a Better Bubble™

KDHX

KDHX Q&A

1 year ago

 

How is KDHX doing financially?

KDHX has had a special focus on organizational financial health since 2015. In that time, KDHX has cleared over $2M of debt, established a cash reserve, had 6 “clean” annual federal audits, and invested resources back into radio programming. It is the fiduciary responsibility of the executive director and board to ensure the organization is financially healthy. KDHX went through a period of difficult financial times that called for direct action to re-establish financial health.

Read more…

Can I see KDHX's financial statements? 

KDHX's financial reports are made public on our website. Our annual audited financial statements and IRS 990 tax forms from the four years prior are posted.

Read more…

Why did KDHX move from the building on Magnolia? 

KDHX moved from 3504 Magnolia to 3524 Washington Ave in December of 2013. Magnolia had been the home of KDHX for more than 20 years. KDHX moved for several reasons.

Read more…

What happened to The Stage?

The Stage at KDHX is no longer a venue operated by KDHX. KDHX owns the building and leases the first floor, which contains a venue and bar, to Kranzberg Arts Foundation (KAF), which programs and staffs the space, now called Central Stage. There are two main reasons that KDHX no longer programs The Stage.

Read more…

What happened to the Folk School? 

The Folk School, as a full-fledged music school, is no longer a program of KDHX. There are a few reasons for this.

Read more…

When did Kelly Wells become Executive Director?

Kelly Wells has served as executive director of KDHX since September 2016. As executive director, Kelly works to cultivate the growth and transformation of KDHX to be people-centered, connected, and clear about collective vision and values.

Read more… 

How much money does KDHX spend on consultants?

KDHX partners with consultants in three ways. For specific projects like strategic planning. For expert guidance around specific priorities like building anti-racist capacity. For human resources support. In 2022, KDHX spent less than 1% of its operating budget on consultants.

Read more… 

Why does KDHX use 3rd party facilitators for difficult conversations?

KDHX began partnering with the Conflict Resolution Center (CRC) of St. Louis in 2021. CRC is a nonprofit dedicated to helping the St. Louis community resolve conflicts and disputes more peacefully. KDHX established the partnership for a variety of reasons.

Read more…

What was the Station Renewal Project?

In 2007, KDHX received a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). CPB initiated a two-phase Station Renewal Project to assist a limited number of public radio stations that were considered “at risk” stations because they were not meeting CPB expectations for listenership or financial support from listeners. KDHX fell into this category and was at risk of losing CPB funding. KDHX applied for and was granted a Station Renewal Project Grant, which was a two-year, $234,000 capacity-building grant.

Read more… 

Why doesn’t KDHX use the term “member”?

KDHX promotes inclusivity. KDHX has donors and supporters rather than members because at KDHX, the amount of money or the amount of time a partner can contribute is not the only measurement of someone’s investment in or commitment to KDHX nor will it have undue influence on the direction of the station.

Read more…

What benefits do Donors receive? 

A financial gift to KDHX ensures independent programming is available for all listeners when tuning into 88.1 FM or KDHX.org. Additionally, every donor at KDHX is a part of the Fan Club. The Fan Club is a monthly email that connects donors to music discovery by highlighting songs and videos recorded at KDHX Studios.

Read More...

What is Community-Centric Fundraising? 

In the last several years, KDHX has adopted a new model of fundraising known as Community-Centric Fundraising (CCF). Community-Centric Fundraising is a fundraising model grounded in equity and social justice. The ten core principles of CCF serve as a starting point for organizations to begin their CCF journey. KDHX is adapting the core principles of CCF to reflect how they show up at KDHX.

Read More… 

What is the process for adding new members to the board of directors?

Board members are appointed by the board or elected by the associate members (active volunteers) of KDHX. The Board maintains Board Expectations to guide the board’s work and to consider new board members. The Board regularly reviews the Board Expectations to ensure that they serve the needs of the organization and its commitments to increased board diversity.

Read more…

KDHX Q&A

1 year ago

 

How is KDHX doing financially?

KDHX has had a special focus on organizational financial health since 2015. In that time, KDHX has cleared over $2M of debt, established a cash reserve, had 6 “clean” annual federal audits, and invested resources back into radio programming. It is the fiduciary responsibility of the executive director and board to ensure the organization is financially healthy. KDHX went through a period of difficult financial times that called for direct action to re-establish financial health.

Read more…

Why did KDHX move from the building on Magnolia? 

KDHX moved from 3504 Magnolia to 3524 Washington Ave in December of 2013. Magnolia had been the home of KDHX for more than 20 years. KDHX moved for several reasons.

Read more…

What happened to The Stage?

The Stage at KDHX is no longer a venue operated by KDHX. KDHX owns the building and leases the first floor, which contains a venue and bar, to Kranzberg Arts Foundation (KAF), which programs and staffs the space, now called Central Stage. There are two main reasons that KDHX no longer programs The Stage.

Read more…

What happened to the Folk School? 

The Folk School, as a full-fledged music school, is no longer a program of KDHX. There are a few reasons for this.

Read more…

When did Kelly Wells become Executive Director?

Kelly Wells has served as executive director of KDHX since September 2016. As executive director, Kelly works to cultivate the growth and transformation of KDHX to be people-centered, connected, and clear about collective vision and values.

Read more… 

How much money does KDHX spend on consultants?

KDHX partners with consultants in three ways. For specific projects like strategic planning. For expert guidance around specific priorities like building anti-racist capacity. For human resources support. In 2022, KDHX spent less than 1% of its operating budget on consultants.

Read more… 

Why does KDHX use 3rd party facilitators for difficult conversations?

KDHX began partnering with the Conflict Resolution Center (CRC) of St. Louis in 2021. CRC is a nonprofit dedicated to helping the St. Louis community resolve conflicts and disputes more peacefully. KDHX established the partnership for a variety of reasons.

Read more…

What was the Station Renewal Project?

In 2007, KDHX received a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). CPB initiated a two-phase Station Renewal Project to assist a limited number of public radio stations that were considered “at risk” stations because they were not meeting CPB expectations for listenership or financial support from listeners. KDHX fell into this category and was at risk of losing CPB funding. KDHX applied for and was granted a Station Renewal Project Grant, which was a two-year, $234,000 capacity-building grant.

Read more… 

Why doesn’t KDHX use the term “member”?

KDHX promotes inclusivity. KDHX has donors and supporters rather than members because at KDHX, the amount of money or the amount of time a partner can contribute is not the only measurement of someone’s investment in or commitment to KDHX nor will it have undue influence on the direction of the station.

Read more…

What benefits do Donors receive? 

A financial gift to KDHX ensures independent programming is available for all listeners when tuning into 88.1 FM or KDHX.org. Additionally, every donor at KDHX is a part of the Fan Club. The Fan Club is a monthly email that connects donors to music discovery by highlighting songs and videos recorded at KDHX Studios.

Read More...

What is Community-Centric Fundraising? 

In the last several years, KDHX has adopted a new model of fundraising known as Community-Centric Fundraising (CCF). Community-Centric Fundraising is a fundraising model grounded in equity and social justice. The ten core principles of CCF serve as a starting point for organizations to begin their CCF journey. KDHX is adapting the core principles of CCF to reflect how they show up at KDHX.

Read More… 

What is the process for adding new members to the board of directors?

Board members are appointed by the board or elected by the associate members (active volunteers) of KDHX. The Board maintains Board Expectations to guide the board’s work and to consider new board members. The Board regularly reviews the Board Expectations to ensure that they serve the needs of the organization and its commitments to increased board diversity.

Read more…

Ways that you can support the power of music and the joy of discovery on KDHX

1 year 3 months ago

The success of KDHX is dependent on more than just financial support.

KDHX continues to thrive because of the remarkable community of listeners who support this station with generous gifts and also through meaningful actions and words. Please take a moment to take a look at the many ways that you can support the power of music and the joy of discovery on KDHX.

 You can support KDHX with a monthly or a single gift. Every gift makes a difference and has a huge impact at KDHX. Visit Support.KDHX.org. You never have to wait for one of our on-air Drives to give.

 You can donate a vehicle you no longer need. Donate a car, truck, RV, riding mower, motorcycle, scooter, tractor or boat. Our vehicle donation partner, CARS, can answer any questions you have and get the process started.

 You can make an impact by donating Real Estate. You can donate land, second homes, rental property, commercial real estate and estates.

 Include KDHX in your will or other planned giving. Contact your tax or legal advisor to find out how you can leave a lasting impact at KDHX and ensure that KDHX’s independent programming is here for years to come.

 Record a testimonial that we can use on the air to share why KDHX is important to you. If you’ve recently donated a vehicle, record a Vehicle Donor Testimonial or if you want to share with others why KDHX is important to you, record a Donor or Listener Testimonial. Contact donate@kdhx.org for all of the details.

 Spread the word about KDHX with a bumper sticker on your car, share our content on social media and tell your friends and family to tune in at 88.1 FM or at KDHX.org.  

 If you have recently given a gift to KDHX or if you give a monthly gift, check with your employer to see if they offer a Charitable Matching Gift program for their employees. You can double the impact of your support with a match. 

If you have questions about anything listed above, please get in touch with Andrea in Donor Relations. Email donate@kdhx.org or call 314-925-7529.

 

Sign The KDHX 35-Year Birthday Card!

1 year 6 months ago

This October KDHX is celebrating 35 years of broadcasting.

Thanks to listener-support, KDHX continues to provide joy, stimulation, inspiration and connection through our independent and commercial-free programming. 

There are many ways to support KDHX and we want to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who has contributed their time, shared their appreciation of KDHX with others, helped spread the word about the station with a KDHX T-shirt or a bumper sticker or given a financial gift with the donation of a vehicle or through individual giving. The partnership we have with you is why the station is here today. Thank you! 

We would love your help to celebrate this KDHX milestone by asking you to “sign” the KDHX Birthday Card. Please take a moment to share any birthday wishes, special messages or anything else you would like to share about your history with KDHX. 

Thank you!

Andrea
Donor Relations Director
(314) 925-7529
donate@kdhx.org

 

Contribute to the KDHX Fall Drive – September 26 to October 2

1 year 7 months ago

Thanks to listener-support, KDHX continues to provide joy, stimulation, inspiration and connection through our independent and commercial-free programming.

