KMUN Current: Winter 2023

by Susan Peterson Station Manager

Let’s Reminisce...

VER 40 YEARS AGO, an enthusiastic group of local people got together and started KMUN. After years of work, KMUN started broadcasting at 91.9fm on April 17, 1983. And it’s been there ever since, 24 hours a day, seven days a week thanks to the community, volunteer programmers, members, board of directors and staff.

This year we are planning to celebrate this incredible journey, all the days since and all the days in the future, with a variety of events. I hope you will join the fun!

In the meantime, let’s reminisce about the last 40 years of memories, stories and people!

A solid testament to the greatness of KMUN is the number of people who helped start the station that are still involved in this community development service that just happens to be a radio station. Recently, station manager extraordinaire Doug Sweet made this strong statement in thinking about KMUN’s four decades. He said, “ I also consider the presence of a local, public, community-involved radio station to be one of the main reasons Astoria has developed the way it has as an artistic and successful small town in Oregon.” I couldn’t agree with him more!

Today the station is in excellent shape. The studios and broadcast equipment has all been updated to work well with the multitude of systems required for a community station like KMUN. Thanks to the hard work of the staff, we are in a very good financial standing, with a healthy contingency fund, a secure endowment account and growing wages and benefits for staff.

The future looks bright for KMUN. We hear over and over again that we are a vital source of local, regional and national information and entertainment for our listeners. KMUN seems to be doing very well with engaging the public. But that is not where it ends. I want to engage with the communities in our broadcast area that don’t immediately identify with KMUN. This is my number one priority for 2023.

Contact me if you have comments, ideas or any constructive criticism. Please write to me at susan@kmun.org. I look forward to engaging with you!

Here’s to another 40 years and many more!

“Today the station is in excellent shape.”

Meet the Tillicum Foundation Board of Directors

By Alyssa Evans, Tillicum Foundation Board Member

S WE WELCOME A new year, the Tillicum Foundation is pleased to welcome a new Board member.

Bonnie Lively recently was appointed to the Board. She has been a programmer at KMUN for about 25 years and recently retired from her career as an independent wholesale representative specializing in the fiber arts industry.

“I’m very excited about joining the Board and will do my best to guide the station in reaching its goals for the future,” Bonnie said.

NEW ROLES

In November, the Tillicum Foundation Board determined new officers, who will serve in their roles in 2023.

Larry Scott, who has served as acting president, took on the official role of president. Todd

Lippold, the Board’s secretary, took on the role of vice president. I (Alyssa Evans) took over the secretary position. Sturges Dorrance assumed the treasurer role, relieving John Stevenson, who had been volunteering as an interim treasurer.

The Board is fuller and prepared to continue to serve KMUN listeners to the best of our ability throughout this next year.

As always, please contact us with any questions at board@kmun.org. Board meetings are held at 5 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday each month via Zoom. Log-in information is available at kmun. org/tillicumfoundation/.

Wishing you a wonderful 2023. See you soon at a Board meeting!

If you are interested in applying to be a Board member, please feel welcome to contact the Board with any questions at board@kmun. org. Learn more about the Board at kmun.org/ tillicumfoundation. We look forward to hearing from you.

Coast Community Radio Staff

STATION MANAGER

Susan Peterson, susan@kmun.org

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Emma Geddes, emma@kmun.org

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Troy Hill, troy@kmun.org

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR

Janet Fryberger, membership@kmun.org

NEWS DEPARTMENT

Katie Frankowicz, news1@kmun.org

Skyler Butenshon skyler@kmun.org

OPERATIONS

Nevada Sowle

Nyk Stephens operations@kmun.org

BOOKKEEPING

Jennifer Rasmussen

PUBLICATION DESIGN

Alex Appel

ENGINEERING SUPPORT

Sunset Empire Ham Radio Club

Gray Haertig

Michael Johnson

David Klann

Bryan Huber

Michael D. Brown

NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR

Dave Neys

The CURRENT program guide is a quarterly publication of Coast Community Radio. KMUN-FM, KTCB-FM and KCPB-FM are noncommercial community radio stations owned and operated by the TILLICUM FOUNDATION PO Box 269, Astoria, Oregon 97103 (503) 325-0010

TILLICUM FOUNDATION BOARD

Larry Scott, President

Todd Lippold, Vice President

Alyssa Evans, Secretary

Sturges Dorrance, Treasurer

Bonnie Lively

Mick Mortlock

John Stevenson

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

Every 4th Wednesday at 5:00 pm on Zoom. Meeting links are listed at kmun.org/tillicumfoundation

Tillicum Foundation

is to serve the Lower Columbia Pacific Region through commercial-free community radio programs and services that enrich life by illuminating the role of the arts, promoting cultural and educational growth, and bringing focus to current issues of local and regional public interest while providing a forum for diverse and under-served groups.

COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD

KMUN’s Community Advisory Board has been restructured, and is currently recruiting members. For more information on the CAB’s purpose and qualifications, please contact Susan (susan@kmun.org).

Quarterly CAB meetings are open to the public, and announced on KMUN.

Meeting and Event Notices

Please submit event and meeting information at kmun.org, then click the Community Calendar.

Studios are located in Tillicum House at 1445 Exchange Street, Astoria, Ore. www.kmun.org feedback@kmun.org

Like us at KMUN 91.9 Coast Community Radio

Follow us at @kmun91.9

The Tillicum Foundation is tax-exempt and all gifts, grants, and contributions to it are tax deductible to the extent of the law. KMUN broadcasts 5000 watts of power at 91.9MHz from its main transmitter on Megler Mountain, 250 watts at 89.3 from a translator located in Cannon Beach, and 10 watts at 104.3 from a translator in Wheeler and 91.3 from a translator serving Astoira’s south slope. KTCB broadcasts 400 watts of power at 89.5 MHz from Cape Meares, serving Tillamook County. Tillicum Foundation also operates a second program service. KCPB broadcasts at 400 watts from Megler Mountain at 90.9 MHz.

The

mission

Party like it’s 1983!

In April KMUN has our 40th birthday of being on the air. Some of you have been there from the beginning. Many of you weren’t even born. Whatever the case, we look forward to celebrating with ALL OF YOU. A few highlights and teasers of things to come:

CONCERT JAZZ SINGER NELLIE MCKAY || APRIL 14, EVENING SHOW

At the Charlene Larsen Center for Performing Arts. More info on Nellie McKay at nelliemckay.com

BIRTHDAY PARTY || SATURDAY APRIL 22, 6PM-ISH TO 10 PM-ISH.

Working title: KMUNapalooza. Come one, come all. Food, cake (of course!) entertainment, house band, singalongs and jams, day into night. Time and location tbd. Stay tuned.

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION WEEK || APRIL 16-22

40 years of incredible KMUN Volunteers.

A big summer party with some of our favorite collaborators.

Woot!! More details to come.

left to right Doug Sweet, Ann Goldeen, Ken Eiler; 1983

CANNON BEACH ARTIST BARBARA GRANT’S

exuberant illustrations of radio listeners from the 80’s and 90’s, all captured in a commemorative book.

OTHER CELEBRATIONS IN THE WORKS

Art Walk pop up? Farmer’s Markets? Parade participation?

A SPECIAL BIRTHDAY PLEDGE DRIVE || APRIL 10 - 21

Your “presents of support” will be appreciated, as always.

Staff and volunteers are working to make this a fun and memorable time of celebrating. Listen to KMUN for information on all of the eventts…and more.

Winter 2023 Host Highlight

SAM & HEATHER

Sounds of Saturday Night

Every other Saturday 8 - 10 pm on KMUN

What do you do at KMUN?

We’re DJs for the Sounds of Saturday Night. Combined, we’ve been volunteering for about 30 years!

What music have you been excited about recently?

Our show is an eclectic mix of many genres, new and old. We love amplifying established artists like Lukas Nelson & the Promise of the Real or Fats Waller, then pairing them with CocoRosie and Nightmares on Wax. In one set, listeners could expect to be transported from the 1940s to the present.

What’s the most challenging part of hosting SOSN?

Finding new and interesting music from multiple genres and blending it together to reflect Sam’s current mood.

It’s here it’s here!

KMUN has our very own app, ready to download now to whatever handy dandy smartphone you have. Listen to us anywhere and everywhere. Sling it to a smart speaker. Go with the live broadcast or scroll back in time (well, two weeks anyway) and listen to archived programs you may have missed or want to hear again.

Just go to the app store on your phone, click on the search icon at the bottom, type “KMUN,” and presto change-o, you’re ready to download.

What’s the most rewarding?

The presentation! We have so much fun together on the air and we truly enjoy our time together to bring the listeners a fun and heartfelt experience.

