a Better Bubble™

KDHX

Board of Double Helix secures future for organization with sale of its FCC license

1 week 6 days ago

The board of directors of Double Helix Corporation, the current licensee for FM 88.1 KDHX St. Louis, has made the decision to sell its FCC license and broadcast tower. This decision secures the organization’s ability to continue its mission and creates a solid foundation for a successful transition, thus responding to current changes in the media landscape.

With mission and sustainability as a driving focus, the board has signed an agreement with K-LOVE, Inc. to sell the FCC license and broadcast tower and has asked the U.S. Bankruptcy Court to approve the agreement. 

Careful thought was given to the decision to sell assets, and many factors were considered. Double Helix was able to negotiate an offer that exceeds expected market value at a time when the value of broadcast licenses is declining. By selling these assets now, Double Helix can save over $500,000 in needed broadcast infrastructure repairs and instead can redirect that money toward future projects. We are selling these assets when they can bring the most value to help us secure our future and achieve our mission.

We understand that this decision brings concerns and questions, and we want to assure our community that Double Helix’s future remains strong and community-driven. This sale is not the end of KDHX—it is a transformation that allows us to continue our mission in new and sustainable ways. While we don’t yet know all the ways we will do that, we look forward to a time of gathering input from volunteers, listeners, content creators, and industry leaders to help shape this future. 

Double Helix’s future remains rooted in its commitment to independent, community-driven media. By securing financial independence, we are ensuring that the organization can continue to evolve, adapt, and serve its audience without the burden of financial instability. This transition enables us to reinvest in innovative programming, expand our digital presence, and create new opportunities for community engagement. 

While the medium may change, our mission remains the same—to build community through media, driven by the voices, stories, and creativity of those we serve.

Remembering DJ Ranx

2 weeks 4 days ago

We are sad to share that DJ Ranx passed away on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.

In his nearly 25 years of volunteer service at KDHX, he co-hosted a DHTV local music show, played many music festivals and fundraisers, and exposed thousands of listeners in St. Louis and worldwide to the righteous grooves of dub reggae.

In 2023, DJ Ranx’s show, Dub Mixture, moved from overnight on Saturdays to Tuesdays at noon. This not only allowed a much larger audience to hear Dub Mixture (lunchtime dub!), but it also allowed us, the KDHX staff and volunteer community, to get to know him so much better. He radiated cool vibes, he was always a pleasure to see, and he was the perennial favorite of everybody’s moms.

There never was a more kind, talented, and peaceful person. He will be sorely missed. 

– Jesse Hebisen

Read more about DJ Ranx in this Volunteer Spotlight.

KDHX Debt vs Community Support

3 weeks 3 days ago

All of the following numbers come from KDHX’s 990 tax documents filed with the IRS. The numbers in the 990s come from audited financial statements that meet the threshold for federal audit requirements as dictated by KDHX’s agreement with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

In 2015, KDHX owed $5.3M in construction loans, building notes, payroll taxes, and overdue bills. Today, KDHX carries a little over $2M in debt, a total debt reduction of 63% from 2015 to the present.

Here’s a simple graph showing KDHX’s total annual liabilities (short and long term bills and debt) from 2010 to 2024:

- KDHX hit its peak of debt in 2013-2014. That's when KDHX moved to the new building in Grand Center.

Here’s a simple graph showing KDHX’s total income (individual donations, grants, underwriting) for KDHX from 2010 to 2024:

- Support peaked in 2011, before the public portion of the capital campaign to support the move to Grand Center began.   
- Listener support due to listening habits during COVID-19, plus federal COVID-19 relief funds contributed to the income spike in 2020.

Here are the two graphs on the same scale for comparison. Events significant to KDHX have been noted:

Blue line = Liabilities (Debt + Bills)  -  Red Line = Total Income

KDHX Response to The League of Volunteer Enthusiasts Plan

2 months 1 week ago

February 27, 2025

Statement from KDHX Board of Directors

Roy Kasten, representing The League of Volunteer Enthusiasts of KDHX, Inc. sent KDHX a prospectus dated February 19, 2025, offering $100,000 in immediate financial relief, with an additional $100,000 promised for future use, all of which come with untenable and ill-considered strings attached. With this financial offer, The League of Volunteer Enthusiasts purports to address short- and long-term financial stability for KDHX and claims their plan will "preserve and strengthen" KDHX. Their plan does none of these things.