There are several ways that you can help during the Fall Drive:

  1. You can give a financial gift of support with a monthly gift of $10 or more or with a single gift of any amount today or during the Drive. Support.KDHX.org
  2. Inspire others to give. Ask your friends and family to give their first gift and ask them to include your name when they give online or when they call so we can thank you. 
  3. Donate a vehicle you no longer need any time throughout the year or during the Fall Drive. Support.KDHX.org

 

You are welcome to give a financial gift by mail via check or with a gift from a Donor Advised Fund. Please send to:

KDHX
Donor Relations
3524 Washington Ave
St Louis, MO 63103

During the Drive–September 26 to October 2–you can also call 314-925-7514 to give a gift during the hours of 7am to 7pm. Please contact Andrea in Donor Relations with any questions or if you would like to give a gift before the Drive begins. Call 314-925-7529 or email donate@kdhx.org

KDHX is a registered non-profit and is listed as Double Helix Corporation (DBA KDHX Community Media) with the IRS and the tax ID is 23-7170474.

 

KDHX Update From Executive Director Kelly Wells - June 2022

1 year 11 months ago

Every week at our KDHX staff meeting, we begin by reading our mission, purpose, and values statements.

The mission of KDHX is to build community through media. The purpose of KDHX is to use the power of music to engage and unite individuals and communities. Our values are responsible stewardship, unwavering independence, intentional partnership, unyielding integrity, boundless discovery, contagious passion, and unbridled joy. 

Each value is followed by a “we believe” statement.

Week after week, we read through these statements together, even when we think we know exactly what they mean. Even when we are tired of reading them. Even when it’s difficult to remember why it’s important that we read them or why it’s important to have them. 

Having a mission, a purpose, and a set of values is nonprofit 101. We all have them and we all put them front and center in our strategic plans and annual reports. We trot them out when we want to show that we’re doing something. 

But what does it mean to have values? What does it look like for an organization? What does it look like for KDHX?

A dictionary would define values as “principles or standards of behavior. One's judgment of what's important in life.” Author and researcher Brené Brown defines them as “a way of being or believing that we hold most important.” 

If values are not only principles or standards of behavior but also a way of being or believing that we hold most important, then our mission, purpose, and values shouldn’t sit on a shelf gathering dust. They can’t be something we just check off a list. Our values have to be something we actively seek to deeply understand and demonstrate. 

At KDHX our mission is what we do, our purpose is why we do it, and our values define the kind of people we want to be.

And so, we read our mission, purpose, and values every week so that they become our way of being. So that they are the lens through which we view every decision, project, goal, and even personal behavior. 

We are anchored to these statements. What do we do? We build community. Why do we do it? To unite individuals and communities through the power of music. Who do we want to be while doing this work? We want to be aligned with our people-centered values that create connections and belonging, foster passion and joy, and cling to integrity and independence. 

Every week as we read our mission, purpose, and values together, there is a deeper understanding and a sharper awareness of not only what these values mean, but how we can use them to guide us and define us. Being present with our values sets the tone for everything we do. Our goal at KDHX is to remain intensely curious and open as we continue to learn our way of being within our community.

 

 

Donate to the KDHX Spring Drive

2 years 1 month ago

The KDHX on-air Drives are when the partners of KDHX–the listeners, the staff, the volunteers and donors–demonstrate that they are united in their passion to ensure that there is always an abundance of diverse, unique and entertaining music to be experienced every minute of the day on KDHX. Together, we make KDHX possible. 

Every gift has an impact and makes a difference. Please give as generously as you can. Support.KDHX.org

You are welcome to give by mail via check or with a gift from a Donor Advised Fund:

KDHX
3524 Washington Ave
St Louis, MO 63103

During the Drive, you can also call 314-925-7514 to give a gift during the hours of 7am to 7pm. Please call Andrea in Donor Relations with any questions. 314-925-7529.

 

Notice: KDHX live stream player offline

2 years 3 months ago

Notice: The KDHX live stream player is offline due to an equipment issue.

This also means that the archives will be out of service until it is fixed.

We are working to remedy the situation as quickly as possible.

Thanks for your patience and we apologize for the inconvenience.

-The KDHX Staff

Give a Year-End Gift to support the power of music and the joy of discovery on KDHX!

2 years 4 months ago

You can help power every inspired moment of independent music you’ll enjoy on KDHX in the new year by giving a Year-End gift today! Visit Support.KDHX.org

Every gift has an impact at KDHX. Please give as generously as you can to support the world of discovery that can only be experienced on a commercial-free and independent station.

KDHX is committed to sharing independent music with everyone every day. Your support today will help ensure that the power of music and the joy of discovery continues in 2022.

Please also consider donating a vehicle you no longer need this holiday season.

In addition to using Support.KDHX.org to donate, you can also give a single gift or start a monthly gift by calling 314-925-7529.

Individual donations and gifts from a Donor Advised Fund can be mailed to:

KDHX 
3524 Washington Ave
Saint Louis, MO 63103

All gifts are tax deductible and our Tax ID is 23-7170474

For questions or more information please reach out to: 

Andrea Dunn - Donor Relations Director:
Email: donate@kdhx.org
Phone: (314) 925-7529

 

KDHX Update From Donor Relations Director Andrea Dunn

2 years 5 months ago

In October of this year, I observed my 20th anniversary as a KDHX volunteer and eight years in my current staff position as the Donor Relations Director. Over the last two decades it has been an honor and a privilege to be part of this organization that so many people hold dear and consider to be one of the best things about living in St. Louis. 

In 2020, the pandemic had a great effect on the nonprofit world. Some nonprofits flourished and others suffered great losses in funding. KDHX saw growth both in the number of donors, in the amount of funding we received from individuals and from vehicle donations. Why did the station do so well during the pandemic? We believe it is because we offer the much needed service of music that continues to serve as a refuge and a place of joy for so many during extremely hard times. And, as a radio station, we have the advantage of the airwaves to encourage people to donate and to form connections with the communities we serve.

As 2021 began, we were unsure if the growth we experienced in 2020 could be maintained. The projection in the public media sector was that funding would return to pre-pandemic levels. We are happy to report that the gains we saw in 2020 continue to be maintained and even exceeded. One of the goals of our Strategic Plan is to increase revenue by 5% each year over the next three years and we are already above our goal for 2021. The funding from our vehicle donation program this year is double what it was in 2020 and income from businesses, organizations and nonprofits that contribute to KDHX is rebounding from the hit it took during the lockdown phase of the pandemic.

As we prepare for 2022, we are excited to continue the work that is laid out in our Strategic Plan and to maintain the growth we have experienced over the last two years. As a staff, we continue to evaluate all facets of KDHX to ensure that we are a truly equitable organization and that includes the Donor Relations department. I am currently immersed in learning more about a relatively new fundraising philosophy known as Community-Centric Fundraising (CCF). There are several principles of this fundraising approach, many of which are a natural fit for KDHX. Here are a few of the CCF principles that we have begun to employ: 

  1. All who engage in strengthening the community are equally valued, whether volunteer, staff, donor, or board member.
  2. Time is valued equally as money.
  3. We treat donors as partners, and this means that we are transparent, and occasionally have difficult conversations.
  4. We foster a sense of belonging, not othering.

One of the other tenets of CCF is that every donation, no matter the amount, is equally valued and that is why, earlier this year, we removed the minimum donation amount to be a member of the KDHX Fan Club. While we will continue to offer suggested donation amounts, we will also ensure that all of our donors know that their support is valued and has a true impact no matter how much they can give.

Even before the idea of CCF was introduced to us, the belief that all gifts have an impact has always been part of KDHX’s foundation. This station has an incredibly wide-ranging audience that is very socioeconomically diverse. We have donors who gave us their stimulus checks in 2020 because they could afford to do so and we have donors who live from paycheck to paycheck and some whose sole income is from their social security or disability checks. They all give to KDHX because this station plays an important part in their lives and they want to be part of its success. Everyone who donates should receive the same degree of gratitude and recognition. 

We also recognize that not everyone can support KDHX financially and we are exploring ways to redefine what it means to be a “donor.” For instance, we have many listeners who are unable to give a gift of cash but they are able to donate a vehicle. How can people contribute to the success of KDHX in ways outside of giving a gift or even volunteering? We want to encourage and define “ambassadorship” and are developing ways of measuring the impact of listener participation outside of traditional metrics. 

You may have noticed that I do not hold the title of Director of Development, rather I am the Donor Relations Director. The emphasis here being that my focus is building relationships with our donors rather than seeing them only as a source of funding. Gifts from our donors are much more than just a donation—they are a declaration of commitment to commercial-free and independent radio. Our donors’ incentive to give is not because their gifts are tax-deductible but because they appreciate and value what this station stands for and offers.

I am honored to work with all of the partners that make this station possible—our listeners and donors and my fellow staff members along with our dedicated group of volunteers. Together, we will strengthen the role of public media and deliver the power of music and the joy of discovery to every one.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KDHX Update From Production and Technology Director Andy Coco

2 years 6 months ago

Just about the same time as KDHX turned 34 this October, I marked 20 years as a staff member and volunteer. It has been a wild ride, and I can say with fondness that I have seen many different faces in this wonderful community resource, and feel today as warmly and proud to be a part of it as ever.   

It strikes me that the now mainstream language related to equality in our communities is aligned with KDHX’s long standing ideals. Terms such as “equity,” “inclusion,” and “diversity,” now standard in the modern workplace, are the very concepts that drew me to leaving my corporate agency job for that “odd little non-profit community radio station on the South Side that plays everything, and does a healthy amount of live music.” (In fact, the first band I joined as a new musician in St. Louis played on air, on Stumble in the Dark at least twice in the late 90’s.)

Providing training and access to broadcast tools and to the airwaves, and thereby enabling our skilled and unskilled volunteers to participate at a professional level is one of the great tenets of the KDHX legacy, and one of my greatest joys in practice. The production department assumes direct responsibility for maintaining the systems and culture of learning that allow our volunteer producers to entertain and inform you on our platforms with near autonomy. The department’s team of advisors rely upon principles of responsible stewardship of resources, both technical and human, and partnership with our volunteers in order to consistently provide great content to our audience, while maintaining the highest possible quality standards for content that represents and aligns with our mission of building community through media.

