Listener supported media continues to be a bold invention that defies business logic. Its crazy, subversive, and perhaps the best survival tactic culture builders have come up with in the last half century. Ms. Bullitt’s words confirm an intuitive sense that this is the right thing to do.

I guess you know the writing is on the wall when your anchor advertising account is a dentist in Lake Forest Park.

Will George Ray get the afternoon drive time slot?

Curiously enough, the shriveling of classical music from WQXR in New York could be a boost for a listener-supported KING-FM. The New York Times created,owned, and operated WQXR, which, with Web-casting added, was recognized as the bellwether classical music station. Then the Times sold WQXE to the New York City-sponsored WNYC, which in turn again spun it off. The Times-sponsored WQXR also provided NYT news on the hour.

WQXR's new cut-loose, non-commercial formet, striving to be listener-supported, has too much promotional chatter, and plays mostly "top-forty" classics. This programming penchant turns off knowledgeable fans of both classical and other music.

Listener-supported "classical music radio" must have the ability to attract more than traditional classical music lovers:. That suggests including programming of so-called world music, stage and film original cast and soundtracks, and "third-stream" music. All this with 24/7 programming geared to on-line and wi-fi listening. Going forward, "broad"casting and even cable-casting probably will continue to shrink. But a listener-supported KING-FM can be positioned from the first to benefit from digital audio streaming, accessed by a variety of listeners worldwide in a variety of ways.

Mr. Price: Well put. I am willing to subscribe to the new KING FM provided that the Board and Program Director acknowledge that the 'top-forty' programming has in fact driven me and many others to look elsewhere for classical music radio. I have been listening to KING for forty years, and recall that classical music and jazz coexisted happily in the 'seventies; I am not sure what you mean by 'world music' but will reconcile myself to more eclectic programming if the result is a broader offering of the riches of classical music.

Bravisma! a una donna bella e forte (Well done! to a beautiful and strong woman)

An extraordinary and yes inspiring act of generosity on behalf of the arts and humanities. Finally...in an age of inverted(some might say perverted) hyper-capitalism, which shapes conflates and dominates democracy and political discourse, a refreshing non-profit counter-weight broadcast paradigm...thank you for helping to preserve of the soul of democracy.

Any plans to offer a translator frequency in Whatcom County/Bellingham? In the meantime, I enjoy the scrupulously curated content and musically erudite on-air personalities. I look forward to the day when you are 'free at last' of commercial interruption/distraction. And yes...I am quite willing to put my money where my mouth is and become a contributor/supporter when KING FM flips that switch...

Thanks again.

Very Best Wishes,
Michael A. Kominsky
Bellingham WA

P.S.

Here's a link to another strong-willed professional women.
www.nancykominsky.com

I was formerly employed by KING-FM. During the week, I worked at KING-TV, and, at the same time, from June, 1970 to April of 1972, I was one of the weekend on-air hosts on KING-FM. At that time, the station's manager and program director was Jim Wilke.

Dorothy Bullitt had the habit of visiting the KING-TV lunch room each day so that she should be in touch with the pulse of the station and to get to know the people who worked there. Since the KING-FM personnel were in a different environment and had different hours, for the same purpose, she decided to invite all KING-FM employees to her home on Capital Hill for a brunch one Saturday afternoon. Fortunately, my shift was over for the day, so I was able to participate.

After the food had been consumed, we all retired to her sitting room for conversation. There were about eleven of us.

During the discourse, someone asked Mrs. Bullitt what kind of classical music she wanted to hear on KING-FM. She responded by saying that what she wanted to hear on the station was not important, but it was important what the listeners desired.

She said that all KING Broadcasting Company stations had three goals, in this order of priority:

1. Performing a public service
2. Obtaining station operating revenue
3. Airing quality programming

So, regarding classical music programming, it would appear that the listeners were the determining factor. But, regarding station philosophy, it would appear that Mrs. Bullitt's priorities would prevail, since it was she who established its tone when she put it on the air in 1948.

Mrs. Bullitt, and her two daughters, have decided that KING-FM should always remain a classical music oriented station, but that the listeners should decide the kind of classic music the station would air. Jim Wilke once told me that he took his marching orders not only from Mrs. Bullitt, but from the listeners.

Mrs. Bullitt always wanted a broad spectrum of classical music to be broadcast and did not want the station to become a classical jukebox, where one would drop in a nickel (now a quarter) into the machine and out would come some short, three minute light classical piece.

When I was at KING-FM, Mr. Wilke took his duties very seriously by scheduling whole symphonies during the drive-time hours. Because of the length of these musical selections, on-air commercial announcement availability slots were drastically reduced.

However, even though this inhibited the revenue generating capabilities of the station, Mrs. Bullitt never objected, but left the programming decisions to the people responsible for them. She always had a general hands-off approach to any station she owned.

However, if it appeared that one of her broadcast operations appeared to be going dangerously off track, she would quietly make suggestions as to how she thought a change should be made.

I believe Mrs. Bullitt would have approved of the move from a commercial to a listener supported operation for KING-FM. I also believe in her idea that a station's public service activities should always prevail over monetary considerations.

This is not a negative reference at all, but people, who really knew her, called her the "velvet steam roller," because, in her quiet, gentle, kind manner, she could convince people to do what she thought was best. I miss her guidance and wisdom. She was, without a doubt, one of the most considerate, humanitarian people I have ever known.

Thanks to Dorothy Bullitt, Seattle is very fortunate to have had a radio facility devoted entirely to classical music, and to also have had the kind of station management with the intelligence, ability, and intent to continue to bring this about. Many other cities are not so lucky.

All dissention aside, in my opinion, the present day KING-FM is a direct reflection of the vision of Dorothy Stimson Bullitt and what she stood for, and, in her memory, I am confident that it will continue to provide the kind of high quality programming that Seattle has enjoyed since 1948.