On its face, the prospectus is not a serious document. It either naively or willfully misinterprets KDHX's public financial records. The annual budget of KDHX has been over $1M for two full decades, which any cursory examination of publicly available records would have revealed. To put it simply, $100,000 doesn't begin to address the costs of necessary short-term repairs, and we fail to see how the plan addresses the promised long-term stability.

The prospectus indicates that The League of Volunteer Enthusiasts has access to $200,000: $100,000 available immediately and an additional $100,000 that we assume has been pledged but not raised. The board and leadership of KDHX, like many of our non-profit colleagues, know better than to base major financial decisions on unpaid pledges. Some of the current members of The League of Volunteer Enthusiasts should also know better. In fact, League of Volunteer Enthusiasts spokesperson Caron House was KDHX’s former Development Director. Caron oversaw KDHX's failed $5M Capital Campaign (2012-2014), which raised less than half the funds necessary to move the organization into Grand Center (a move that the 2013 board, led by Andrew Scavotto, and the former Executive Director elected to make nevertheless, hoping that additional donors would come through, “Field of Dreams” style, once they saw KDHX in its new location, which of course never happened). That campaign failed to raise even its short-term goal of $2.5M because a significant number of pledges, including some from other members and allies of The League, remain unfulfilled to this day. 

Again, we consider this proposal to be a non-starter. It is based on a seriously flawed financial understanding and is rooted in the kind of magical thinking that contributed to KDHX’s long-standing financial instability. Repeating the problems of the past – with some of the same actors who contributed to KDHX’s current financial situation – will do nothing to save KDHX.

You can read their plan HERE

Important Notice From KDHX (2)

2 months 1 week ago

January 31, 2025

Statement from Gary Pierson - President of KDHX Community Media Board of Directors

This evening, KDHX will pause live broadcasts on 88.1 FM and kdhx.org due to financial challenges. 

The station does not have the resources to sustain current operations. As a result, our small staff has made significant financial sacrifices. All volunteer content production roles, including our valued volunteer DJs, have been discontinued. This was a difficult decision for our board as our audience has grown and expanded in recent years, most notably online.

Several factors have contributed to this decision, including long standing financial pressures, industry-wide challenges for public media, and a decline in financial support. Unfortunately, recent disparagement campaigns and senseless lawsuits have severely impacted fundraising.

To continue serving our listeners locally and worldwide, previously recorded programming will air on 88.1 FM and kdhx.org beginning tonight at 7 p.m. CST. Meanwhile, our board is actively exploring options for the future of KDHX to continue fulfilling our mission of building community through media.

We understand that this news is disappointing. We deeply appreciate the support of our volunteers, listeners, and donors over the years. If you value independent, community-driven programming, we encourage you to stay engaged by visiting KDHX.org for updates. 

Important Notice From KDHX

2 months 1 week ago

January 31, 2025

Statement from Gary Pierson - President of KDHX Community Media Board of Directors

This evening, KDHX will pause live broadcasts on 88.1 FM and kdhx.org due to financial challenges. 

The station does not have the resources to sustain current operations. As a result, our small staff has made significant financial sacrifices. All volunteer content production roles, including our valued volunteer DJs, have been discontinued. This was a difficult decision for our board as our audience has grown and expanded in recent years, most notably online.

Several factors have contributed to this decision, including long standing financial pressures, industry-wide challenges for public media, and a decline in financial support. Unfortunately, recent disparagement campaigns and senseless lawsuits have severely impacted fundraising.

To continue serving our listeners locally and worldwide, previously recorded programming will air on 88.1 FM and kdhx.org beginning tonight at 7 p.m. CST. Meanwhile, our board is actively exploring options for the future of KDHX to continue fulfilling our mission of building community through media.

We understand that this news is disappointing. We deeply appreciate the support of our volunteers, listeners, and donors over the years. If you value independent, community-driven programming, we encourage you to stay engaged by visiting KDHX.org for updates. 

Unity Fest 20204

6 months 1 week ago

Unity Fest 20204

Diverse Performers · Inspiring Speakers · Free Food & Drinks · Free Kid’s Crafts & Activities · Interfaith Prayers · Local Organization Booths

The third-ever Unity Fest will be held 11-4 PM on September 28th, 2024 at Leclaire Park, Edwardsville. We are soliciting fellow well-wishers of humanity, both individuals and organizations, to help with the success of this event. 

This free festival will include a main stage showcasing inspiring speakers and culturally diverse performers in promotion of the event theme: Serving CommUNITY Together. Family-friendly activities and age-appropriate lessons on diversity and unity. Interfaith prayers will be shared from a variety of denominations and religions. Additionally, booths throughout the park will feature like-minded organizations sharing information and/or activities. 

