Why pay for radio?

It’s free, isn’t it?

Well, not exactly. Advertising pays for commercial radio, so we don’t have to. Then, there’s non-commercial radio, NPR and other listener supported radio. People support it for various reasons, some so that they don’t have to listen to ads, some because they like the feature shows, and some because their local station provides useful, often vital services.

KLOI, our local station, on lovely Lopez Island, falls into all three of those just mentioned. There are otherwise less available alternative news presentations, locally relevant information shows, niche music shows and, well, Gary.

I enjoy all of Mike Moore’s musical direction, the Vocal and Plectrophonic Review as well as The Many Moods of Ben Vaughn and many others but Gary Alexander’s show is unique. His enormous display of both Jazz and Classical music, along with his ceaseless font of information is masterful. I know quite a lot about music yet always learn something new when Gary’s on.

This year, KLOI is embarking on a partnership with local fire, sheriff and medical agencies, as well as the Lopez School, to developed an emergency preparedness plan for our community. These efforts also require support.

There’s a lot going on at 102.9 FM, including huge monthly bills. Reasons to regularly send the same amount of money one would normally spend on one personally specialized cup of coffee and a pastry doesn’t seem like much each month when you think of it, does it? Supporting vital services just seems like the right thing to do.

Our friendly island has world-classss prototype recycling program. We have helpful resources for those in need. We pop out of the woods to contribute to a potluck. Oh yeah, the constant fund-raising is a bit tiring but listen to what we get.

Let’s imagine a thriving indigenous radio station that serves our community. Let’s do that by, yup, paying for radio.

Ten dollars a month from half of the people that listen, online or on the radio, would put our plucky little station into the black, so it could serve us, going forward. If you only tune into one show a week, please help that show. I’m doing it for Gary.

To donate, visit https://www.gofundme.com/kloilp.