Why is KMUN important to you?

It brings our community together and is a reflection of our PNW spirit! It’s a friend that is always with you, a loudspeaker for the quieter voices, and a support for the news, arts, and local businesses.

Catch the Sounds of Saturday night every other weekend on KMUN!

Special thanks to Travis of creek.fm who custom built the KMUN app. He also built and manages the software for our 2-week archives at kmun.org/ archives so you can catch all your favorites, even when you miss them live. And kudos to Program Director Emma Geddes who spearheaded this effort.

Carol Newman with two of her ARTS! Live & Local guests from the Ten Fifteen Theater.

Eileen, Bernie, and Bonnie with their cheerful mugs during the Fall Pledge Drive.

New Shows for the New Year

Keep an ear out for new programming in 2023, including Jon Tullis joining Albert in the Friday morning spot with his own spin on music with a sense of place, Coastal Creatives with interviews of local makers, growers, and doers on the ins and outs of their craft, and the return of Sunday Opera with long-time host, Teresa DeLorenzo. There’s always something new to hear on KMUN! Find the full updated program guide on our website as it continues to evolve.

KMUN would also like to bid a farewell full of gratitude to a few hosts who have decided to retire their programs to focus on other endeavors in 2023: Patty Marks of Long Plays and Soul Serenade, Dylan Hauser-Schalk and Gabe White of Up Next!, and Tony Baldwin with his eponymous late-night bop and jazz spectacular. We’ve been so lucky to have these talented voices and minds on our airwaves, and can’t wait to see what they get up to next. Thank you!

FROM

by Katie Frankowicz

Happy Hibernating!

ACK IN OCTOBER, AN Astoria business owner told me that it seemed like the deers’ fur was extra thick this year.

“What do they know that we don’t?” she wondered.

What indeed? As I write this, it is only several days after a Christmas holiday weekend punctuated by ice storms and windstorms on the Oregon coast and deeply cold, icy and snowy weather elsewhere in the United States that has disrupted holiday travel on a massive scale and even killed people.

On the coast, we’ve mostly just faced inconvenience. For me, while on maternity leave, it meant being housebound with a three-year-old and a three-month-old. We did a lot of puzzles, some of them by candlelight, ate cold tortellini one day and spent a lot of time watching the weather and the world from our living room window.

On Christmas Eve, I watched two young deer pick their way down our road. They’ve taken predictable routes through the neighborhood with their mom since their birth in the spring. The mom is one of those free-range deer moms. She lets her kids feed right on the side of the road, almost up to the curb, and then casually leads them across streets without even a side-to-side glance for cars. (I thought I’d imagined it the first time I saw a doe pause, look both ways and then only use the crosswalk once the cars had slowed to a stop, but I’ve seen the same situation play out around a dozen times since.)

Now the fawns are not really fawns anymore. They trot around by themselves, although I’ll still catch sight of their mom at a distance. I’m grateful for this slow time, the luxury of watching deer grow up. Winter is for hibernation (if you can get it), and for storing up plans for warmer, less sidewaysrainy months. That is what I’m doing. Skyler and I have all sorts of news coverage ideas planned for this year. But for now: Happy hibernating!

Have you ever used your smartphone to donate?

Technology is amazing.

11 COAST COMMUNITY RADIO

by Troy W. Hill Business Development Director

An Invitation for Motivation

OTIVATION” IS THE DRIVING force behind human actions. It is the general desire or willingness of someone to do something.

On any given day, what motivates me can change. If it’s a window of nice weather, my gardening passion kicks in. I’m motivated to do some hard work. Roaming the varied surroundings of Astoria with camera in hand provides a different kind of motivation: capturing a worthy photo.

When asked to join the KMUN team as Business Development Director I was motivated to reenergize that part of my brain that had been broadcast sales focused for 30 years. (Thankfully, the cobwebs had not become too intense.)

What motivates you? Given that a new year is here, many of us will look for motivation as it relates to a resolution we’ve made. With motivation and commitment we will follow through on that resolution…at least until February.

Since May of last year I’ve worked with more than 50 businesses of various sizes, all of whom invest marketing and outreach dollars with KMUN.

They are motivated for a variety of reasons. Some would like a return on their investment in the form of new customers or the gratitude of current

customers; others are simply happy to know their dollars are supporting a non-profit, communityfocused radio station; some want the feel-good shining light of having their underwriting message heard in a positive programming environment of music, news or spoken-word.