In an effort to uphold an inclusive spirit, no commerce will take place at the festival. Our sponsors will provide free food and non-alcoholic drinks from local minority-owned businesses. 

Our hope is to bring together as many different faces and voices of our community as possible. We look forward to your participation in this important event.

The Mixer at The Sheldon

6 months 1 week ago

The Mixer at The Sheldon -  A blend of music, art, food, and fun.

There is a special energy at The Sheldon when an art gallery opening reception and concert happen on the same night, and this year, we created an entire event around it – a celebration of the new season.

The Mixer promises to be a vibrant evening filled with music, art, and community spirit. We will kick off the season with the Folk Series opener, the Grammy-nominated husband-and-wife duo, The War and Treaty, alongside the much-anticipated gallery opening night showcasing our featured artists.

Free and open to the public, The Mixer features music by DJ sheBeatz, food vendors, and mocktails and cocktails on the Steward Family Plaza.

This is not just an opening; it’s a celebration of culture, community, and creativity. Whether you're a fan of live music, a lover of art, or simply looking for a lively evening out, this event offers fun for everyone.

Event: The Mixer: A Party to Celebrate the 24-25 Season at The Sheldon
When: Friday, September 27, 2024, 6-9 p.m.
Where: The Sheldon Concert Hall and Art Galleries
Tickets: Free and open to the public. Food and beverages available for purchase. Tickets to The War and Treaty concert sold separately at thesheldon.org.

Turn It Up!

6 months 4 weeks ago

KDHX is independent to the core–and it is going to take all of us, and we mean all of us–to do our part to keep it that way.

If you’re with us, make your donation to KDHX during our Fall Drive! September 9 to September 15.

There are many ways to support KDHX!

• Give a single gift or monthly gift online at Support.KDHX.org

• Venmo @kdhx881

• Cash App $KDHXSTL

• PayPal

Questions about your donations?
314-925-7529 or donate@kdhx.org

You can also mail your gift via your Donor Advised Fund or by check to:
KDHX
3524 Washington Ave
Saint Louis, MO 63103

Mercy Hospital and KDHX Blood Drive - Aug. 5-9

8 months ago

The Mercy Hospital and KDHX Blood Drive takes place Monday, August 5th through Friday, August 9th.

Your blood donation directly helps people who need it most, especially during the summer months when there is often a shortage of donors.

Every day, people of all ages and walks of life unexpectedly need blood. They could be accident victims, cancer patients or tiny babies in the NICU. When you give blood or platelets, you're giving someone the precious gift of life.

Mercy is the only hospital in the entire state of Missouri that performs blood drives outside of the hospital. Your decision to donate blood at Mercy could save someone's child, friend or loved one. 

Make an appointment by calling 314-251-GIVE, or schedule online

KDHX Media Sponsorship Event Profile: #HEALSTL

8 months 1 week ago

KDHX is proud to be the media sponsor for #HEALSTL Resource Fair taking place Sunday, August 4 from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. in Strauss Park.

The #HEALSTL Resource Fair will include wellness, arts, and education vendors, as well as a marketplace featuring local goods.

DJ She Beatz(former KDHX DJ and host of She Healz Radio) launched She Healz LLC. in 2021, as a wellness company that creates and implements holistic healing programming, in addition to offering fitness, advisory, and retail services.

#HEALSTL, a resource fair for arts, wellness, and education was launched by the company in 2023 with no budget or team, just a purpose in mind. The purpose of the fair is to promote wellness through arts and education while providing an unbiased and free platform for networking, recruiting, and opportunities among youth, artists, wellness professionals, and creatives in St. Louis. 

"I created #HEALSTL from the ground with no budget, no team, and no gimmicks, just the vision. The goal is to highlight the underdogs within the arts, wellness, and education fields to dispel local nepotism and lead by example regarding presenting genuine opportunities and platforms in St. Louis, Mo.," said DJ She Beatz. 

"The fair itself serves as a liaison between resources and the people who need them. With that in mind, I provided free vendor spots last year and I am doing the same this year. The difference this year is I'm engaging in sponsorships such as KDHX and RAC because the positive results and feedback inspired me to strive for an even better one this year and to actually go for the goals I set for this fair to make an impact every year."

Visit the She Healz website for more information.

Music History Happens Here

8 months 2 weeks ago

DJ Lady Edie B. was the first person to spin The Sugarhill Gang’s “Rappers Delight” in 1979 on WESL. The 14-minute-long, 12-inch single would later become known as Rap music’s first commercial hit and the beginning of Hip-Hop on the airwaves.

