The Radio Stations of the University of Southern California 90.3 San Francisco 104.9 South Bay & Peninsula 89.9 Wine Country 103.9 Monterey 95.9 Big Sur 90.3 Los Gatos, Saratoga Annual Report 2017 Map of Classical KDFC Coverage KDFC Expense FY17 KDFC transmits its programming from five transmitters—KDFC 90.3 San Francisco; KOSC 89.9 FM Wine Country; K223AJ 92.5 Ukiah-Lakeport; KXSC 104.9 FM Silicon Valley; KDFG 103.9 FM Monterey Development Underwriting 24% 7% Administration 16% Broadcasting/Programming 53% The two most important activities for KDFC is creating and broadcasting classical music programming. Together, programming and engineering comprised 53% of KDFC’s operating expense budget. Development expenses comprised about 24%. PO Box 80354, Los Angeles, CA 90074 Website: kdfc.com Member Services: 888-966-5454 2 19 Table of Contents 2 Map of Classical KDFC Coverage/ KDFC Mission 3 Classical KDFC Table of Contents 4-5 Letter from USC Radio Vice President 10 KDFC Underwriting President of KDFC Bill Lueth 11 KDFC Development 6-8 Classical KDFC Programming Highlights 12 KDFC Social Media 9 Community Outreach 13 KDFC Engineering 14 KDFC Interactive 15 KDFC Staff 16-17 KDFC Board of Advisors 18-19 KDFC Financials Mission To make classical music and the arts a more important part of more people’s lives by pre- senting high quality classical music program- ming, and by producing and presenting pro- gramming featuring the arts and culture of Northern California. 3 Classical KDFC President, Bill Lueth It’s been another great year for KDFC, We’re able to offer a now in its 6th year as a non-profit public wide variety of classi- station supported generously by you. We cal music to enjoy know there are many ways to hear classi- wherever you are, and cal music, and we are grateful for the con- we get the word out fidence of so many that inspire our staff to about the many wonderful arts offerings be more than just a classical station, but throughout our region. an arts institution that plays a vital role in the arts ecosystem of the Bay Area. Our partnerships with the San Francisco Sym- 350,000 people tune in each week to one phony, San Francisco Opera, Philharmonia of our signals and another 100,000 tune in Baroque, Cal Performances, Stanford Live and through our website and mobile apps each many more ensure that the great work hap- month. As you can see we have a lot of pening in the arts. Our daily feature The reach into our communities, and we are State of the Arts tells the stories and show- working to harness that power in partner- cases the players who elevate the arts here. ship with other local arts leaders to contin- Not wanting to leave out the smaller organi- ue our support of a thriving arts world. zations, we launched a new initiative this year called the KDFC Neighborhood Arts Spotlight. We are not saving classical music. We are We’re able to do this important advocacy be- celebrating it! While some performing cause of your generous support and dedica- arts institutions have new business model tion. We offer hundreds of thousands of challenges, classical radio in America is do- dollars of free publicity to local arts groups. ing well. I sit on the board of the Public Radio Program Directors, the national con- In KDFC’s short life as a listener-supported tent association, and work with a national non-profit station, the books have been group called Classical Music Rising. balanced from almost the beginning. The Through these organizations KDFC is a University of Southern California made the leader in working with other stations investment in 2011 to get the station off the around the country that help the music ground as a public station by buying our thrive. The audience numbers are very frequencies of 90.3FM in San Francisco, the strong with 11 million people tuning into 89.9FM signal in Napa (Angwin), and the classical radio every week across the coun- 92.5FM signal in Ukiah. They offered us the try. loan that helped us acquire the 104.9FM sig- nal in San Jose, and you helped raise the In just 5 short years KDFC is making a money during our For the Music Campaign difference thanks to your encouragement. that helped pay for it. This year we added 4 the 103.9Fm signal in Monterey to ensure that listeners there also have a classical radio home. KDFC now has around 25,000 mem- bers keeping it all going. Now that the station has taken its place as a local arts institution, we are committed to using our strengths to have even greater impact. In October 2016 we launched our music education and outreach initiatives with the funnel for the arts and give