Having a business motivated to support a nonprofit, community radio station makes my job exponentially easier. On the north coast, KMUN remains the sole beacon of choice for the eclectic, varied programming we do. As I often tell people, we have something for everyone. If you listen long enough you’ll be tapping your foot or singing along, you’ll be pondering a news story or appreciating a poem, you’ll be learning about local produce or discovering a new ship on the Columbia. And more often than not, you’ll find yourself motivated to listen longer than you had intended.

At KMUN we entertain, enlighten, educate, and inspire. Our hope is as a listener you are motivated to make a donation; as a business you are motivated to underwrite a program or become a business member. You can do both by going to kmun.org, then hover over the “support” tab at the top.

Embrace the New Year!

is when your dreams put on work clothes.”

by Janet Fryberger Membership Director

N NOVEMBER 2022 I celebrated five years with KMUN and I must admit I feel unspeakably lucky pretty much every day when I come to work at the Tillicum House. I’ve had the privilege of working with three outstanding station managers; Joanne Rideout (she was stepping down when I started but thank goodness she’s remained part of the station), Graham Nystrom (who really took the station to the next level with great skill, humor and vision) and Susan Peterson (the perfect person to take on this role at a critical time). Together with our bevy of fabulous volunteers, the wee small KMUN staff has become my hānai family. And, of course, the ever deepening engagement with so many members and listeners is the icing on that cupcake!

Fundraising experts suggest that donors always be presented with a concrete problem that their support will solve (like $25 will feed 10 children or $50 will buy 20 emergency Go Kits). KMUN often has that type of specific need, also known as Operating Expenses (like electricity

and equipment), and we let you know about them! And there is a greater “problem” that you, as a donating member, address every time you make a gift to KMUN. To me, each donation is a demonstration of faith and does nothing less than champion freedom of expression, protect the dissemination of accurate information and unabashedly spotlight the need for community building and nurturing. So THANK YOU for all you do to keep this critical resource humming along.

Also, back to the cupcake thing ... my favorites are lemon, vanilla, mocha and red velvet. You know where to find me!

ILLUSTRATION BY BARBARA GRANT FOR KMUN

We want to hear from you!

Email feedback@kmun.org, send a letter to PO Box 269, Astoria, OR 97103 or message us on Facebook

Thank you. Yours is truly the only station I listen to! I try to turn on new listeners all the time and am always shocked when they say they’ve never heard of KMUN. I can’t imagine my life without you.

LaRee M, Wheeler, OR

Most eclectic radio station ever! Something for everyone

RobeRt S, Woodland, WA

Archives are available at KMUN.org, then click the “programming” tab

I listen to Morning Classics on my way to work, weekdays. I rarely listen to classical music otherwise, but the array of personalities and choices ALWAYS makes me smile.

audRey P, Skamokawa, WA

Listening on the Potomac, archives are

great!

biLL H, Mount Holly, VA

Note: You can access two weeks of archives at KMUN.org, then hover over the “Programming” tab in the menu bar. You can also access archives via our new KMUN app on your smartphone.

Great music todayespecially the folk hour. Thanks for the trash pickup on 101 too!

SaRa v, Gearhart, OR

Note: KMUN has adopted part of the highway on 101, keeping it as clean as possible between Del Rey Beach turnoff and the Gearhart Volunteer Fire station. Look for our sign along the road.

Terrific of you to relate so much of what is reallife at the station! It’s a nice touch...and so much appreciated.

GReG L and Robin R, Astoria, OR

You all are so valuable to my peace of mind! Thank you for the “light” in my day! We all need more sunshine than ever before.

KHRiStin F, Seaside, OR

I listen to Jerry Middaugh’s Morning Folk show every week, even though I live in Massachusetts!

david P, Farmingham, MA

Note: You can listen to Jerry’s show every Wednesday from 10a-noon on KMUN

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support your radio stations!