Despite their connection, the legendary musicians and legendary DJ never met – until they came together to make history again at KDHX on July 19, 2024.

DJ Lady Jock, co-host of Time Traveling My Way, was on hand as The Sugarhill Gang and Lady Edie B. met in person for the first time on the air, co-hosting the event with Soopaman DJ Speed on his show The Boombox. Lady Jock is also on-air legacy as the daughter of radio broadcaster, and WESL legend, Dr. Jockenstein.

The studio was packed with St. Louis radio history as “Gentleman” Jim Gates, then co-owner and program director for WESL, recalled handing Edie B. the “Rappers Delight” record and asking her to play it on her show.

Hear the July 19 broadcast again in the KDHX archives.

Give STL Day – Donate today

11 months ago

As St. Louis’s only truly independent radio station, KDHX continues to be the voice of our region by serving our listeners with diverse music and civic information provided by your neighbors and the people in your community. 

As stated by the St. Louis Community Foundation, “Give STL Day celebrates and supports the nonprofits that make our region a wonderful place to call home.”  In addition to exceptional music programming, KDHX is dedicated to being the place in St. Louis to showcase and highlight the work of the many non-profits doing important work to make St. Louis a great place to live.

For 36 years, KDHX has connected our listeners with non-profits that focus on education, music, the arts, the environment, and social services. We are excited to be actively expanding these connections to serve as a resource for people who need these services the most and to ensure that non-profits from every neighborhood in St. Louis have the opportunity to get the word out about their work. 

When you support KDHX, you are supporting the work of a nonprofit actively working to make St Louis a great place to live and to ensure that it just keeps getting better. 

Give STL Day is Thursday, May 9th. Early giving is open now. Donate today.

Community Spotlight: 26th Annual Saint Louis Tionól

11 months 3 weeks ago

The weekend of April 18-21 will see a gathering of some of the world’s best traditional Irish musicians for the Saint Louis Tionól.

This year marks the 26 year that brings musicians, dancers and singers from all over North America to take part in a four-day musical celebration that includes a ceili (dance), music, dance and ballad workshops, as well as two concerts, at the Focal Point in Maplewood and the Sheldon Concert Hall.

Pronounced “chun-awl,” tionól is the Irish word for a gathering and it describes the coming together from all over North America and Ireland of musicians intent on sharing their interest in the traditional music of the Celtic regions—music that came to North America with the first settlers and has grown into native genres such as old-time and bluegrass. 

For a quarter century, St. Louis has boasted one of the largest such gatherings in the United States.

“When it comes to Irish music events in North America, St Louis is definitely not flyover country,” said Andrew O’Brien, a Dublin-born fiddler and attorney who now lives in St. Louis. “It is an action-packed weekend of concerts, classes and sessions—informal Irish music jams—where the finest exponents of the art form are brought to St. Louis to play, teach and share. For one great weekend every year, St. Louis becomes a premium Irish culture hub and a place to be.”

Liz Knowles, an internationally recognized traditional Irish fiddle player and member of several bands, described it as an “in-between: a meeting place where people and music collide, bringing their collective knowledge and love of the instrument and their experience”. She went on to describe a weekend of concerts, workshops and sessions as all being part of a shared and interactive experience that makes the music come alive.

The St. Louis Tionól was born out of a meeting between Judy Stein, of the Focal Point, and musicians Michael “Piper” Cooney and Mike Mullins in 1997. The first year was a rousing success and the weekend has grown as people have become interested in their roots and had their hearts and minds captured by productions such as Riverdance. 

“By bringing together world class performers and teachers and hosting workshops, concerts and jam sessions, the St. Louis Tionól provides a much-needed link and pathway to pass along a tradition that many want to claim,” Mullins said. “With a total attendance of well over 3,000 since its inception, the St. Louis Tionól has become the event in the Midwest for lovers of traditional Irish music and is acknowledged as one of the events of the year for those interested in the music”. 

The highlight of the St. Louis Tionól will be a concert at the Sheldon Concert Hall on April 20, which will showcase our teachers who hail from Ireland and across North America. 

The Saturday concert begins at 7:30 pm. Tickets are available through the Sheldon or at the door. Children 12 and under are free. 