At times, our most responsible stewardship of resources is the “pivot,” redirecting existing volunteer, intern and organizational resources into more practical or sustainable programs and systems, based on ever-changing needs and industry parameters. Here are some examples of recent department pivots in action.

The Pandemic and Production: We directed resources from regular live audio and event support, hands-on internship programs, and in-person new volunteer training, to offsite recording support for our DJs and producers, and in support of the media department. We began conducting lots and lots of training online. All DJs/show hosts and short feature content producers were given the option to handle their shows from home, and to be advised on how to do their regular KDHX volunteer production responsibilities from home. As Zoom became more universal, we began working with our talk programming/podcast hosts to record and produce their programs with guests online. Eventually we were able to bring calendar and short feature producers back to regular weekly production in house with staggered schedules and strict studio reservation policies. Our long-standing “Live at KDHX” series, in which we’ve invited musical artists to perform live on our airwaves in order to connect with new audiences, has endured despite the shutdown situations related to the pandemic. We have maintained this tradition and special feature of our resources by finding safe ways to produce our Listen Live & Local programming, which has continued monthly throughout these very strange past few years.  

Infrastructure Investment: A current standard in the Radio industry for content delivery, our automation system allows content scheduling and detailed reporting. This is the system we use to broadcast short pre-recorded announcements and features, and with a recent upgrade, we have created new content delivery options for our producers. This represents an investment in stability and reliability for a critical system that has many benefits to our production team and volunteer producers. Among the most important of the new features is a health/safety conscious option to broadcast from any studio in the building, helping to avoid cross-over studio occupation between transitioning volunteer DJs and content producers. 

Pivoting with Innovation: Somewhat incredible to me, a person who has been working with A/V production technology since well before Y2K, I am frankly blown away by the way that Zoom and other online video conferencing technology has revolutionized our industry. I find it particularly interesting in terms of increased access during an isolated time. While access to communication tools and tech are at an all time high, artists and musicians find themselves more hungry for audience connection opportunities, and are more accessible than ever. The difficulties presented by studio production technique and physical presence to conduct an interview, conversation, story or even a full-on performance are no longer prohibitive in ways they once were (very recently!). Our team has quickly identified the training opportunities and basic needs for our producers and guests to learn how to produce broadcast-ready content with these revolutionary tools. We look forward to the incredible opportunities that these trends offer us as story producers, content and context creators, and how it will certainly benefit our audience and our programming. Cool stuff!

KDHX leadership and the volunteer and audience partnerships that have been our lifeblood are in a great place to be able to maintain our programming, as well as increase stakeholder communication and engagement, and to achieve the many other goals set forth in our 2021-2024 Strategic Plan. The production department along with the other staff teams have the great responsibility for the very practical parts of that maintenance, but also, the tested systems and tools to support unflinching anti-racist capacity, desired growth of audience and community partnerships, and a more diverse volunteer base. I look forward to witnessing that growth, and working to facilitate KDHX realizing its full potential as an exemplary leader in practice in independent broadcasting.  

 

Sign The KDHX 34-Year Birthday Card!

2 years 6 months ago

KDHX is celebrating 34 years of broadcasting this October!

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the success of this station for more than three decades. Whether you have contributed your time, your efforts, or your financial support, all of us thank you for collaborating with the staff and volunteers to make KDHX one of the most successful independent stations in the country.

We would love your help in celebrating KDHX by asking you to “sign” the KDHX Birthday Card. Please take a moment to share any birthday wishes, special messages or anything else you would like to share about your history with KDHX. 

Thank you!
The KDHX Team

 

 

Donate A Vehicle To KDHX

2 years 8 months ago

Thank you for thinking of KDHX for your vehicle donation.

Our partner CARS, will handle the entire process for you from start to finish. You can contact our KDHX representative there at: 1-877-534-9876. You can also start the process online and find answer to your questions at: https://kdhx.careasy.org/home

Our vehicle donation partner, CARS (Charitable Adult Rides & Services), is also a non-profit located in San Diego. Since 2005 they have helped generate over $200,000,000 in revenue for public media. Through its car donation program, CARS supports On the Go, a local program providing affordable transportation solutions and delivery services to San Diego seniors. Every year, they reinvest in their community through meals and transportation solutions. They also have several additional programs through their parent organization, Jewish Family Service of San Diego. During the pandemic they provided over 1.5 million warm meals and access to a food pantry for San Diego residents in need.

Find out more about CARS and the work they do: 

 

A Look at KDHX’s Priorities: Our Plans to Increase Financial Stewardship & Management

3 years 2 months ago

The past decade at KDHX can be characterized by tremendous transition, growth, and obstacles. I recently shared that we have undergone a strategic planning process to guide us through a journey of (un)learning and leading. At the center of the process was the question, “How must KDHX boldly adapt and grow in order to advance its important mission-- to build community through media?”

Based on engagement with staff, donors, funders, volunteers and other KDHX community members, we committed to three key priority areas. To enact change within these priority areas, the Board of Directors and staff have identified and agreed to action steps.  

You can read about the first and second of these priority areas here.

The third of those three priorities is to increase financial stewardship and management. Like any nonprofit organization, diversifying funding streams and ensuring that fundraising practices are sustainable is a key ongoing consideration. In particular, we are interested in more fully aligning our funding strategy to our organization values. This will mean shifting a community-centric model of fundraising to create greater sustainability and ability to grow. (Community-centric fundraising is a fundraising model that is grounded in equity and social justice, which prioritizes community over individual organizations, fosters a sense of belonging and interdependence, presents work as holistic, and encourages mutual support between nonprofits. You can learn more at communitycentricfundraising.com.)

Here is our plan for this priority area over the next three years:

Increase Financial Stewardship & Management

The goal: 

By 2024, KDHX will increase fundraising by 15% by diversifying fundraising streams and implementing sector best practices for stewardship and financial management. 

KDHX has experienced great financial support from its listeners over the past years. By adopting a Community-Centered approach to fundraising efforts, the organization can diversify and expand its existing donor base and increase financial income. Diversifying channels of financial support and seeing a culture of philanthropy will create a strong foundation of funding for building capacity and program growth. Developing processes and procedures around donor communication, stewardship, and financial management will allow for transparency, efficiency, and advancement of resource development.

Achievement of this goal will be attained using the following action steps:

 

1: Adopt Fund Development Standard Operating Process & Procedures

-Increase efficiency and ensure transparency in fundraising practices

-Adopt community-centric donor communications and develop timeline

-Draft/update policies as needed 

 

 2: Adapt resource development activities to reflect Community-Centric Fundraising (CCF) practices

- Create a fund development plan to increase organizational fundraising by 15% over three years

-Set short-term and mid-term strategies for existing and new revenue streams

-Obtain board approval

 

3: Engage Fund Development Committee

-Align committee with CCF principles; rewrite committee description & expectations

-Obtain buy-in, roll-off and/or recruit

-Prepare for/communicate intensive engagement to build committee culture

 

4: Board Development and Training

-Strengthen board leadership and commitment; review and update Board Policies to align with strategic plan goals

-Obtain buy-in and/or roll-off

-Redefine board roles & responsibilities (Governance Committee)

-Adopt a Board Matrix & Standard for Representation

-Develop & Implement Board Orientation and ongoing training series

-Practice mission engagement and Board fellowship

 

To learn more about our strategic plan, click here.

Kelly Wells
Executive Director

 

The Grammys Deliver for Women

5 years 2 months ago

Album of the Year

INVASION OF PRIVACY / Cardi B

BY THE WAY, I FORGIVE YOU / Brandi Carlile

SCORPION / Drake

H.E.R / H.E.R.

BEERBONGS & BENTLEYS / Post Malone

DIRTY COMPUTER / Janelle Monáe

WINNER: GOLDEN HOUR / Kacey Musgraves

BLACK PANTHER: THE ALBUM / Kendrick Lamar and Various Artists 

 

Record Of The Year

“I Like It” ― Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin

“The Joke” ― Brandi Carlile

WINNER: “This Is America” ― Childish Gambino

“God’s Plan” ― Drake 

“Shallow” ― Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper

“All The Stars” ― Kendrick Lamar and SZA

“Rockstar” ― Post Malone, 

“The Middle” ― Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey

 

Song Of The Year

“All The Stars” ― Kendrick Duckworth, Solána Rowe, Al Shuckburgh, Mark Spears & Anthony Tiffith, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar & SZA)

“Boo’d Up” ― Larrance Dopson, Joelle James, Ella Mai & Dijon McFarlane, songwriters (Ella Mai)

“God’s Plan” ― Aubrey Graham, Daveon Jackson, Brock Korsan, Ron LaTour, Matthew Samuels & Noah Shebib, songwriters (Drake)

“In My Blood” ― Teddy Geiger, Scott Harris, Shawn Mendes & Geoffrey Warburton, songwriters (Shawn Mendes)

“The Joke” ―Brandi Carlile, Dave Cobb, Phil Hanseroth & Tim Hanseroth, songwriters (Brandi Carlile)

“The Middle” ― Sarah Aarons, Jordan K. Johnson, Stefan Johnson, Marcus Lomax, Kyle Trewartha, Michael Trewartha & Anton Zaslavski, songwriters (Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey)

“Shallow” ― Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando & Andrew Wyatt, songwriters (Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper)

WINNER: “This Is America” ― Donald Glover & Ludwig Goransson, songwriters (Childish Gambino)

 

Best New Artist

Chloe x Halle

Luke Combs

Greta Van Fleet

H.E.R.