ACTIVISM

Columbia Riverkeeper

Friends of the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge Pacific County Immigrant Support Wash Away No More

ANIMAL CARE & SERVICES

Astoria Dog and Home Services

AUTOMOTIVE

Lum’s Auto Center

COMPUTER & NETWORK

Bridgesense.com LLC Roland Schorr & Tower

CONSTRUCTION

B Ruff Construction Beerman Creek Construction Chinook Custom Concrete

FARM & COUNTRY

46 North Farm

Fred’s Homegrown Produce Kingfisher Farms LaNa’s Conscious Farm West-Davies Farm

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Bank of the Pacific

Integrated Business Services

Northwest Lending Group

Rosemarie Sibley Howell CPA PC Thrivent Financial Wauna Federal Credit Union

FOOD & BEVERAGE

42nd Street Cafe & Bistro

Astoria Coffee Company

Bill’s Tavern/Warren House Pub

Blue Scorcher Bakery and Cafe Bowpicker Fish & Chips

Bridgewater Bistro Buoy Beer

Columbia River Candies

Columbia River Coffee Roaster

Fort George Brewery and Public House

Gaetano’s Market and Deli Labor Temple Diner & Bar Merry Time Bar & Grill Osprey Cafe

Peaceful Ferments Brewing Co Salt Hotel & Pub WineKraft Wine Bar

HEALTH CARE & SERVICES

Astoria Chiropractic Clatsop Care Health District Columbia Memorial Hospital Isa Haverlan, LMT, Allow Your Body to Heal Kathleen Moore, Full Circle Counseling Lower Columbia Clinic Rinehart Clinic & Pharmacy Tracy Erfling, ND Watershed Wellness

HOME & GARDEN

Affordable Tree Care

Arcadia Organic Landscaping Brim’s Farm and Garden Hauer’s Lawn Care & Equipment McEvoy Tile & Marble Willapa Bay Tile & Design

LODGING

Beach Property Management Inc.

Capt Johnson House

Land’s End at Cannon Beach

McMenamins Gearhart Hotel

Sou’wester Lodge

Twin Gables Inn

PERFORMING ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Brownsmead Flats Coaster Theatre

KALA Performance Space

Kim Angelis Music

Liberty Theatre NCRD Performing Art Center

North Coast Chorale Rhythm Method Water Music Society

PERSONAL CARE Simply Human Art

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Beveridge Geo-Services Environmental Consulting

Blair Henningsgaard, Attorney at Law Bruce A. Norman Plumbing Crag Law Center

Excalibur & Associates-WA, Inc Haglund Kelley LLC

Jack Russell Home Services Old World Renovation Oregon Natural Forestry LLC Seaside Attorneys Stoppiello Architecture

REAL ESTATE

Andrea Mace, Realty One Group Prestige

Andrea Mazzarella with Vesta Realty Group

Astoria Real Estate

Covert Properties

Kim Cooper - Cascade Sotheby’s International Realty

RECREATION

Northwest Women’s Surf Camp

RETAIL

Astoria Co-op Bearing Goods

Cannon Beach Book Company

Fine Art Supply/Dots ‘n Doodles Finn Ware of Oregon

Four Winds Canvas Works

Garbo’s Vintage Wear

Gimre’s Shoes Astoria

Godfather’s Books

Harmony Soapworks LLC Hester’s Vintage Judith Altruda Jewelry

The Kite Factory

Lucy’s Books

Old Town Framing Company

Phog Bounders Antique Mall Reclamation Marketplace Short Wave

VISUAL ARTS & EDUCATION

Astoria Art Loft

Astoria Downtown Historic District Association/Astoria Sunday Market

Astoria Studio Collective Columbia River Maritime Museum

Don Frank Photography

Dragonfire Gallery

Fernhill Glass gregnavratilart.com Imogen Gallery

Patrick Barker Woodworking Sou’wester Arts & Ecology Center

OTHER

American Legion Auxiliary Unit 168 CoHort Agronomy

Lewis and Clark Timberlands managed by Nuveen Natural Capital.

Sea Kayak Baja Mexico

Sunset Empire Amateur Radio Club

The Ship Report

by Joanne Rideout

Turning Toward the Light

’M WRITING THIS COLUMN on the winter solstice, December 21st, thinking about the year that has passed and the year ahead, as many of us probably are.

In the nautical realm, sailors on ships often work through the holidays and they count the days until they can go home again, often after months at sea. They’re familiar with the idea of unfamiliar territory and accept it as part of their lives.

On a ship, it’s often a matter of being away from everything comfortable for the sake of work, until the unfamiliar – the ship – can become as well-known to the crew as what they’ve known all their lives.

For those of us on land or sea these days, the old world we used to know can seem distant, and the new one uncomfortably familiar. So perhaps sailors can offer us a valuable point of view.