The weekend actually starts on Thursday, April 18 with a ceili and sessions at Pat Connolly’s Pub at Tamm and Oakland avenues. A ceili is lively social dance guaranteed to please. Jackie O’Riley will be teaching the dances as the evening progresses and music will be provided by our own ceili band. A session will take place that evening as well. More information is available at tionol.org

Workshops will be held Saturday, April 20th at St. Louis University High School. Both morning and afternoon workshops provide an excellent opportunity to learn new tunes, songs, and dances, not to mention techniques for all the instruments common to Irish music from master musicians. Newcomers are welcome; no experience is necessary to enjoy the dance or ballad workshops or learn a tune on the tin whistle or bodhrán (Irish drum). 

This year’s roster of teachers includes Liz Carroll, a recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts’ National Heritage Fellowship Award and a Grammy Award nominee. And Liz Knowles, of the band Open the Door for Three, will be here along with Pat Broaders, who will teach ballads, and Kieran O’Hare on pipes. 

A central part of the weekend will be the iconic “sound of Ireland”, the uilleann (pronounced "illin”) bagpipes which have recently been placed on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Guest pipers will include pre-eminent piper & winner of the coveted Gradam Ceoil Musician of the Year award for 2023, Mick O’Brien. We’re also thrilled to have Louise Mulcahy, a piper and flute player who’s won numerous awards and accolades as a musician and promotion of women pipers. Piper Ivan Goff, a native of Dublin and now living in New York will be joining us for the first time as well as piper Joey Abarta. 

The other instrument long associated with Ireland is the harp. This year, we’re very fortunate to have Máire Ní Chathasaigh who has been called the “doyenne of Irish harp players” (Scotland on Sunday) and “an absolute legend” (The Irish Echo). And in 2001 she was awarded the traditional musician of the year Gradam Ceoil TG4 accolade. She’ll be joined by guitarist Chris Newman who’s been described by BBC2 Radio as “one of the UK’s greatest guitarists.”

John Skelton, a longtime Tionól favorite and raconteur supreme, John Skelton will be teaching flute and we’ll have two of the finest whistle players in this part of the world, Kathleen Conneely and Frank Claudy, doing the honors in the whistle classes. We’re also delighted to have Kathleen’s sister, Pauline Ronan, joining us to teach tenor banjo.   

Liam O’Brien, from a great musical family in Clare will be coming in to teach concertina. And of course, there will be classes in Bodhrán with Chris Weddle. The Tionól includes several other workshops, all of which can be seen on tionol.org.

More information, including a schedule of all events, online workshop registration, and concert tickets can be found at tionol.org

KDHX is Irreplaceable–Donate during our Spring Drive

1 year 1 month ago

What keeps the airwaves filled with music on KDHX? You do!

KDHX kicks off our month-long fundraising campaign with our Spring On-Air Drive. From March 4 to March 10, give as generously as you can to support this irreplaceable radio station.

Listener support ensures that everyone has access to the power of music and the joy of discovery. 

You can visit Support.KDHX.org to give a monthly or single gift or to donate a vehicle.

You can give via a Donor Advised Fund or by check by sending to:

KDHX 
3524 Washington Ave
St Louis, MO 63103

You can reach the Donor Connections department at 314-925-7529 or by email: donate@kdhx.org.

Thank you for your support of KDHX!

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 Implements New Vision, Sees Results in 2024

1 year 1 month ago

With 2024 underway, the results of changes KDHX has implemented in the last year are starting to take shape. In support of its bold new vision to harness the power of music to create a better St. Louis, KDHX has embraced three commitments: to serve as a leader and convener to develop the St. Louis music industry, to use music to connect our region, and to amplify underrepresented voices in music. 

As part of that vision, KDHX grew and broadened its listening audience in 2023 as its initiatives began to resonate with new listeners and longtime fans alike. 2023 results of note include:

●    Online engagement was up 500 percent for ages 18-24 
●    Online listenership was up 43 percent 
●    Market share remained steady at 1.2 
●    KDHX saw 275 first-time donors come on board 
●    KDHX completed its switch to Community Centric Fundraising, which values equally all who engage in strengthening the community - volunteers, donors and staff 
●    KDHX added 26 new DJs
●    KDHX relaunched the Community Advisory Board and added several new members 
●    58 percent of KDHX’s DJs are from historically underrepresented backgrounds compared to 23 percent at the beginning of 2023 

"While it's no secret that we experienced a challenging year as we began implementing our new vision, we are so pleased to see these positive results," said Gary Pierson, President of KDHX Community Media Board of Directors. “We will work diligently to build on this success throughout 2024, including launching a new donor development program." 