WINNER: Dua Lipa

Margo Price

Bebe Rexha

Jorja Smith

 

Best Pop Solo Performance:

“Colors” — Beck

“Havana (Live)” — Camila Cabello

“God Is A Woman” — Ariana Grande

WINNER: “Joanne (Where Do You Think You’re Goin’?)” — Lady Gaga

“Better Now” — Post Malone

 

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

“Fall In Line” ― Christina Aguilera Featuring Demi Lovato

“Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” ― Backstreet Boys

″’S Wonderful” ― Tony Bennett & Diana Krall

WINNER: “Shallow” ― Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper

“Girls Like You” ― Maroon 5 Featuring Cardi B

“Say Something” ― Justin Timberlake Featuring Chris Stapleton

“The Middle” ― Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey

 

 Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

“Love Is Here To Stay” ― Tony Bennett & Diana Krall

WINNER: “My Way” ― Willie Nelson

“Nat “King” Cole & Me” ― Gregory Porter

“Standards (Deluxe)” ― Seal

“The Music...The Mem’ries...The Magic!” ― Barbra Streisand

 

 Best Pop Vocal Album

“Camila” ― Camila Cabello

“Meaning Of Life” ―Kelly Clarkson

WINNER: “Sweetener” ― Ariana Grande

“Shawn Mendes” ― Shawn Mendes

“Beautiful Trauma” ― P!nk

“Reputation” ― Taylor Swift

 

Best Dance Recording

“Northern Soul” ― Above & Beyond Featuring Richard Bedford

“Ultimatum” ― Disclosure (Featuring Fatoumata Diawara)

“Losing It” ― Fisher

WINNER: “Electricity” ― Silk City & Dua Lipa Featuring Diplo & Mark Ronson

“Ghost Voices” ― Virtual Self

 

Best Dance/Electronic Album

“Singularity” ― Jon Hopkins

WINNER: “Woman Worldwide” ― Justice

“Treehouse” ― Sofi Tukker

“Oil Of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides” ― SOPHIE

“Lune Rouge” ― TOKiMONSTA

 

Best Contemporary Instrumental Album

WINNER: “Steve Gadd Band” ― Steve Gadd Band

“The Emancipation Procrastination” ― Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah

“Modern Lore” ― Julian Lage

 

“Laid Black” ― Marcus Miller

“Protocol 4” ― Simon Phillips


 Best Rock Performance  

“Four Out Of Five” ― Arctic Monkeys

WINNER: “When Bad Does Good” ― Chris Cornell

“Made An America” ― THE FEVER 333

“Highway Tune” ― Greta Van Fleet

“Uncomfortable” ― Halestorm
      

Best Metal Performance

“Condemned To The Gallows” ― Between The Buried And Me

“Honeycomb” ― Deafheaven

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WINNER: “Electric Messiah” ― High On Fire

“Betrayer” ― Trivium

“On My Teeth” ― Underoath
     

Best Rock Song

“Black Smoke Rising” ― Jacob Thomas Kiszka, Joshua Michael Kiszka, Samuel Francis Kiszka & Daniel Robert Wagner, songwriters (Greta Van Fleet)

“Jumpsuit” ― Tyler Joseph, songwriter (Twenty One Pilots)

“MANTRA” ― Jordan Fish, Matthew Kean, Lee Malia, Matthew Nicholls & Oliver Sykes, songwriters (Bring Me The Horizon)

WINNER; “Masseduction” ― Jack Antonoff & Annie Clark, songwriters (St. Vincent)

“Rats” ― Tom Dalgety & A Ghoul Writer, songwriters (Ghost)

 

Best Rock Album

“Rainier Fog” ― Alice In Chains

“M A  N   I    A” ― Fall Out Boy

“Prequelle” ― Ghost

WINNER: “From The Fires” ― Greta Van Fleet

“Pacific Daydream” ― Weezer

 

Best Alternative Music Album

“Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino” ― Arctic Monkeys

WINNER: “Colors” ― Beck

“Utopia” ― Björk

“American Utopia” ― David Byrne

“Masseduction” ― St. Vincent

 

Best R&B Performance

“Long As I Live” ― Toni Braxton

“Summer” ― The Carters

“Y O Y” ― “Lalah Hathaway”

WINNER: “Best Part” ― H.E.R. Featuring Daniel Caesar

“First Began” ― PJ Morton
     

Best Traditional R&B Performance

WINNER: “Bet Ain’t Worth The Hand” ―Leon Bridges

“Don’t Fall Apart On Me Tonight” ― Bettye LaVette

“Honest” ― MAJOR.

WINNER: “How Deep Is Your Love” ― PJ Morton Featuring Yebba

“Made For Love” ― Charlie Wilson Featuring Lalah Hathaway
      

Best R&B Song 

WINNER: “Boo’d Up” ― Larrance Dopson, Joelle James, Ella Mai & Dijon McFarlane, songwriters (Ella Mai)

“Come Through And Chill” ― Jermaine Cole, Miguel Pimentel & Salaam Remi, songwriters (Miguel Featuring J. Cole & Salaam Remi)

“Feels Like Summer” ― Donald Glover & Ludwig Goransson, songwriters (Childish Gambino)

“Focus” ― Darhyl Camper Jr, H.E.R. & Justin Love, songwriters (H.E.R.)

“Long As I Live” ― Paul Boutin, Toni Braxton & Antonio Dixon, songwriters (Toni Braxton)

 

Best Urban Contemporary Album

WINNER: “Everything Is Love” ― The Carters

“The Kids Are Alright” ― Chloe x Halle

“Chris Dave And The Drumhedz” ― Chris Dave And The Drumhedz

“War & Leisure” ― Miguel

“Ventriloquism” ― Meshell Ndegeocello

 

Best R&B Album

“Sex & Cigarettes” ― Toni Braxton

“Good Thing” ― Leon Bridges

“Honestly” ― Lalah Hathaway

WINNER: “H.E.R.” ― H.E.R.

“Gumbo Unplugged (Live)” ― PJ Morton

 

Best Rap Performance

“Be Careful” ― Cardi B

“Nice For What” ― Drake

WINNER: “King’s Dead” ― Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future & James Blake

WINNER: “Bubblin” ― Anderson .Paak

“Sicko Mode” ― Travis Scott, Drake, Big Hawk & Swae Lee

 

Best Rap/Sung Performance

“Like I Do” ― Christina Aguilera Featuring Goldlink

“Pretty Little Fears” ― 6lack Featuring J. Cole

WINNER: “This Is America” ― Childish Gambino

“All The Stars” ― Kendrick Lamar & SZA

“Rockstar” ―Post Malone Featuring 21 Savage

 

Best Rap Song

WINNER: “God’s Plan” ― Aubrey Graham, Daveon Jackson, Brock Korsan, Ron LaTour, Matthew Samuels & Noah Shebib, songwriters (Drake)

“King’s Dead” ― Kendrick Duckworth, Samuel Gloade, James Litherland, Johnny McKinzie, Mark Spears, Travis Walton, Nayvadius Wilburn & Michael Williams II, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future & James Blake)

“Lucky You” ― R. Fraser, G. Lucas, M. Mathers, M. Samuels & J. Sweet, songwriters (Eminem Featuring Joyner Lucas)

“Sicko Mode” ― Khalif Brown, Rogét Chahayed, BryTavious Chambers, Mike Dean, Mirsad Dervic, Kevin Gomringer, Tim Gomringer, Aubrey Graham, John Edward Hawkins, Chauncey Hollis, Jacques Webster, Ozan Yildirim & Cydel Young, songwriters (Travis Scott, Drake, Big Hawk & Swae Lee)

“Win” ― K. Duckworth, A. Hernandez, J. McKinzie, M. Samuels & C. Thompson, songwriters (Jay Rock)
   

Best Rap Album

WINNER: “Invasion Of Privacy” ― Cardi B

“Swimming” ― Mac Miller

“Victory Lap” ― Nipsey Hussle

“Daytona” ― Pusha T

“Astroworld” ― Travis Scott

 

 Best Country Solo Performance

“Wouldn’t It Be Great?” ― Loretta Lynn

“Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters” ― Maren Morris

WINNER: “Butterflies” ― Kacey Musgraves

“Millionaire” ― Chris Stapleton

“Parallel Line” ― Keith Urban
      

Best Country Duo/Group Performance

“Shoot Me Straight” ― Brothers Osborne

WINNER: “Tequila” ― Dan + Shay

“When Someone Stops Loving You” ― Little Big Town  

“Dear Hate” ― Maren Morris Featuring Vince Gill

“Meant To Be” ― Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line
      

Best Country Song

“Break Up In The End” ― Jessie Jo Dillon, Chase McGill & Jon Nite, songwriters (Cole Swindell)

“Dear Hate” ― Tom Douglas, David Hodges & Maren Morris, songwriters (Maren Morris Featuring Vince Gill)

“I Lived It” ― Rhett Akins, Ross Copperman, Ashley Gorley & Ben Hayslip, songwriters (Blake Shelton)

WINNER: “Space Cowboy” ― Luke Laird, Shane McAnally & Kacey Musgraves, songwriters (Kacey Musgraves)

“Tequila” ― Nicolle Galyon, Jordan Reynolds & Dan Smyers, songwriters (Dan + Shay)

“When Someone Stops Loving You” ― Hillary Lindsey, Chase McGill & Lori McKenna, songwriters (Little Big Town)
 

Best Country Album

“Unapologetically” ― Kelsea Ballerini

“Port Saint Joe” ―Brothers Osborne

“Girl Going Nowhere” ― Ashley McBryde

WINNER: “Golden Hour” ― Kacey Musgraves

“From A Room: Volume 2” ― Chris Stapleton

 

Best New Age Album

“Hiraeth,” Lisa Gerrard & David Kuckhemann

“Beloved,” Snatam Kaur

WINNER: “Opium Moon,” Opium Moon

“Molecules of Motion,” Steve Roach

“Moku Maluhia” – Peaceful Island, Jim Kimo West

 

Best Improvised Jazz Solo 

“Some of That Sunshine,” Regina Carter

WINNER: “Don’t Fence Me In,” John Daversa

“We See,” Fred Hersch

“De-Dah,” Brad Mehldau

“Cadenas,” Miguel Zenón

 

Best Jazz Vocal Album

“My Mood Is You,” Freddy Cole

”The Questions,” Kurt Elling

”The Subject Tonight Is Love,” Kate Mcgarry with Keith Ganz & Gary Versace

”If You Really Want,” Raul Midón with The Metropole Orkest conducted by Vince Mendoza

WINNER: ”The Window,” Cécile Mclorin Salvant

 

Best Jazz Instrumental Album 

“Diamond Cut,” Tia Fuller

“Live in Europe,” Fred Hersch Trio

“Seymour Reads the Constitution!,” Brad Mehldau Trio

“Still Dreaming,” Joshua Redman, Ron Miles, Scott Colley & Brian Blade

WINNER: “Emanon,” The Wayne Shorter Quartet

 

