WWOZ Board of Directors General Manager’s Report March 9, 2016
1. Membership. The spring 2016 Membership Drive began on March 8, 2016 and runs through March 18, 2016. As of January 31, 2016, WWOZ has received $786,156 in donations for FY 2016, a year-to-date increase of 15% over the $685,701 received during the same period in FY 2015. In the month of January 2016 alone, WWOZ received $431,406 in membership revenue, a 41% increase over revenue of $306,135 in January 2015. As of March 1, 2016, WWOZ has sold 2,076 Brass Passes to the 2016 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
2. Major Giving. As of January 31, 2016, WWOZ generated $109,455 in revenue from major donors for FY 2016, compared to the $93,000 in revenue for the same period in FY 2015, an 18% increase.
3. Underwriting & Sponsorship. As of January 31, 2016, WWOZ has collected $78,168 in underwriting and sponsorship revenue for FY 2016, a decrease of 48% from the $149,886 in revenue generated during the same period in FY 2015. In the month of January 2016 alone, WWOZ underwriting and sponsorship revenue totaled $31,730, a 34% decrease from the $37,668 in revenue generated during January 2015. For the fiscal year through January 31, 2016, the total dollar value of WWOZ’s signed underwriting agreements is $125,366, an 81% increase over the total value ($69,143) of agreements signed during the same period in FY 2015.
WWOZ signed 11 new underwriting agreements in February 2016: The New Orleans Opera Association; The Mothership Foundation for Festival Bonfouca; Marley Gras; the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra; the 2016 New Orleans International Beer Festival; Freret Street Yoga; Spotlight with John Calhoun; Roux Carré; Live Nation for Treme Threauxdown; and Live Nation for Ray LaMontagne at Champions Square. WWOZ has also secured funding from the Young Leadership Council for three live broadcasts from “Wednesdays at the Square” in Lafayette Park. WWOZ Sponsor Services has to date secured $35,000 in sponsorship for the 28th Annual WWOZ Piano Night, taking place on April 25, 2016. Peoples Health has committed to a $10,000 WWOZ Piano Night sponsorship, and WWOZ has $5,000 sponsorship commitments from NOLA Motorsports Park, The Helis Foundation, Roedel Parsons Koch Blache Balhoff & McCollister, First NBC Bank, and Chevron.
4. Arts Council New Orleans Community Arts Grant. On February 25, the Arts Council New Orleans awarded a Community Arts Operating Support Grant in the amount of $15,000 by the Arts Council New Orleans for FY 2016. The grant award amount reflects a 31% decrease over the $21,760 granted by the Arts Council New Orleans to WWOZ in FY 2015.
5. Swamp Shop. As of January 31, 2016, the WWOZ Swamp Shop generated $10,955 for FY 2016, a 58% decrease from the revenue of $26,061 earned in January 2015. During the month of January 2016, Swamp Shop sales totaled $1,541, a 54% decrease from sales of $3,356 in January 2015.
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WWOZ Board of Directors General Manager’s Report March 9, 2016
6. New Media. The New Media team has been preparing for the WWOZ spring membership drive by creating consistent, mobile-first designs for WWOZ’s donor emails, website, and donation forms.
7. WWOZ/Gambit 35th Anniversary Event. On March 3, 2016, Gambit Weekly and WWOZ co-celebrated 35 years of covering and promoting New Orleans music and culture with a free two-hour event at NOLA Brewing Company. 350 people attended the event, for which WWOZ staff manned a merchandise and outreach table, and Gambit provided cupcakes and birthday cake. WWOZ Video used the venue’s audiovisual system to screen live performances recorded during the last two years on three screens. Gambit has expressed a desire to co-sponsor additional events during 2016.
8. Lauren Del Rio. Major Gifts Officer Lauren Del Rio resigned from WWOZ effective February 12, 2016. In December 2010, Ms. Del Rio inaugurated WWOZ’s first dedicated efforts to cultivate a community of major donors. Over the past five years, Lauren’s many accomplishments included: securing a grant from the Rosamary Foundation to offset the cost of WWOZ’s new transmitter; creating the WWOZ Hi- Fi Club for members donating larger amounts; planning many cultivation events in New Orleans and other cities across the U.S.; and for moving Major Gifts to the place where WWOZ is poised to build on her successes.