Mariners learn early on in their line of work, to hunker down and do what needs to be done while looking forward to better times. They pragmatically adjust to what is.

That’s kind of the position we’re all in right now. I probably don’t need to point out that this is also the position we’ve been in for some time.

What will 2023 bring? A renewed pandemic? More political upheaval? Will we finally be able to resume what we once thought of as “normal” life, even though that now may seem like a distant dream?

Like a sailor in a storm at sea, it may be time to once again assess the situation, adjust,

perhaps slow down, and make progress as we can. Some days will be smooth sailing and lots of distance covered, and other days we may be bogged down in temporary squalls.

But, right now, at the end of our third pandemic year, the essential meaning of the solstice that we need to hear is that it signifies turning toward the light. The days are now slowly getting longer again and soon it will be spring. I think it will be helpful in the coming days to keep this in mind.

I was reminded of this hopeful concept on solstice day when I was listening to KMUN, to the Wednesday Morning Folk show, hosted by my husband, Jerry Middaugh. Jerry played a song I’d forgotten about, but it’s one I love. It’s called “Turning Toward the Morning,” written and performed by Gordon Bok.

This is the chorus:

Oh, my Joanie, don’t you know That the stars are swinging slow And the seas are rolling easy As they did so long ago?

If I had a thing to give you I would tell you one more time That the world is always turning Toward the morning

It’s a nautical metaphor, describing a vessel swinging gently at anchor at night in a calm harbor. A state of peace dearly to be hoped for, and perhaps within our grasp. Like the world, we can turn toward the morning - and the light - and resolve to simply endure. That, right now, may be enough.

“I was reminded of this hopeful concept on solstice day when I was listening to KMUN...”

Fire on the Mountain

Megler Mountain is home to a great many things: black bears, deer, countless birds, too few trees, and probably some mountain lions, to name a few. It’s also the home of our Little-Tower-Site-That-Could. On top of the mountain is the transmitter responsible for pushing our radio waves to the greater North Coast area - and that’s not an easy job. Way up there our tower is taking the brunt of the inclement North Coast weather. Wind, ice and rain thrash our devoted ally during these winter months and yet it remains, delivering our waves to your home, your car, your office, or wherever else you receive your dose of FM transmission.

the broadcast equipment building with the tower in the background.

Adriana Guerrero

Alana Kujala

Albert Smith

Alyssa Evans

Andrea Mazzarella

Barbara Hansel

Bernie Burger

Bill Ham

Bob Goldberg

Bonnie Lively

Brandon Mackley

Brian Bovenizer

Brian Dillon

Bruce Watts

Bruce Williams

Carol Newman Carolyn Wells

Charlie Shumar

Dave Neys

David Paul Dayle Olson

Debbie Twombly Denise Reed

Donna Quinn

Dylan Hauser Schalk

E.J. Browne

Ed Johnson

Edward James Eileen Williams

Elizabeth Menetrey

Ellen Frye

Ellen Levy

Emily Johnson

Eric Wheeler

Eric Goranson

Erik Thorsnes

Friends of Willapa NWR

Gary Sunderland Gary Sunderland Heather Douglas Isa Haverlan Jack Harris Jackie Denton Jacob Lewin Jan Faber Jan Mitchell Jan Johnson Jane Hill Jay Obenour Jeannine Grey Jennifer Amaya

Jerry Middaugh

Jim Dott Jim Santee Joanne Rideout

John Rippey John Stevenson Jon Tullis Kathleen Morgain Kati Claborn Larry Scott Liam Dunne Linda Perkins LinMarie DiCianni

Lisa Smith Lloyd Bowler Lowell Benner

Lyle Haataja Lynn Hadley

Lyra Parker

Margaret Frimoth

Margarita Cullimore

Marianne Monson

Mark Meadowlark

McAndrew Burns

Merianne Myers

Michael McCusker

Michelle Valigura

Mick Mortlock

Niall Carroll

Norma Hernandez

Pam Trenary

Patty Marks

Paul Ahn Tran-Hoang Paul Verano

Pete Serafin

Reid Johnson Retta Christie Ric Wallace

Richard Dawson

Roger Rocka

Sam Chapman

Sara Meyer

Sarah Lippold Sidney Johnson Skyler Wells Slab Slabinski

Steve Amaya Sturges Dorrance

Susie McLerie Blackmar

Taylor Ford Teresa DeLorenzo

Teresa Retzlaff

Thron Riggs

Todd Lippold

Todd Robinett

Tom Brownson Tom Veazey Tony Baldwin

Zachary Stocks

The World of Music, live and otherwise

Nyklus Stephens KMUN Operations

As one of KMUN’s operations technicians, I have the unique experience of getting to hear everyone’s pre-recorded shows from the last few years of KMUN archived material. It’s quite the honor to be trusted to pick “any old show” when our beloved radio dj superstars are busy with their various life obligations. It’s like I’m secretly DJing other DJ’s shows.