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album 

“All About That Basie,” The Count Basie Orchestra directed by Scotty Barnhart

WINNER: “American Dreamers: Voices of Hope, Music of Freedom,” John Daversa Big Band featuring DACA Artists

“Presence,” Orrin Evans and the Captain Black Big Band

“All Can Work,” John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble

“Barefoot Dances and Other Visions,” Jim Mcneely & The Frankfurt Radio Big Band

 

Best Latin Jazz Album 

“Heart of Brazil, Eddie Daniels

WINNER: “Back to the Sunset,” Dafnis Prieto Big Band

“West Side Story Reimagined,” Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band

“Cinque,” Elio Villafranca

“Yo Soy La Tradicion,” Miguel Zenón featuring Spektral Quartet

 

Best Gospel Performance/Song 

“You Will Win,” Jekalyn Carr

”Won’t He Do It,” Koryn Hawthorne

WINNER: ”Never Alone,” Tori Kelly featuring Kirk Franklin

”Cycles,” Jonathan McReynolds featuring DOE

”A Great Work,” Brian Courtney Wilson

 

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song 

“Reckless Love,” Cory Asbury

WINNER: “You Say,” Lauren Daigle

“Joy,” King & Country

”Grace Got You,” MercyMe featuring John Reube

”Known,” Tauren Wells 

 

Best Gospel Album 

“One Nation Under God,” Jekalyn Carr

WINNER: “Hiding Place,” Tori Kelly

“Make Room,” Jonathan McReynolds

“The Other Side,” The Walls Group

“A Great Work,” Brian Courtney Wilson

 

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album 

WINNER: “Look Up Child,” Lauren Daigle

“Hallelujah Here Below,” Elevation Worship

“Living With a Fire,” Jesus Culture 

“Surrounded,” Michael W, Smith

“Survivor: Live From Harding Prison,” Zach Williams

 

Best Gospel Roots Album

WINNER: “Unexpected,” Jason Crabb

“Clear Skies,” Ernie Haase & Signature Sound

“Favorites: Revisited By Request,” The Isaacs

“Still Standing,” The Martins

“Love Love Love,” Gordon Mote

 

Best Latin Pop Album 

“Prometo,“Pablo Alboran

WINNER: “Sincera,” Claudia Brant

“Musas (Un Homenaje Al Folclore Latinoamericano En Manos De Los Macorinos), Vol. 2,” Natalia Lafourcade

“2:00 AM,” Raquel Sofía

“Vives,” Carlos Vives

 

Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album:

“Claroscura,” Aterciopelados

”COASTCITY,” COASTCITY

”Encanto Tropical,” Monsieur Periné

“Gourmet,” Orishas

WINNER: “Aztlán,” Zoé

 

Best Regional Mexican Music Album

“Primero Soy Mexicana,” Angela Aguilar

”Mitad Y Mitad,” Calibre 50

“Totalmente Juan Gabriel Vol. II,” Aida Cuevas

”Cruzando Borders,” Los Texmaniacs

“Leyendas De Mi Pueblo,” Mariachi Sol De Mexico De Jose Hernandez

WINNER: ”¡México Por Siempre!,” Luis Miguel

 

Best Tropical Latin Album

“Pa’Mi Gente,” Charlie Aponte

“Legado,” Formell Y Los Van Van

“Orquesta Akokán,” Orquesta Akokán

“Ponle Actitud,” Felipe Peláez

WINNER: “Anniversary,” Spanish Harlem Orchestra

 

Best American Roots Performance 

“Kick Rocks,” Sean Ardoin

“Saint James Infirmary Blues,” Jon Batiste

WINNER: “The Joke,” Brandi Carlile

“All On My Mind,” Anderson East

“Last Man Standing,” Willie Nelson

 

Best American Roots Song

“All the Trouble,” Lee Ann Womack

“Build a Bridge,” Mavis Staples

WINNER: “The Joke,”Brandi Carlile

“Knockin’ On Your Screen Door,” John Prine

“Summer’s End,” John Prine

 

Best Americana Album 

WINNER: “By the Way, I Forgive You,” Brandi Carlile

“Things Have Changed,” Bettye LaVette

“The Tree of Forgiveness,” John Prine

“The Lonely, The Lonesome & The Gone,” Lee Ann Womack

“One Drop of Truth,” The Wood Brothers

 

Best Bluegrass Album

“Portraits in Fiddles,” Mike Barnett

“Sister Sadie II,” Sister Sadie

“Rivers and Roads,” Special Consensus

WINNER: “The Travelin’ McCourys”, The Travelin’ McCourys

“North of Despair,” Wood & Wire

 

Best Traditional Blues Album 

“Something Smells Funky ’Round Here,” Elvin Bishop’s Big Fun Trio

“Benton County Relic,” Cedric Burnside

WINNER: “The Blues Is Alive and Well,” Buddy Guy

“No Mercy in This Land,” Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite

“Don’t You Feel My Leg (The Naughty Bawdy Blues of Blue Lu Barker),” Maria Muldaur

 

Best Contemporary Blues Album 

WINNER: “Please Don’t Be Dead,” Fantastic Negrito

“Here in Babylon,” Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps

“Cry No More,” Danielle Nicole

“Out of the Blues,” Boz Scaggs

“Victor Wainwright and the Train,” Victor Wainwright and the Train

 

Best Folk Album 

“Whistle Down the Wind,” Joan Baez

“Black Cowboys,” Dom Flemons

“Rifles & Rosary Beads,” Mary Gauthier

“Weed Garden,” Iron & Wine

WINNER: “All Ashore,” Punch Brothers

 

Best Regional Roots Music Album 

“Kreole Rock and Soul,” Sean Ardoin

“Spyboy,” Cha Wa

“Aloha From Na Hoa,” Na Hoa

WINNER: “No ’Ane’I,” Kalani Pe’a

“Mewasinsational – Cree Round Dance Songs,” Young Spirit

 

Best Reggae Album 

“As The World Turns,” Black Uhuru

”Reggae Forever,” Etana

”Rebellion Rises,” Ziggy Marley

”A Matter of Time,” Protoje

WINNER: ”44/876, Sting & Shaggy

 

Best World Music Album

“Deran,” Bombino

“Fenfo,” Fatoumata Diawara

“Black Times,” Seun Kuti & Egypt 80

WINNER: “Freedom,” Soweto Gospel Choir

“The Lost Songs of World War II,” Yiddish Glory

The Grammys Deliver for Women

5 years 2 months ago

Album of the Year

INVASION OF PRIVACY / Cardi B

BY THE WAY, I FORGIVE YOU / Brandi Carlile

SCORPION / Drake

H.E.R / H.E.R.

BEERBONGS & BENTLEYS / Post Malone

DIRTY COMPUTER / Janelle Monáe

WINNER: GOLDEN HOUR / Kacey Musgraves

BLACK PANTHER: THE ALBUM / Kendrick Lamar and Various Artists 

 

Record Of The Year

“I Like It” ― Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin

“The Joke” ― Brandi Carlile

WINNER: “This Is America” ― Childish Gambino

“God’s Plan” ― Drake 

“Shallow” ― Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper

“All The Stars” ― Kendrick Lamar and SZA

“Rockstar” ― Post Malone, 

“The Middle” ― Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey

 

Song Of The Year

“All The Stars” ― Kendrick Duckworth, Solána Rowe, Al Shuckburgh, Mark Spears & Anthony Tiffith, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar & SZA)

“Boo’d Up” ― Larrance Dopson, Joelle James, Ella Mai & Dijon McFarlane, songwriters (Ella Mai)

“God’s Plan” ― Aubrey Graham, Daveon Jackson, Brock Korsan, Ron LaTour, Matthew Samuels & Noah Shebib, songwriters (Drake)

“In My Blood” ― Teddy Geiger, Scott Harris, Shawn Mendes & Geoffrey Warburton, songwriters (Shawn Mendes)

“The Joke” ―Brandi Carlile, Dave Cobb, Phil Hanseroth & Tim Hanseroth, songwriters (Brandi Carlile)

“The Middle” ― Sarah Aarons, Jordan K. Johnson, Stefan Johnson, Marcus Lomax, Kyle Trewartha, Michael Trewartha & Anton Zaslavski, songwriters (Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey)

“Shallow” ― Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando & Andrew Wyatt, songwriters (Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper)

WINNER: “This Is America” ― Donald Glover & Ludwig Goransson, songwriters (Childish Gambino)

 

Best New Artist

Chloe x Halle

Luke Combs

Greta Van Fleet

H.E.R.

WINNER: Dua Lipa

Margo Price

Bebe Rexha

Jorja Smith

 

Best Pop Solo Performance:

“Colors” — Beck

“Havana (Live)” — Camila Cabello

“God Is A Woman” — Ariana Grande

WINNER: “Joanne (Where Do You Think You’re Goin’?)” — Lady Gaga

“Better Now” — Post Malone

 

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

“Fall In Line” ― Christina Aguilera Featuring Demi Lovato

“Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” ― Backstreet Boys

″’S Wonderful” ― Tony Bennett & Diana Krall

WINNER: “Shallow” ― Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper

“Girls Like You” ― Maroon 5 Featuring Cardi B

“Say Something” ― Justin Timberlake Featuring Chris Stapleton

“The Middle” ― Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey

 

 Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

“Love Is Here To Stay” ― Tony Bennett & Diana Krall

WINNER: “My Way” ― Willie Nelson

“Nat “King” Cole & Me” ― Gregory Porter

“Standards (Deluxe)” ― Seal

“The Music...The Mem’ries...The Magic!” ― Barbra Streisand

 

 Best Pop Vocal Album

“Camila” ― Camila Cabello

“Meaning Of Life” ―Kelly Clarkson

WINNER: “Sweetener” ― Ariana Grande

“Shawn Mendes” ― Shawn Mendes

“Beautiful Trauma” ― P!nk

“Reputation” ― Taylor Swift

 

Best Dance Recording

“Northern Soul” ― Above & Beyond Featuring Richard Bedford

“Ultimatum” ― Disclosure (Featuring Fatoumata Diawara)

