Life was a little different at KEXP back in 1987. The station was still called KCMU and it could only be heard if you were within roughly 15 miles of the University of Washington campus. The playlist was already pretty eclectic (as those of you who tuned into my Top 90.3 of 1987 special last autumn will recall), but our fundraising techniques weren't as sophisticated as they are today. See the photo above? That was the nerve center of the drives circa 1987: a desk with two phones.
Today, you can enjoy KEXP anywhere in the world, via the online stream at KEXP.ORG. You can catch up on shows you missed via the two week streaming archive, check out exclusive videos of in-studio performances on YouTube, or load up your mp3 player with our free podcasts.
Fundraising has changed, too. You can give online at KEXP.ORG or with our popular iPhone app. And if you dial (206) 903-5397 or (866) 903-5397 to make a donation this week, there will be many more volunteers standing by to take you call. Heck, you can even make a gift of support just by clicking this button:
Something else that's changing at KEXP: Thanks to our Amplifiers Monthly Giving Club, powered by donors who make ongoing monthly contributions, we plan on only having TWO full-length fundraising drives this year. Come summer, you'll hear less on-air fundraising, more music, and a lot of love being showered on Amplifiers. (Don't worry, the Hood-to-Hood Challenge isn't going away... stay tuned for details.)
More than 3,300 KEXP donors—23 percent of our supporters—have become Amplifiers since 2010, and their impact is a great example of how music lovers working together can improve the KEXP experience for all of us.
If you haven't joined the Amplifiers yet, the Spring Drive is an ideal time to sign up; your enrollment will count towards the overall goals and help us reach them faster. You can find more information here or by simply calling (206) 903-5397 or (866) 903-5397. We might not play the same records we did back in 1987, and our community has definitely grown, but we're still happy to take your call!
I went to Paris for the first time last year. It had been my dream for as long as I can remember, so I guess it’s not surprising that each experience seemed more fantastical to me…our apartment in the building where Picasso had his first Paris studio; eating an ethereal goat cheese that tasted of b…