But with everyone coming back into the live studio, it’s evident streaming has changed the way audiences listen to and find new music. We are now trying to integrate that into our experience as DJs, in how we discover and listen to music outside of the FM broadcast.

Earlier this year I was asked on multiple occasions what I thought about the Neil Young protest of Spotify, and if anything was being done about it. Well, despite Neil having a lot of clout, there are also many other artists who I also support in taking a stand against Spotify.

So what does it mean to live in the post golden era of record industry contracts and MTV, where everyone is an “indie” artist, and for the most part musicians are making music as art and not to complete a contract?

With the internet being so pervasive we have reached an era where the guise of over-saturation has made music seem much more commodifiable than ever before. It’s now to a degree that any artist should feel lucky to have their art picked up by a playlist here or a blog post there, to be completely OK with getting paid in “exposure,” or to get $2-$4 for every 1,000 streams of their song on Spotify. And for some folks, that exposure launched their careers. Either they got extremely lucky, were in the right place at the right time, or

the all mighty algorithm gave them a shot.

Something that gets lost in the macrocosm of the music industry is just how meaningful music can be to a small community. We act as if the only way to be a success in this day and age is to be able to tour anywhere in the country. Despite how inspiring it sounds to imagine artists making such far-reaching ripples, I still think there’s a lot to be discovered and appreciated in our smaller communities.

As we stare hard into the mirror about our exceptional energy consumption as an industrial society, let us consider that we don’t have to travel far to find what we have to be grateful for, and to build upon that in our region. In Astoria alone there are at least 5 musical venues, hundreds of musicians, and a handful of recording studios along with dedicated recording engineers. For a small town, that’s a lot.

Our surrounding areas are fruitful too. We have at least one bar in every small town willing to host music; additionally, there are breweries, farmers markets, and even a small listener powered radio station (KMUN) that reaches all of those places.

But what about how to get back at Spotify for robbing musicians of their earnings. If you want to find ways to support artists and still stream music, maybe consider other platforms that give artists a dramatically larger cut of their sales, such as bandcamp, soundcloud, etc. Even better, if it’s an option, always buy music directly from the artist!

That’s it for now. Let’s keep the conversation going. The world of music is not concrete, and showing up for live music is what keeps the art form alive.

Happy new year everyone. Cheers. -Nyk

More from Fall Pledge Drive

Lowell, Zac, Bruce, and Patty, celebrating big progress during the Fall Pledge Drive.

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Whether you’re listening to one of our revered Bedtime Stories hosts, or Sonidos Latinos on Thursday nights, or even Scandinavian Hour on the weekends, our transmitter is doing the heavy lifting to make that possible. Our listener support allows us to keep that tower in tip-top shape - and for that, we here at Tillicum House are grateful. So let’s give three cheers, or a toast, or whatever method you might choose to pay your respects to our stalwart tower. Here’s to many, many more years of good broadcast comin’ down the mountain and over the river. And here’s to you - for supporting KMUN, KTCB, and KCPB. We couldn’t do this without you.

With utmost gratitude, Nevada Sowle Operations Director

left to right, Station Manager, Susan Peterson, Volunteer Eric Goranson, Operations Technician Nevada Sowle, Mark Chorak, City Lumber.

Protecting beach access for everyone.

“RADIO... THAT WONDERFUL INVENTION BY WHICH I CAN REACH MILLIONS OF PEOPLE... WHO FORTUNATELY CAN’T REACH ME.”

Milton Berle

In this issue

Heron’s Nest p. 2

2023 Host Highlight p. 7

New Shows p. 10

Program Schedule p. 16-18

Music Industry Imbalance p. 28

Tillicum Foundation

Coast Community Radio

P.O. Box 269

Astoria, OR 97103

YOUR COMMUNITY VOICE IN THE COLUMBIA-PACIFIC REGION