9. Russell Shelton. Assistant to the Program Director Russell Shelton resigned from WWOZ effective February 26, 2016. Mr. Shelton joined the WWOZ staff in July 2014, and his many responsibilities included: training all prospective show hosts; recording and editing the WWOZ podcast Takin’ it to the Streets; managing the distribution of WWOZ’s syndicated program New Orleans Calling to stations across the U.S. and around the world; and managing distribution of WWOZ’s live broadcasts from the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival each year. Mr. Shelton also assisted the Programming department in all live broadcasts and special events.
10. WWOZ Video. On February 10, 2016, WWOZ welcomed four college interns, who will learn video and post-production techniques during the spring 2016 semester. Two interns are students at Loyola University New Orleans, one is a student at the University of New Orleans, and one is a student at Tulane University. The video internships will end on May 10, 2016.
During the month of February 2016, WWOZ Video recorded the following:
February 5, 2016: Cherice Harrison-Nelson’s interview with Guardians of the Flame Council Chief Joseph Jenkins.
February 8, 2016: Tank and the Bangas interview at their Lower Ninth Ward rehearsal space for WWOZ documentary project.
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WWOZ Board of Directors General Manager’s Report March 9, 2016
10. WWOZ Video (cont).
February 9, 2016: Mardi Gras Day events around New Orleans, including a live stream from the Backstreet Cultural Museum, the Northside Skull and Bones Gang, various Mardi Gras Indians, and Baby Dolls.
February 21, 2016: Live performance by Hamid Drake, Rob Wagner, and Nobu Ozaki at a private house concert.
February 21, 2016: Live performances by Tank and the Bangas and opening band Musical Expression at the “Backyard Hangout” event at The Yum Yum.
February 22, 2016: Live performance by Kidd Jordan, Hamid Drake, and James Singleton at the Hi-Ho Lounge.
February 27, 2016: Talk by Flag Boy Isaac “Ike” Edwards (the oldest-living Mardi Gras Indian) at the opening reception for his solo art exhibition, Pretty Matters, at Arts Estuary 1024.
In February 2016, the WWOZ Video team published seven new videos on the WWOZ Vimeo page: promotional videos for Piano Night 2016 and WWOZ Video, as well as Cuttin’ Class performances by Landry-Walker High School, Edna Karr High School, the Trombone Shorty Academy, and Chalmette High School. WWOZ Video also edited three videos for the Crescent City Cultural Continuity Conservancy in February 2016.
11. In-Studio Performers and On-air Guests.
February 3, 2016: Meschiya Lake
February 4, 2016: Connor Stewart, Millisia White & New Orleans Babydoll Ladies, Tonya Boyd Cannon
February 5, 2016: Drew Calhoun, Adam Gertner, Adam Baumol, Tim Dolzine, Whitney Sanders, Michelle Beaumont
February 11, 2016: Jesse Maclaine, Cole Williams, Joseph C. Dyson, Jr., Max Moran
February 12, 2016 Melissa & Matt DeOrazio, Alexandra Scott
February 15, 2016: Smoking Time Jazz Club, Arséne Delay, Heidi Malnar,
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WWOZ Board of Directors General Manager’s Report March 9, 2016
11. In-Studio Performers and On-air Guests (cont).
February 16, 2016: Rob Cambre, Kunal Prakash, Jeffrey Bouck, Alexey Marti, Andrew Johnson, Louie B, Lucky Johnson, Gordon Beadie, Joe Krown, Amanda Callihan, Samantha Pfotenhauer
February 17, 2016: Bob & Marjorie Spencer, Marci Schramm, Greg Schatz, Jonathan Freilich, Angie Zeiderman, Lee Pons
February 18, 2016: Rashaud Brown, Jhanie Davis, Ike Stubblefield, Jesse Paige, Tommy Malone, Ray Ganucheau
February 19, 2016: Red Morgan, Blythe McCrae, Shelly Glazner, Nina LeRay
February 20, 2016: Jose Torres-Tama
February 22, 2016: Antonella, Jonathan, & Simon Bliss, Laurence Copel
February 23, 2016: Cherice Harrison-Nelson
February 24, 2016: Matthew Noel
February 25, 2016: Joan Avent, Lauree Nunez, Eileina Dennis, Kid Chocolate, Matthew Leff, Chris Rogers, Erica Dudas, Drew Calhoun, Marla Horton
February 26, 2016: Harry Watters, Bill Hornbuck, Nick Bazan, Elle Dorado, Eli Rose, Chere Noble
February 27, 2016: Facu Morel
February 29, 2016: Matthew Smith, Dr. Sick, Aden Paul, Sam Price, Curtis Cassados