“Losing It” ― Fisher

WINNER: “Electricity” ― Silk City & Dua Lipa Featuring Diplo & Mark Ronson

“Ghost Voices” ― Virtual Self

 

Best Dance/Electronic Album

“Singularity” ― Jon Hopkins

WINNER: “Woman Worldwide” ― Justice

“Treehouse” ― Sofi Tukker

“Oil Of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides” ― SOPHIE

“Lune Rouge” ― TOKiMONSTA

 

Best Contemporary Instrumental Album

WINNER: “Steve Gadd Band” ― Steve Gadd Band

“The Emancipation Procrastination” ― Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah

“Modern Lore” ― Julian Lage

 

“Laid Black” ― Marcus Miller

“Protocol 4” ― Simon Phillips


 Best Rock Performance  

“Four Out Of Five” ― Arctic Monkeys

WINNER: “When Bad Does Good” ― Chris Cornell

“Made An America” ― THE FEVER 333

“Highway Tune” ― Greta Van Fleet

“Uncomfortable” ― Halestorm
      

Best Metal Performance

“Condemned To The Gallows” ― Between The Buried And Me

“Honeycomb” ― Deafheaven

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WINNER: “Electric Messiah” ― High On Fire

“Betrayer” ― Trivium

“On My Teeth” ― Underoath
     

Best Rock Song

“Black Smoke Rising” ― Jacob Thomas Kiszka, Joshua Michael Kiszka, Samuel Francis Kiszka & Daniel Robert Wagner, songwriters (Greta Van Fleet)

“Jumpsuit” ― Tyler Joseph, songwriter (Twenty One Pilots)

“MANTRA” ― Jordan Fish, Matthew Kean, Lee Malia, Matthew Nicholls & Oliver Sykes, songwriters (Bring Me The Horizon)

WINNER; “Masseduction” ― Jack Antonoff & Annie Clark, songwriters (St. Vincent)

“Rats” ― Tom Dalgety & A Ghoul Writer, songwriters (Ghost)

 

Best Rock Album

“Rainier Fog” ― Alice In Chains

“M A  N   I    A” ― Fall Out Boy

“Prequelle” ― Ghost

WINNER: “From The Fires” ― Greta Van Fleet

“Pacific Daydream” ― Weezer

 

Best Alternative Music Album

“Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino” ― Arctic Monkeys

WINNER: “Colors” ― Beck

“Utopia” ― Björk

“American Utopia” ― David Byrne

“Masseduction” ― St. Vincent

 

Best R&B Performance

“Long As I Live” ― Toni Braxton

“Summer” ― The Carters

“Y O Y” ― “Lalah Hathaway”

WINNER: “Best Part” ― H.E.R. Featuring Daniel Caesar

“First Began” ― PJ Morton
     

Best Traditional R&B Performance

WINNER: “Bet Ain’t Worth The Hand” ―Leon Bridges

“Don’t Fall Apart On Me Tonight” ― Bettye LaVette

“Honest” ― MAJOR.

WINNER: “How Deep Is Your Love” ― PJ Morton Featuring Yebba

“Made For Love” ― Charlie Wilson Featuring Lalah Hathaway
      

Best R&B Song 

WINNER: “Boo’d Up” ― Larrance Dopson, Joelle James, Ella Mai & Dijon McFarlane, songwriters (Ella Mai)

“Come Through And Chill” ― Jermaine Cole, Miguel Pimentel & Salaam Remi, songwriters (Miguel Featuring J. Cole & Salaam Remi)

“Feels Like Summer” ― Donald Glover & Ludwig Goransson, songwriters (Childish Gambino)

“Focus” ― Darhyl Camper Jr, H.E.R. & Justin Love, songwriters (H.E.R.)

“Long As I Live” ― Paul Boutin, Toni Braxton & Antonio Dixon, songwriters (Toni Braxton)

 

Best Urban Contemporary Album

WINNER: “Everything Is Love” ― The Carters

“The Kids Are Alright” ― Chloe x Halle

“Chris Dave And The Drumhedz” ― Chris Dave And The Drumhedz

“War & Leisure” ― Miguel

“Ventriloquism” ― Meshell Ndegeocello

 

Best R&B Album

“Sex & Cigarettes” ― Toni Braxton

“Good Thing” ― Leon Bridges

“Honestly” ― Lalah Hathaway

WINNER: “H.E.R.” ― H.E.R.

“Gumbo Unplugged (Live)” ― PJ Morton

 

Best Rap Performance

“Be Careful” ― Cardi B

“Nice For What” ― Drake

WINNER: “King’s Dead” ― Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future & James Blake

WINNER: “Bubblin” ― Anderson .Paak

“Sicko Mode” ― Travis Scott, Drake, Big Hawk & Swae Lee

 

Best Rap/Sung Performance

“Like I Do” ― Christina Aguilera Featuring Goldlink

“Pretty Little Fears” ― 6lack Featuring J. Cole

WINNER: “This Is America” ― Childish Gambino

“All The Stars” ― Kendrick Lamar & SZA

“Rockstar” ―Post Malone Featuring 21 Savage

 

Best Rap Song

WINNER: “God’s Plan” ― Aubrey Graham, Daveon Jackson, Brock Korsan, Ron LaTour, Matthew Samuels & Noah Shebib, songwriters (Drake)

“King’s Dead” ― Kendrick Duckworth, Samuel Gloade, James Litherland, Johnny McKinzie, Mark Spears, Travis Walton, Nayvadius Wilburn & Michael Williams II, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future & James Blake)

“Lucky You” ― R. Fraser, G. Lucas, M. Mathers, M. Samuels & J. Sweet, songwriters (Eminem Featuring Joyner Lucas)

“Sicko Mode” ― Khalif Brown, Rogét Chahayed, BryTavious Chambers, Mike Dean, Mirsad Dervic, Kevin Gomringer, Tim Gomringer, Aubrey Graham, John Edward Hawkins, Chauncey Hollis, Jacques Webster, Ozan Yildirim & Cydel Young, songwriters (Travis Scott, Drake, Big Hawk & Swae Lee)

“Win” ― K. Duckworth, A. Hernandez, J. McKinzie, M. Samuels & C. Thompson, songwriters (Jay Rock)
   

Best Rap Album

WINNER: “Invasion Of Privacy” ― Cardi B

“Swimming” ― Mac Miller

“Victory Lap” ― Nipsey Hussle

“Daytona” ― Pusha T

“Astroworld” ― Travis Scott

 

 Best Country Solo Performance

“Wouldn’t It Be Great?” ― Loretta Lynn

“Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters” ― Maren Morris

WINNER: “Butterflies” ― Kacey Musgraves

“Millionaire” ― Chris Stapleton

“Parallel Line” ― Keith Urban
      

Best Country Duo/Group Performance

“Shoot Me Straight” ― Brothers Osborne

WINNER: “Tequila” ― Dan + Shay

“When Someone Stops Loving You” ― Little Big Town  

“Dear Hate” ― Maren Morris Featuring Vince Gill

“Meant To Be” ― Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line
      

Best Country Song

“Break Up In The End” ― Jessie Jo Dillon, Chase McGill & Jon Nite, songwriters (Cole Swindell)

“Dear Hate” ― Tom Douglas, David Hodges & Maren Morris, songwriters (Maren Morris Featuring Vince Gill)

“I Lived It” ― Rhett Akins, Ross Copperman, Ashley Gorley & Ben Hayslip, songwriters (Blake Shelton)

WINNER: “Space Cowboy” ― Luke Laird, Shane McAnally & Kacey Musgraves, songwriters (Kacey Musgraves)

“Tequila” ― Nicolle Galyon, Jordan Reynolds & Dan Smyers, songwriters (Dan + Shay)

“When Someone Stops Loving You” ― Hillary Lindsey, Chase McGill & Lori McKenna, songwriters (Little Big Town)
 

Best Country Album

“Unapologetically” ― Kelsea Ballerini

“Port Saint Joe” ―Brothers Osborne

“Girl Going Nowhere” ― Ashley McBryde

WINNER: “Golden Hour” ― Kacey Musgraves

“From A Room: Volume 2” ― Chris Stapleton

 

Best New Age Album

“Hiraeth,” Lisa Gerrard & David Kuckhemann

“Beloved,” Snatam Kaur

WINNER: “Opium Moon,” Opium Moon

“Molecules of Motion,” Steve Roach

“Moku Maluhia” – Peaceful Island, Jim Kimo West

 

Best Improvised Jazz Solo 

“Some of That Sunshine,” Regina Carter

WINNER: “Don’t Fence Me In,” John Daversa

“We See,” Fred Hersch

“De-Dah,” Brad Mehldau

“Cadenas,” Miguel Zenón

 

Best Jazz Vocal Album

“My Mood Is You,” Freddy Cole

”The Questions,” Kurt Elling

”The Subject Tonight Is Love,” Kate Mcgarry with Keith Ganz & Gary Versace

”If You Really Want,” Raul Midón with The Metropole Orkest conducted by Vince Mendoza

WINNER: ”The Window,” Cécile Mclorin Salvant

 

Best Jazz Instrumental Album 

“Diamond Cut,” Tia Fuller

“Live in Europe,” Fred Hersch Trio

“Seymour Reads the Constitution!,” Brad Mehldau Trio

“Still Dreaming,” Joshua Redman, Ron Miles, Scott Colley & Brian Blade

WINNER: “Emanon,” The Wayne Shorter Quartet

 

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album 

“All About That Basie,” The Count Basie Orchestra directed by Scotty Barnhart

WINNER: “American Dreamers: Voices of Hope, Music of Freedom,” John Daversa Big Band featuring DACA Artists

“Presence,” Orrin Evans and the Captain Black Big Band

“All Can Work,” John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble

“Barefoot Dances and Other Visions,” Jim Mcneely & The Frankfurt Radio Big Band

 

Best Latin Jazz Album 

“Heart of Brazil, Eddie Daniels

WINNER: “Back to the Sunset,” Dafnis Prieto Big Band

“West Side Story Reimagined,” Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band

“Cinque,” Elio Villafranca

“Yo Soy La Tradicion,” Miguel Zenón featuring Spektral Quartet

 

