish speaking students, we offer at least 14 hours a week of Spanish language music and talk programming," Pirodsky said.
KKFI could not function without the help of volunteers, which number around 135-140 at any given time. Only five people at the station earn any income, meaning that 90.1 is a station authentically created by the people, for the people.
"I would say this about KKFI: We are one-of-a-kind in the field of broadcasting, unique in so many ways!" said Artie.
Every year 90.1 has a pledge drive where listeners can pledge a certain amount of money and receive air time as a guest DJ on the station. The listener feedback from these shows has created opportunities for some of the DJs currently on air.
"There is just so much that goes on down here on a daily basis. So if you like a great variety of music and news and other local forums, then I say 'come on down and join our family,'" Artie said.
All of KKFI's programming and contact information can be found on their website (http://www.kkfi.org/).
Copyright 2007 Metropolitan Community College