Input from new listeners and donors has included comments such as:

●    “KDHX has better taste in music and more originality than any paid music subscription service.“ 
●    “I love that there are independent-minded DJs still playing a variety of music on the airwaves.“
●    “There's SO much good content.“ 

“We are seeing so much enthusiasm with our new direction, not just from previously underrepresented communities but from supporters across our listenership,” said KDHX Executive Director Kelly Wells. “We will continue to attract new listeners, donors and volunteers, and we will continue to work to instill confidence in our mission." 

As KDHX intentionally expands its “community” to include the entire St. Louis region, the station has created two new staff positions in 2023. Andrea Dunn was named Director of Volunteer Connections, and Ronnie Wisdom was named Director of Community Connections.

In addition, KDHX is pleased to announce that Tangazo will join the regular live broadcast lineup starting February 15. Tangazo is a group discussion-based program created as a podcast for KDHX in March 2018 by its host and producer, Hank Thompson.

“Tangazo is important to the African American community because it gives Black people an unbridled voice on issues that are important to our wellbeing,” said Thompson. “Tangazo will help build bridges of communication between the many groups that make up the St. Louis region.”

Join the new direction of KDHX by donating now at: Support.KDHX.org

Tangazo Podcast to join the weekly radio broadcast schedule

1 year 1 month ago

KDHX is excited to announce that Tangazo will be joining the radio line-up! Tangazo will join the regular broadcast lineup starting February 15, 2024 on 88.1 KDHX. The live show will air each Thursday from Noon to 2 p.m. on 88.1 FM and worldwide at kdhx.org.

Tangazo, is a group discussion-based program created as a podcast for KDHX in March 2018 by its host and producer, Hank Thompson.

“Tangazo is important to the African American community because it gives Black people an unbridled voice on issues that are important to our wellbeing,” said Thompson, who was recently nominated for the National Black Radio Hall of Fame. “Tangazo will help build bridges of communication between the many groups that make up the St. Louis region.”

Thompson describes Tangazo as “a meeting place where we share ideas and explore efforts to improve our human conditions and quite simply make our lives better. All are welcome, none will be judged, but all are challenged to look beyond ourselves and our notions of how others think about issues of cultural​,​ political, and social significance.” 

With 148 podcast episodes already recorded, Tangazo will remain available in a podcast format, therefore extending its reach to an even wider audience. 

“We are extremely excited to have Tangazo join the radio line-up,” said KDHX Community Connections Director Ronnie Wisdom. “As we continue to ensure that the voices heard on KDHX truly reflect the entire listening audience, we know that Hank will provide a platform to bring even more of the community together in a space where meaningful discussions can take place.”

Telling Our Story: Kelly Wells

1 year 1 month ago

This main article is an approximate 8-minute read. Click here to read it in summary.

By Kelly Wells
KDHX Executive Director

I’m the executive director of KDHX and have led this organization as we work to embody our earliest mission of building community through media with diverse and independent voices. KDHX was founded specifically to serve underrepresented and underserved people in our listening area. 

Like many organizations, KDHX embarked upon a process of recommitment and change in 2020. Together with 800 community voices, we created a strategic plan to name specific ways we would increase our learning around racial equity and ensure that we provided programming to connect to all the people in our listening area. 

The expansion of music discovery continues in full force at KDHX. We begin 2024 with a renewed commitment to being the place in the St. Louis region that uses the power of music to engage and unite people across the many communities we serve – a source of music discovery for everyone

In the past few months, we welcomed 26 new DJs who are filling the airwaves with a wealth of new music and sounds. In early 2023, 23% of our volunteers were from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds. By the end of 2023, that number increased to 58%. We have seen our listenership increase on our livestream by 43% and online engagement of  18-24 year olds go up by 500%. We spent much of 2023 developing an engagement plan so that we – staff, board, and volunteers – have an opportunity to be physically present and proximate to people in the St. Louis community.

2023 was a transitional and transformational year at KDHX and wasn’t without its challenges. Making real change in any organization is tricky. Making change in a listener-supported, volunteer-heavy radio station makes things even trickier when some individual volunteers, listeners, and donors have their own ideas of exactly how change should or shouldn’t happen.

Due to the efforts of a small group who believe KDHX should be their way or no way at all, we’ve gone from an organization with community support for transformative change to an organization that has parted ways with a quarter of our volunteer team, lost over a third of our donors, and currently face a financial struggle that will take a massive effort to overcome.

