OCR Text |
Show it Big city radio stations rely on formats, while N 'w local independents succeed with spontaneity and charm From his introduction to live radio tt a spores announcer far in Abilene, Taos, radio satioa in 1958, Jim Baum knew what he mated to da 1 thought, Wouldnt it be gnat to own one of these irr-- J TWenty-tw- o years paacd before his opportunity arrived. KVMC (1340 AM) in Colorado The owner of 1,000-wa-rr wanted sell his 30yeanold nation and to City; Than, offered Baum a deal he could not film down. "When you gee a license from the FGC to operate a radio station, you have to prove to them that youre going co serve the community;" explains the cordial gentleman, now 63. They're not' interested in whether you make money, or lose money; or anything ebe." So thats just what Baum and his do in this community of neatly 3,000. Theyre among a fiercely independent number of locally owned radio stations all across America. I wouldn't know what was goiqg oa in town if it wasn't far him," lays Nancy Womack, who keeps a radio in eveiy room ofher house. "Ybu can't beat that little ol'coun-tx- y station. Besides countiy music, Baum fills the airwaves with bitthday greetings, aontvezsaty annniinrrtTifnti, weather and agriculture reports, scare and local news, spores broadcasts, and a Hispan. ic music program. "I think a lot of small radio stations do exactly what we're doing, which is tty to be just as local as possible," he says, brushing aside the praise. "Oir first story on each newscast ia the obituary if there is one. hk a ttadL tion I inherited when I bought the station in 1980. Just as soon is the futrer- . , '5V? 'Xjrl la al KVMC things?"' he recalls. the obituary; they fax it to is," he says. chief news reporter; Baum typically his station's as Acting attends meeriqgs of dre school board, hcqjital board, and city counciL Every morning he talks with the police dispatcher far al home romplm pcreible stories. A typical day: "Animal control officer picked up a dead dqg at Seventh and Hickory Like many small stations, KVMC offers a swapand- . shop program caUedCAcBgMPqpaf&Ar.Trt anything that anybody wants to buy sell, rent, trade, give away; lost, or faund," he explains. The station charges $3 a week to pramore hems beiqg sold; tranrecrioos that donYhnube profit are fare. "We run a minimum of 10 public sendee announce; menu it day far local atgahnstions: Same days we tun as many as 20," he says. "We don't diaige churthes to advertise their events. If they want to buy some time, our policy is that we match whatever they buy by giviqg them an equal amount (of rime)." Rralixing the town needed a round-the-closource of information in totnado-pooo- e west Texas, he added KAUM-F(106.3) in .1982. The FM is a simulcast of the AM programming from 6 ajn. to sunset, then shifts to country music, local sports cov'. erage, and news bulletins until sunrise. . One night Ihadaman call in saying, Tve lost my best friend, my. dqf and he was truly despondent," Baum remembets. "I said that I bet we could find it. I game and said. Ifyou've seen this man's best friend, ghee us a alL Within 10 minutes, the dog was located and the owner called back to thank us." ck M : imanyc-edalexasRing- ea |