> The Special Situation of WBAI
>
> The issue at WBAI involves several factors. Most importantly, the
> October fund-drive fell short of its goal by $400,000. As such, the
> station is now spending about $300,000 a month, but is raising only
> $200,000 (at best). In discussions with union officials, paid and
> unpaid staff, we have decided upon a two-pronged strategy to deal
> with the station challenges.
>
> The first requires that WBAI raise $200,000 extra by December 31,
> 2003. This will help us meet one month's payroll. It will also help
> with the $1.4 million we project WBAI will need by September 30, 2004.
I'm willing to chip in bucks to the station that keeps you on the air. But if the only other prong is:
> However, the second part of the plan calls for conditional reductions
> in staff if the needed revenues are not in place to keep the station
> going beyond December 31, 2003.
This seems hopeless. I mean, an alternative station that can't grow listenership -- and in fact loses it precipitously! -- in the *Age of Bush* seems beyond doomed.
If there's no plan to overhaul the place, it seems like we should be cutting bait and contributing to a fund to get you placed at another station (paying you to make a portfolio of demo tapes, hire an agent, etc. And obligating you to actually make a seroius effort :o)
Or if worst comes to worst, to invest in whatever it would take to have you continue as an internet radio show, where probably more than half of your best audience hears you. (You could take a leaf out of Amy Goodman's book and bill yourself as a WBAI refugee broadcaster.) Or be a pirate station in New York. Or any combination of the above.
I mean, I don't want to shell out a $100 bucks to buy you 12 shows.
Michael