The Story

This isn’t the first time a group of community members has weaponized dissatisfaction at KDHX - most notably in the behavior and actions of a group of volunteers who have long professed to believe in our mission while, at the same time, centering their own perspective on how to fulfill it. In early 2023, we parted ways with a single volunteer. In response, a handful of volunteers began a secret campaign, reaching out to other volunteers to strongarm the board into firing me for leading such a decision. When they felt they had enough support, they went public with their reasons for why I shouldn’t lead this organization.

I was friends with and admired many of the volunteers who demanded my firing. I understood their passion for KDHX. They wanted what they thought was best for the organization and felt that a “lighter touch” was a better way to institute change. This resurfaced a longstanding pain point for KDHX – the battle over who had ownership of KDHX’s mission. It also surfaced a deep divide between lip service and follow-through for actual change. 

The tactics of this group of primarily white and male volunteers were seen as silencing and destructive by other volunteers, many of whom were women and people of color who had come to KDHX to reflect and serve the underrepresented and underserved communities our mission and commitments require. 

I felt all along that this frustrated group of volunteers would adjust their thinking and/or demands if we could engage in open, honest conversation. Unfortunately, despite repeated attempts, we could not convince them to engage in good faith conversations that sought a resolution other than what they demanded, which had expanded from my firing to the removal of the board president for supporting me. And a community most served by this group of volunteers followed their lead, outraged that a leader, especially a woman leader, could have the power to make decisions out of line with their specific desires.

In the following months, this group of volunteers embarked upon a public campaign of disparagement, spreading false information and allegations, filing frivolous lawsuits, and personally attacking staff, board members, and DJs who didn’t “side” with them. They used the age-old method of manipulating community mindset through media spin, threats, and backchannels, naming their own superiority while dehumanizing whomever they had to in order to advance their agenda.

This manipulation incited outrageous behavior by their followers: publicly sharing the personal information of volunteers and staff, making death threats to staff, threatening staff and board members’ families, threatening board member’s livelihoods by calling their places of work and demanding they be fired, sending strangers to show up at my house screaming and banging on my door.

In contradiction to the narrow perspective of that group of former volunteers, a majority group of long-time and brand-new volunteers are working alongside us to advance opportunities for everyone. They bring to the airwaves an attitude of welcoming people in rather than creating an exclusive club. And they’ve been in the crosshairs of this battle in ways they never dreamed or asked for.

That brings us to our current situation. A situation that features mostly older, white people publicly attacking an institution they “care” about, willing for it to fail rather than “look” different than they would like. It’s deeply uncomfortable to watch and raises the question of who KDHX has been serving and how that service advanced opportunities for one group that we didn’t advance for everyone. If we weren’t fully awake to these realities before, we certainly are now.

Regardless of the difficulty of the situation, knowing what we stand for is easy. Volunteers, listeners, and donors should have a voice in the direction of KDHX, but one segment of the community should never speak for everyone.

Let me be crystal clear: We will always be grateful for the time and talent every volunteer shares with KDHX and the listeners and donors who have been faithful to us through the years. 

When we started 2023, we had plans to part ways with one volunteer. Instead, we parted ways with thirteen volunteers; others followed them in parting ways with us. That wasn’t the plan for the year, but it became an opportunity to accelerate the change we expected would take years. Instead, it took a few months. 

The Opportunity

In 2020, we started asking ourselves questions like: How do we shift the organizational culture of KDHX so that all voices are heard? How do we bring along the folks who may not be excited by the shift? What work do we need to do as an institution so that people with different life experiences can thrive at our organization? What and who do we mean when we say “community?” And perhaps most importantly, how do we engage in radical relationship with each other, even when we disagree? 

My experience with this process of change has taught me to reframe my understanding of conflict and resolution. I used to think that conflict was negative, change should be peaceful, and resolution looked like everyone being on board. Instead, I’ve learned that conflict is necessary, real change is and should be uncomfortable, and resolution doesn’t always look like we think it will.

In light of that understanding, we must ask ourselves what we are willing to sacrifice to follow through on real change. Will we stand in our integrity and our intrinsic values, or will we sacrifice true stewardship by making decisions based on the desires and perspectives of a few? Are we willing to make real change even if we lose people who have been part of the core of this institution? I’d rather not make that sacrifice. I’d rather everyone came along with us. However, KDHX is here to serve the broad patchwork of communities that make up our listening audience and we no longer grant ourselves the choice of serving only some of them. 

The Practice

Radical relationship means that we come together in love. In the words of social psychologist Erich Fromm, love requires care, responsibility, respect, and knowledge. Love “is not a resting place.” It “is a constant challenge” that requires faith, discipline, and patience. We have to practice it.