Best Gospel Performance/Song 

“You Will Win,” Jekalyn Carr

”Won’t He Do It,” Koryn Hawthorne

WINNER: ”Never Alone,” Tori Kelly featuring Kirk Franklin

”Cycles,” Jonathan McReynolds featuring DOE

”A Great Work,” Brian Courtney Wilson

 

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song 

“Reckless Love,” Cory Asbury

WINNER: “You Say,” Lauren Daigle

“Joy,” King & Country

”Grace Got You,” MercyMe featuring John Reube

”Known,” Tauren Wells 

 

Best Gospel Album 

“One Nation Under God,” Jekalyn Carr

WINNER: “Hiding Place,” Tori Kelly

“Make Room,” Jonathan McReynolds

“The Other Side,” The Walls Group

“A Great Work,” Brian Courtney Wilson

 

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album 

WINNER: “Look Up Child,” Lauren Daigle

“Hallelujah Here Below,” Elevation Worship

“Living With a Fire,” Jesus Culture 

“Surrounded,” Michael W, Smith

“Survivor: Live From Harding Prison,” Zach Williams

 

Best Gospel Roots Album

WINNER: “Unexpected,” Jason Crabb

“Clear Skies,” Ernie Haase & Signature Sound

“Favorites: Revisited By Request,” The Isaacs

“Still Standing,” The Martins

“Love Love Love,” Gordon Mote

 

Best Latin Pop Album 

“Prometo,“Pablo Alboran

WINNER: “Sincera,” Claudia Brant

“Musas (Un Homenaje Al Folclore Latinoamericano En Manos De Los Macorinos), Vol. 2,” Natalia Lafourcade

“2:00 AM,” Raquel Sofía

“Vives,” Carlos Vives

 

Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album:

“Claroscura,” Aterciopelados

”COASTCITY,” COASTCITY

”Encanto Tropical,” Monsieur Periné

“Gourmet,” Orishas

WINNER: “Aztlán,” Zoé

 

Best Regional Mexican Music Album

“Primero Soy Mexicana,” Angela Aguilar

”Mitad Y Mitad,” Calibre 50

“Totalmente Juan Gabriel Vol. II,” Aida Cuevas

”Cruzando Borders,” Los Texmaniacs

“Leyendas De Mi Pueblo,” Mariachi Sol De Mexico De Jose Hernandez

WINNER: ”¡México Por Siempre!,” Luis Miguel

 

Best Tropical Latin Album

“Pa’Mi Gente,” Charlie Aponte

“Legado,” Formell Y Los Van Van

“Orquesta Akokán,” Orquesta Akokán

“Ponle Actitud,” Felipe Peláez

WINNER: “Anniversary,” Spanish Harlem Orchestra

 

Best American Roots Performance 

“Kick Rocks,” Sean Ardoin

“Saint James Infirmary Blues,” Jon Batiste

WINNER: “The Joke,” Brandi Carlile

“All On My Mind,” Anderson East

“Last Man Standing,” Willie Nelson

 

Best American Roots Song

“All the Trouble,” Lee Ann Womack

“Build a Bridge,” Mavis Staples

WINNER: “The Joke,”Brandi Carlile

“Knockin’ On Your Screen Door,” John Prine

“Summer’s End,” John Prine

 

Best Americana Album 

WINNER: “By the Way, I Forgive You,” Brandi Carlile

“Things Have Changed,” Bettye LaVette

“The Tree of Forgiveness,” John Prine

“The Lonely, The Lonesome & The Gone,” Lee Ann Womack

“One Drop of Truth,” The Wood Brothers

 

Best Bluegrass Album

“Portraits in Fiddles,” Mike Barnett

“Sister Sadie II,” Sister Sadie

“Rivers and Roads,” Special Consensus

WINNER: “The Travelin’ McCourys”, The Travelin’ McCourys

“North of Despair,” Wood & Wire

 

Best Traditional Blues Album 

“Something Smells Funky ’Round Here,” Elvin Bishop’s Big Fun Trio

“Benton County Relic,” Cedric Burnside

WINNER: “The Blues Is Alive and Well,” Buddy Guy

“No Mercy in This Land,” Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite

“Don’t You Feel My Leg (The Naughty Bawdy Blues of Blue Lu Barker),” Maria Muldaur

 

Best Contemporary Blues Album 

WINNER: “Please Don’t Be Dead,” Fantastic Negrito

“Here in Babylon,” Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps

“Cry No More,” Danielle Nicole

“Out of the Blues,” Boz Scaggs

“Victor Wainwright and the Train,” Victor Wainwright and the Train

 

Best Folk Album 

“Whistle Down the Wind,” Joan Baez

“Black Cowboys,” Dom Flemons

“Rifles & Rosary Beads,” Mary Gauthier

“Weed Garden,” Iron & Wine

WINNER: “All Ashore,” Punch Brothers

 

Best Regional Roots Music Album 

“Kreole Rock and Soul,” Sean Ardoin

“Spyboy,” Cha Wa

“Aloha From Na Hoa,” Na Hoa

WINNER: “No ’Ane’I,” Kalani Pe’a

“Mewasinsational – Cree Round Dance Songs,” Young Spirit

 

Best Reggae Album 

“As The World Turns,” Black Uhuru

”Reggae Forever,” Etana

”Rebellion Rises,” Ziggy Marley

”A Matter of Time,” Protoje

WINNER: ”44/876, Sting & Shaggy

 

Best World Music Album

“Deran,” Bombino

“Fenfo,” Fatoumata Diawara

“Black Times,” Seun Kuti & Egypt 80

WINNER: “Freedom,” Soweto Gospel Choir

“The Lost Songs of World War II,” Yiddish Glory

Earthworms podcast brings 'The Invasive Species Follies' to The Stage

7 years 1 month ago

On the evening of Sunday, March 26, environmentalist-minded community members gathered at The Stage at KDHX for "The Invasive Species Follies: Bush Honeysuckle, Mosquitos, Us," an educational variety show with a you-can-do spin. Hosted by Jean Ponzi of KDHX's Earthorms podcast, the show featured live music, drama, and education, all centered on two of St. Louis's biggest invasive species: the bush honeysuckle and the mosquito. 

Despite the subject matter, the mood during The Invasive Species Follies multifarious acts was anything but doom and gloom. There was laughter abound during the "Honeysuckle Cabaret," a marionette show created by Christine Torlina and Gary Schimmelpfenig in which Ponzi and Dale Dufer, her husband and Follies co-producer, play characters who fight evil honeysuckle bushes and encounter levitating tables. The audience was charmed with the "Honeysuckle Table Fable" starring Ruby and Eli Ackerman, a fantastical skit in which girl and the spirit of bush honeysuckle learn to coexist. 

The evening show also featured a (sort of) 'adult-oriented' act, in which 'Sarah the Honeysuckle Stripper' (Sarah Bundy) lasciviously stripped the bark off of a honeysuckle bough in a dress handmade entirely out -- you guessed it -- honeysuckle fibers and wood. The show's lighthearted atmosphere was complemented by music from St. Louis's own Augusta Bottoms Consort, whose setlist included "Time to Kill the Rooster" off 2000's Bottomland and some Follies-exclusive songs including Gloria Attoun's true-experience "Diggin' Up That Honeysuckle." 

Sunday evening's show also included some serious moments for learning and reflection. Ponzi provided information about bush honeysuckle and mosquitos (specifically, the three types of mosquito that transmit diseases to humans), as well as things people can do in their lives to counter these pesky species. Dale Dufer of Think About Tables gave a short demonstration on how to turn honeysuckle into beautiful, organic-looking tables, thereby giving uprooted plants a second life. The show also featured Jenn DeRose of the Green Dining Alliance, who gave a presentation on the organization's mission of promoting sustainable practices within local restaurants. 

The show closed on an optimistic note with a cover of Bing Crosby's "Accentuate the Positive," sung by Ponzi and backed by the Augusta Bottoms Consort. The song encapsulated the forward-looking essence of the show. "We want the audience to come away with a positive feeling and motivation to do something," Ponzi said in a phone interview the day before, acknowledging that it's common for environmentalists to fall into the doomsday mentality. "Sometimes, it's not all that easy to make this stuff funny," Ponzi said. "But it's a worthwhile effort." 

Keep watch for the next Follies and in the meantime subscribe to the Earthworms podcasts including related episodes such as "Fight the Bite," "Beyond the War on Invasive Species," "Bush Honeysuckle: Sweep It!

KDHX Chuck Berry Tribute CD Available

7 years 1 month ago

In 2004 former KDHX DJ Kip Loui gathered some of the most talented musicians in St. Louis to produce a Chuck Berry tribute album for KDHX titled "Brown Eyed Handsome Man". In honor of the recent passing of the St. Louis legend and founding father of rock 'n' roll, we are making a limited run available to order from our online store. Recorded at the Magnolia Studios, this CD features recordings of famous Chuck Berry tunes reinterpreted by Fontella Bass, Jay Farrar, Bottle Rockets, The Skeletons, and more. Roy Kasten, DJ of Feel Like Going Home on Wednesday mornings 7-10 a.m., wrote the liner notes:

Chuck Berry has been called the poet laureate of rock & roll, but that doesn’t go far enough. Dramatist, historian, philosopher, and sociologist, Berry can tell you more about the promise of rock & roll than any music critic can. “Hail, hail rock & roll/Deliver me from the days of old,” he sang. Berry didn’t bluff. He gave voice to a new culture with wit, wordplay, and narratives that trumped catchy novelties, though he could write those, too. His greatest songs — so full of life, so affectionately detailed, so rhythmically natural, so observant and so playful — rock for the sake of rocking, for how good it feels to have no particular place to go because that means you can go anywhere.

Berry wrote some fine blues — especially “Have Mercy Judge” and “Why Should We End This Way?” — but he paid no mind to fate and received repetition. His verbal ingenuity is spectacular; a souped-up groove is all it takes to let the imagination rip. All the junk and jewels of America — the glory is you can’t tell them apart — are packed into the most compressed form. His songs move, the rhymes rocking in perfect time, the stories grabbing you from the get-go: “Tulane and Johnny opened a novelty shop/Back under the corner was the cream of the crop/Everything was clicking’ and the business was good/‘Till one day, lo and behold, an officer stood.” His style isn’t inimitable, and it isn’t precisely original; it’s archetypal and American. Once that would have been a contradiction, but that was before Berry turned the sound of a subculture into a universal lingo and made three-minute dance numbers into comprehensive portraits of life.