12. Live Remote Broadcasts.
February 13, 2016:
The Bridge Trio in Concert Presented by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation The George & Joyce Wien Heritage Center, New Orleans
February 28, 2016:
Nolatet (Johnny Vidacovich, James Singleton, Mike Dillon, Brian Haas) Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro, New Orleans Page 4 of 9
WWOZ Board of Directors General Manager’s Report March 9, 2016
12. Live Remote Broadcasts (cont).
March 2, 2016:
Wednesday at the Square with Naughty Professor, Royal Teeth Presented by the Young Leadership Council Lafayette Square, New Orleans
13. Upcoming Live Remote Broadcasts.
5:00 p.m., March 23, 2016:
Wednesday at the Square with Anders Osborne Presented by the Young Leadership Council Lafayette Square, New Orleans
8:00 p.m., March 31, 2016:
Cyrus Chestnut in Concert Presented by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation The George & Joyce Wien Heritage Center, New Orleans
April 7-10, 2016:
French Quarter Festival Presented by French Quarter Festivals French Quarter, New Orleans Artists to be announced
April 22-24 and April 28-May 1, 2016:
2016 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Presented by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation Fair Grounds Race Course, New Orleans Artists to be announced
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WWOZ Board of Directors General Manager’s Report March 9, 2016
14. Press.
OffBeat Magazine/offbeat.com: “Local Student Bands to Perform with Preservation Hall Jazz Band” Clare Welsh, March 4, 2016
“The Spring Concert will feature the [Dolores T. Aaron Academy] Concert and Brass bands, and will also celebrate the local music community. The Tipitina’s Foundation, which helps provide instruments for DTA students, will be represented, as well as the Preservation Hall Foundation, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, The Jazz Foundation of America, and WWOZ Radio.”
OffBeat Magazine/offbeat.com: “Listen to ‘Big Chief’ from Professor Longhair’s Unreleased Live Album” Sam D’Arcangelo, March 3, 2016
“Glide Magazine premiered the album’s version of Earl King’s ‘Big Chief’ yesterday, and the recording is something that any Fess fan will savor. You can give the track a listen below. The liner notes for Live at the University of Chicago Folk Festival – February 1, 1976 were written by poet, political activist and longtime WWOZ DJ John Sinclair.”
The Islands’ Weekly [Lopez Island, WA]/islandsweekly.com: “‘Jazz Man’ wins ‘Name That Tune’ -twice!” Dixie Budke, March 2, 2016
“Lopez Islanders know Gary Alexander as the ‘Jazz Man.’ In New Orleans, his radio name (on WWOZ in the 1980s) was ‘Saxman Alex.’ Here on Lopez Island, he has been a DJ on KLOI, our local public radio station, for eight hours a week since the station was launched in April, 2008.”
The New Orleans Advocate/neworleansadvocate.com: “Throw me somethin’: Jazz concert will help send Warren Easton band to Cuba” Lynne Jensen, March 1, 2016
“Partners and sponsors for the initiative include CubaNOLA Arts Collective, Barry Kern of Kern Studios, The Trombone Shorty Foundation, Life is Good, WWOZ, Cembell Industries, N.O. Music Exchange, Parkway Bakery and the Mid-City Neighborhood Organization.”
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WWOZ Board of Directors General Manager’s Report March 9, 2016
14. Press (cont).
Louisiana Cultural Vistas/knowlouisiana.org: “An Oasis of Music: An oral history of WWOZ’s legendary Treehouse studio” Edited by Dave Ankers, Brian Boyles, Romy Mariano, and Toan Nguyen, March 1, 2016
“WWOZ 90.7FM celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. To commemorate the birth of the New Orleans community radio station, KnowLouisiana.org partnered with New Orleans Calling, a weekly show produced at the station, to present this oral history of WWOZ’s legendary ‘Treehouse’ studio, located in Armstrong Park.”