We know that as we continue with our work, this group of antagonists will continue to harass, bully, spread misinformation, and encourage hate. Meanwhile, we will continue to move forward with unyielding integrity, unwavering independence, and love.

We are building a KDHX with people who are willing to release their own ideas in service of what’s better for the whole. Who understand the importance of connecting with communities beyond their own. Who believe that the more voices and perspectives we have at the table make this organization stronger and better. Who are committed to being in radical relationship with each other because they understand that KDHX is here for one reason. We are here to make sure that we are reflecting the communities we serve, welcoming them in, and strengthening the broader community of KDHX together. 

The partnership that is KDHX requires that we all do our part. It requires the staff and board to steward the mission, vision, and values. It requires the volunteers to make magic happen on and off the air every day in service to community. It requires supporters who believe that KDHX should be free and accessible to all and who believe that KDHX is vital to a thriving, whole community.

As a community organization, KDHX relies on individual donations, and our sustainability is seriously threatened. At this moment, we are fundraising to fill the gap left by people who discontinued their donations, and we are rebuilding our operating reserve. If you believe that KDHX is an irreplaceable cultural institution, donate now at Support.KDHX.org.

We’ve always said that KDHX is a radical concept requiring radical partnership. I believe that as we actualize the practice of radical relationship, the best is yet to come. I invite you to join us in love as we use the power of music to engage and unite individuals and communities.

Will you renew your commitment to KDHX in 2024?

1 year 2 months ago

2023 was a transitional and transformational year at KDHX. We head into 2024 with a renewed commitment to being the place in the St. Louis region that uses the power of music to engage and unite people across the many communities we serve–a source of music discovery for everyone.
 
Will you renew your commitment to KDHX in 2024?

Anyone who has listened to KDHX over the last 36 years knows that change has been a constant at KDHX. We recognize last year’s changes were experienced by our listeners in a myriad of ways. Our team is committed to the core belief that KDHX is a place where the impact of every volunteer, every donor, and every listener is valued. 
 
The expansion of music discovery continues in full force at KDHX. In 2023, we welcomed 24 new DJs who are filling the airwaves with a wealth of new music and sounds. In early 2023, 23% of our volunteers were from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds–by the end of 2023, that number increased to 58%. We are excited to report that listenership has increased on our livestream by 43%.

We will be honest: the ripple effects of the changes that occurred at KDHX last year have not been small. Some donors withdrew support as we recommitted to our mission of uniting the community through music.
 
Your support is more critical than ever. 
 
Christine, a longtime listener and donor, shared this: “I miss a bunch of the shows we lost but I am holding out on the restructuring. It doesn’t sound like the KDHX I first fell in love with but man, am I still here for it. We aren’t here for the politics, and if we are here for the music, all we can do is patiently and lovingly listen with open minds, hearts, and ears.

We thank every volunteer, every donor, and every listener who has stayed the course with us. Now, we are asking you to give generously to KDHX, and collectively, we will ensure KDHX remains a source of music discovery for all for years to come. 
 
Please continue your support of KDHX today. 
 
You can give a single or monthly gift at Support.KDHX.org. If you currently support KDHX with a monthly gift, please consider increasing your monthly donation by $1, $5 or $10. Thank you!

Andrea
KDHX Donor Connections

Community Connections: Mercy Hospital & KDHX Blood Drive

1 year 4 months ago

The Mercy Hospital St. Louis & KDHX Blood Drive runs Monday, December 13, through Friday, December 15, 2023

Please make an appointment by calling 314-251-GIVE (4483) or schedule an online appointment at MercyBloodDonor.net  

Appointments preferred, walk-ins welcome.

All donors will be required to bring a state-issued form of ID. 

Do not donate blood if in the past 10 days: 

•  you have tested positive or had symptoms of COVID-19 infection. 
•  you have been within six feet of someone for greater than 15 minutes who has tested positive or has symptoms of COVID-19 virus.

Mercy Hospital St. Louis Blood Donation Program
Mercy is the only hospital in Missouri that is mobile for its blood supply. When you give blood or platelets, you give someone the precious gift of life. Every day, people of all ages and from all walks of life will unexpectedly need blood. They could be accident victims, cancer patients, someone undergoing surgery, or tiny babies in the neonatal intensive care unit. They could be someone you know. Your caring spirit and the time given to donate blood can help save someone's life. We value your time and your contribution.

St. Louis Blood Donor Services
The Blood Donor Program Mercy Hospital in St. Louis offers whole blood donor collection, autologous and directed blood collection, and apheresis platelet collection.