Berry’s characters — the mysterious Brown-Eyed Handsome Man, Memphis Marie, Tulane and Johnny, and Sweet Little Sixteen, with her grown-up blues and fan-club photos — resonated with an audience hip to the cinematic realism of “On the Waterfront” and “Giant” but even hipper to the wave of rocking rhythm and blues cresting before them. Years before he walked into Chess studios to record “Maybellene,” Berry was integrating country and blues in St. Louis bars. When he changed Johnny B. Goode from “colored boy” to “country boy,” he wasn’t pandering; he was stretching his audience and his art. His songs rarely confronted class and color lines directly; they made an end run to the wide open space on the other side.

Once asked to name his favorite cover version, Berry grinned and replied, “All of them.” To cover Chuck Berry is to find the abracadabra of rock & roll, to open a thousand creative doors. Our lives are never so open-ended, our possibilities never really endless. But punch up the juke box and for three minutes “Around and Around,” “Come On,” and “Little Queenie” present more freedom, more truth, and more delight than you could otherwise hope for. It just goes to show that with a great rock & roll song, and with the artist who set the gold standard, you really never can tell.

Tracklist
  1. Fontella Bass- "Brown Eyed Handsome Man"
  2. Bottle Rockets- "Come On"
  3. Earl- "Beautiful Delilah" 
  4. Jay Farrar- "Why Should We End This Way"
  5. Rockhouse Ramblers- "Tulane"
  6. Tinhorn- "Club Nitty Gritty"
  7. The Skeletons- "Jaguar & Thunderbird"
  8. Soulard Blues Band- "No Money Down"
  9. Bennie Smith & The Urban Express- "Viva Viva Rock & Roll"
  10. Waterloo- "No Particular Place to Go"
  11. The Gentlemen Callers- "Ramona Say Yes"
  12. The Phonocapters- "Little Queenie"
  13. Gumbohead- "You Never Can Tell"
  14. Highway Matrons- "Sweet Little Sixteen"
  15. Bob Reuter & Palookaville- "Bye Bye Johnny"
  16. The Orbits- "Thirty Days"
  17. Trip Daddys- "Johnny B. Goode"
  18. Magnolia Summer- "Around & Around" 

Order your copy here!

Through Universality, Inclusion: Community-builder and artist Gina Alvarez of Living Arts Studio

7 years 1 month ago

Gina Alvarez is the Executive Director at Living Arts Studio, a non-profit organization based in Maplewood that gives artists with disabilities a place to explore their passion for art. "We aren't approaching art as a rehabilitation or therapeutic tool," Alvarez explains -- nonetheless adding, "art does change lives." Given the freedom to express themselves and adapt to positive feedback, artists develop a unique confidence in their abilities: "They can initially walk in and think 'I don't know,' and then a year later say 'I am an artist.'"

Valentine' Day celebrations.

When I visited the studio just before Valentine's Day, everyone was getting ready to show their love. Colorful heart-shaped balloons made the environment even homier, while fellow artists collaborated on a project in which they drew hearts in their own unique styles. 

Aided by Alvarez, Living Arts not only facilitates art-making but also introduces artists with disabilities to a wider community beyond the studio. Member artists have exhibited their work at venues such as the Sheldon Art Gallery and the University City Library. For Alvarez, this represents the community-building promise of art: "The level of exhibition opportunities they are participating in is notable. I think that's huge. The sense of accomplishment anybody would experience with opportunities like that is tremendous." She also believes in the potential of her artists: "Pursuing exhibitions at high-calibre venues shows that people with disabilities can participate on that level, and should, and will."  

Since joining Living Arts Studio in May of 2012, Alvarez has witnessed the progress her artists have made in their art careers. But more importantly, she is thrilled to see them gain community and friendship in the studio as they build trust between each other and with facilitators. "I don't think it's easy walking into any studio and agreeing to be part of something that you are not entirely sure what it is."

Living Arts Studio is always actively seeking methods to improve their programs and increase accessibility. "We work with cultural institutions through workshops, and see what accessibility looks like in programing, in art tools, and how you adapt tools to meet the needs of people with disabilities," Alvarez explained. The studio also uses the help of other institutions to "mould the programs into a more universal design." As Alvarez put it, "Through universality, there is inclusion."  

        Larry Eisenberg at work.

Artist Larry Eisenberg has been part of the community at Living Arts Studio for over a year now. Seeing his father work on architecture design growing up, Eisenberg has taken to drawing houses and making art that shows a sense of space. "I am always looking for something that reminds me of landscape beauty," he pointed out. For Eisenberg, the freedom of creativity is expansive: "You never make mistakes because it doesn't matter if it it's art." Laughing, he added, "Nobody knows."

Melelani Perry, another artist, found belonging at Living Arts. When I asked Perry what the studio means to her, without hesitation she said, "Safe. Everyone is friendly and keeps us laughing." 

Melelani Perry with her work.

Perry came to the studio two years ago wanting something different. She learned to sew and alter her own clothes. A recurring theme in Perry's work has been images of women. Using self-portraits or pictures from magazines or self-portraits, she bedazzles her women with colorful tapes, glitter and stickers. Inspired by Buddhism and the mandala, Perry often gives her women a third eye, a symbol of spiritual enlightenment. She also uses markers for exaggerated makeup, which adds a postmodern quality to her work. "I put myself in my art a lot. It's my signature," Perry explained. Alvarez added, "Because you are the one thing you know the best, right?" 

The fulfillment Alvarez gets from her work goes beyond seeing the positive change art-making can bring to others -- it has also made her a better artist. "They work totally intuitively without criticism of their own personal process, often with reckless abandon. The freedom they have is extremely inspiring to me."

Producing sculptural objects and installations using ceramics, glass, fiber and print techniques, Alvarez has exhibited her own work in solo and group exhibitions at many venues, including the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, Gallery 210, Boots Contemporary Art, the Center for Creative Arts, Craft Alliance, the Des Lee Gallery, Pele Prints and fort gondo. She has received abundant recognition from both local and national organizations and has also curated many shows at these same spaces. 

Besides her careers as an artist and director of Living Arts, Alvarez teaches at St. Louis Community College, Forest Park and serves as Executive Director of VSA Missouri, which promotes arts resources for people with disabilities. 

Her path to Living Arts began when she was Gallery Director at the St. Louis Artists' Guild. While working there, she and the former Executive Director of Living Arts Studio and VSA Missouri curated an exhibition in the Sight and Vision series called Speaking Volumes, for artists Susan Shie, who is visually-impaired, and Richard Meyers, who is hearing-impaired. Through that experience Alvarez decided to come work at Living Art Studio.

Alvarez recalled how, with no background in social services, she went through a learning curve as she transitioned from a working artist to something of a community organizer, aided in part by her experience in the Regional Arts Commission's Community Arts Training Institute. But being an artist rather than a social worker has meant that she makes sure to treat members as artists first and foremost. Alvarez explains, "It has changed my personal practice to be less individual and more community-based. It has had an impact on me personally in ways I never anticipated as a working artist." 

KDHX Board and Meetings

8 years 1 month ago

KDHX is licensed to the Double Helix Corporation, a non-profit community media organization that a Board of Directors governs. The corporation is independent of any governmental entity and is not affiliated with any religious or educational organization.

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is responsible for ensuring that the organization meets its strategic vision goals.

Board members are appointed by the board or elected by the associate members (active volunteers) of KDHX. The board maintains Board Expectations to guide the board's work and to consider new board members. The board regularly reviews the Board Expectations to ensure that they serve the needs of the organization and its commitments to increased board diversity.

The most important aspect of adding board members is ensuring that new members understand the strategic vision of KDHX and the board's role in the partnership with board, staff, volunteers, and listeners. The board has a duty to recruit, nominate, and vet new board members and apply an intentional process to select new members. The By-laws of KDHX allow for up to 15 board members and do not specify a timeline for filling vacancies.

To contact the board of directors, you may email KDHXBoard@kdhx.org.

Open Meetings and Closed Sessions

All meetings of the board of directors, during which official business will be conducted, are open to the public. Portions of each board meeting may be held in executive session due to discussions of personnel matters, proprietary matters, information obtained on a confidential basis or matters requiring confidential advice of counsel. Executive sessions are closed to the public.

2023 Meeting Times and Locations

Board meetings are held on the 3rd Monday of every other month. Meetings are held online via Zoom at 6:00 p.m. Changes to the meeting dates or times will be posted to this website with as much advance notice as possible.

Without advance notice, the board of directors may convene a closed executive session to discuss or conduct confidential matters. 

Board of Directors Meetings

  • January 30
  • March 20
  • May 15
  • July 17
  • September 18
  • November 20

Zoom Webinar Information for the November Board Meeting:
November 20, 2023, 6:00 p.m.
CLICK HERE to enter the webinar.
Webinar ID: 884 5946 0818
Passcode: 716269
Dail in #: 309-205-3325

KDHX Board of Directors

  • Gary Pierson - President
  • James Hill - Vice President
  • Ray Finney - Treasurer
  • Joan Bray
  • Paul Dever 
  • Franc Flotron

Recent Meeting Minutes


**The KDHX board of directors held a closed executive session on October 14, 2023, to discuss legal, financial, and personnel matters of the station.

  Community Advisory Board

The Community Advisory Board shall advise the station's governing body with respect to whether the programming and other policies of the station are meeting the specialized educational and cultural needs of the communities served by the station and may make such recommendations as it considers appropriate to meet such needs.

Open Meetings and Closed Sessions

Meetings of the Community Advisory Board are open to the public.

2023 Meeting Times and Location

Unless otherwise noted, meetings are held at 6:00 pm at the Larry J. Weir Center for Independent Media, 3524 Washington Ave, Saint Louis, MO 63103. For more information, contact Kelly Wells, Executive Director, at kwells@kdhx.org.

CAB Meetings

  • TBA

KDHX Community Advisory Board

  • Todd Alan
  • Tom Eaton
  • Jeremy Miller
  • Ken Mocabee
  • Ed Reggi
  • Jody Sowell

 

 

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