Glide Magazine/glidemagazine.com: “SONG PREMIERE: Listen to Professor Longhair Perform ‘Big Chief’ In Long-lost Live Recording” Neil Ferguson, March 1, 2016
“Onetime radio host on the venerable New Orleans radio station WWOZ John Sinclair, explains why this recording is so special: ‘There have been any number of official and semi-official “live” Professor Longhair recordings issued since the pianist’s untimely passing in 1980, but this record offers incontrovertible evidence of the power and drive of the mid-70’s edition of Fess’s band with Billy Gregory featured prominently on guitar.’”
Curbed New Orleans/nola.curbed.com: “Jazz Landmark Eagle Saloon Slated For Revival” Lauren Laborde, February 29, 2016
“Built in 1851 and on the National Register of Historic Places, the building’s redevelopment has been long stalled. But now the newly formed Eagle Saloon Initiative and new board members for the New Orleans Music Hall of Fame are beginning a fundraising drive to preserve the building. The group hopes to raise $500,000 and convert the three-story building into a space with a ‘first-floor performance venue, possibly with a WWOZ studio. The second and third floors would be devoted to jazz history and education, including programs for children.’”
The New Orleans Advocate/neworleansadvocate.com: “New Orleans jazz landmark on South Rampart targeted for revival, again” Katherine Sayre, February 26, 2016
“Organizers have collected an advisory panel of music legends and leaders as ‘cultural ambassadors’ to get the word out and guide historical research: George Porter Jr. of The Meters, WWOZ's Dwayne Breashears, producer Eric Krasno, Buddy Bolden’s great- grandson Big Sam, Ian and Ivan Neville of Dumpstaphunk, P.J. Morton of Maroon 5 and ‘Deacon’ John Moore.”
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WWOZ Board of Directors General Manager’s Report March 9, 2016
14. Press (cont).
Esquire/esquire.com: “I'm a Cynic, and I Voted for Bernie Sanders” Charles P. Pierce, February 26, 2016
“Weekly WWOZ Pick To Click: ‘St. Louis Blues’ (Alberta Hunter): Yeah, I pretty much still love New Orleans.”
The Hullabaloo [Tulane University]/tulanehullabaloo.com: “A Conversation with DJ Soul Sister: Part 2” Sam Ergina, Jonathan Harvey, February 24, 2016
“I had already been on [WWOZ] for a couple of years and this friend of mine said, ‘you need to do that live’ and I said, ‘I've always really wanted to, but I don't know how.’ So she had a boyfriend who DJ-ed and had equipment and they just set up a little party. I never had any real lessons, I just got on it and just rolled from there and never stopped.”
Glide Magazine/glidemagazine.com: “Suds & Sounds: NOLA Brewing – New Orleans, LA” Neil Ferguson, February 23, 2016
“So when everyone is working in the brewery or people come for a tour, is there a default band that is just always playing?
‘…Most of the time it’s the Grateful Dead or we listen to WWOZ, which is an amazing local music station where you’ll get a lot of traditional New Orleans bands playing. Right now everybody has gone home except our nighttime brewer and there’s still music blasting here.’”
The Hullabaloo [Tulane University]/tulanehullabaloo.com: “A Conversation with DJ Soul Sister: Part 1” Sam Ergina, Jonathan Harvey, February 23, 2016
“I do a bunch of different things. One of the things I do is host a radio show on WWOZ which is New Orleans community radio 90.7FM and WWOZ.org. It's called ‘Soul Power.’ I've done it for about 20 years and I feature music that I love, it's considered under the umbrella of rare groove, which is soulful music from the 1970s through 1980s.”
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WWOZ Board of Directors General Manager’s Report March 9, 2016
14. Press (cont).
OffBeat/offbeat.com: “Class of ‘81: Turning 35” February 22, 2016
“Gambit’s first Jazz Fest issue carried a complete calendar of performances that was brief by today's standards (back then, the main stages were still numbered and didn't carry corporate sponsorships), and in June, the paper took its first notice of WWOZ, saying, ‘Only six months old, WWOZ has attracted attention from musicians and listeners around the city.’”
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