easy access the first KDFC Kids Discovery Day at the San to this music. It has been a stressful year for Jose Tech Museum. Almost 3,000 people, our country, and our obsession with news mostly families, joined us to learn more has given us a lot to think about. At KDFC, about music, and enjoy the live broadcast we focus on the fact that music is our heart. with our announcers. We partnered with the We care about being a service that helps us San Francisco Opera again this year on their escape the stresses of the day, and gives us Opera at the Ballpark simulcast, and our lis- all a chance to recharge the batteries and teners helped us pick the Star Spangled Ban- reset our states of mind. We care about the ner singer. Our live broadcast of the San people who create this great art we enjoy. Francisco Symphony opening night gala is an We care about our listeners. annual tradition as well. We have big plans in the coming year. I was thrilled to speak at the Bay Area Radio Thanks to you we finished our first $10 Hall of Fame ceremony in 2016 as they million capital campaign that put the station honored the first classical announcers to join on stable footing and expand its reach after the Hall: our Hoyt Smith and Dianne Nicolini the initial launch. Our next phase of evolu- on the same day! All of our hosts are won- tion will focus on new ways to attract new derful ambassadors for the music, good audiences and develop new talent for our friends on the radio, and terrific colleagues. industry, to help families get more involved They too are grateful for the love and sup- with music education, and to expand our port of the audience. digital offerings to create an even more Our mission remains powerful: to make satisfying experience for you, our members classical music and the arts a more important of the KDFC family. It’s the knowledge that part of people’s lives by presenting quality you take care of this station that inspires us classical music programming 24 hours a day, each day. You are the reason KDFC exists, and advocating for local arts and culture in and the reason for its success. Northern California. We work to help improve the quality of life with beauty, Thank You! refuge, inspiration and fun for hundreds of thousands of people, and invite more to join us each day. We strive to be the open end of 5 KDFC Programming Highlights This was a year of expansion and co- expanded to a virtual Big Island of Sanity: a ordination for the Programming Depart- full 20 minute “moment of Zen” to help ment at KDFC, as we welcomed two new listeners ease into the afternoon com- mute. and important faces (and voices) to our team. Our new Content Director, John Van Driel, officially joined us in November. KDFC kicked off July with a bang by cele- John was for many years a programmer, brating American composers, conductors producer and on-air host for the very and performers on Independence Day, fol- successful Classical 96.3FM in Toronto, and lowed immediately by Getaway will be overseeing and coordinating both our first Getaway Wednesdays on-air and on-line initiatives for us, helping Wednesday on July 6. to shape the content on air and online. Getaway Wednesdays continued through- out the Summer, taking listeners to a We also welcomed Jennifer Miller to our different destination–musically–each hour. overnight line-up, holding down early Sun- It’s a musical vacation without having to day mornings on California Classical All leave the office. Night. Jennifer grew up on the East Coast and studied voice at Westminster Choir When do you listen to KDFC? Simply put, your College. She’s a public radio vet who has mix of music and the way you give back to the musical community. My office mate and I would also worked as a video game journalist; listen all the time when we wanted to be she still sings professionally. transported to "someplace else". —Ted, Victoria, BC High praise to you for your overnight classical programming with alternating announcers! I Also in July, KDFC partnered with the San enjoy them all--and I like the variety they bring Francisco Botanical Gardens to celebrate to the listening experience! — Kent, Seaside Flower Piano, which also looks to become an annual celebration. KDFC programmed Two of our programming benchmarks ex- music about flowers, plants and the great panded significantly as well. outdoors to spotlight the 12 pianos placed Workday Dianne Nicolini’s Requests at throughout the Gardens, and encouraging Request Noon grew from a one hour visitors to stay for scheduled performanc- show on KDFC, to a three- es, or to tickle the ivories themselves.