Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Wednesday May 6, 2015
For folks who think NPR is too conservative, there has been a radio station for you in Atlanta called WRFG-FM ("Radio Free Georgia") on the left end of the dial at 89.3 going back to 1973.
The station - the only place on the FM dial in Atlanta you could hear bluegrass, blues and unabashedly progressive political viewpoints - has always lived on a bare-bones budget, courtesy of a dedicated volunteer crew of DJs and board members. Its Little Five Points offices are as worn as Willie Nelson's face. It's radio done the old-school, analog way with no consultants, no corporate influence and no particular need to please the mainstream.
But according to Creative Loafing, the station has fallen behind on its rent for its tower lease to the tune of $20,000. If it doesn't pay, it might have to shut down. Here's their pitch on their web site:
We are in immediate need of funds to catch up on our tower rent. Without a tower, we can't broadcast. The new tower owner has given us an opportunity to get current, and we need to do so as quickly as possible. In addition, your donations will help us to embark on a path to retire about $40,000 in additional debt.
This isn't the first time they've had to call on the public for a special pledge drive to survive. I wrote about the station's plea in 2009 for $20,000. Good news is they made it that time.
Can they do it in 2015?
I checked their finances via the 990 tax forms WRFG is required to file for the IRS. Their revenues in 2013, the most recent filing available, was just $217,475 with two full-time employees and more than 120 volunteers. This was the lowest revenue total in the past five years. And it's not even 1/50th of what Public Broadcasting Atlanta pulls in any given year. In fact, the station's revenue is less than what PBA compensates its COO John Weatherford.
Revenues fell 18 percent from 2012 and while they were able to drop expenses, WRFG was in deficit mode in 2013 by $15,198.
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Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Sony Playstation renewed "Powers" for a second season,
It's shot in Atlanta and debuted this year, the first scripted drama by the gaming company and proof that almost anyone who can is going into that world. (XBox is doing so too with Atlanta-based "Quantum Break/Quest.")
Powers, based on Brian Michael Bendis' comic, stars Sharlto Copley as a cop who works in the Powers division of the police force and deals with crimes involving those endowed with special abilities. The drama will return in 2016.
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The Georgia Radio Fall of Fame has announced its 2015 Legacy winners, who have all passed away.
The most notable name for any listener of Atlanta radio in the 1970s and 1980s is Chris Morgan. He worked at then top 40 station 790/WQXI-FM from 1974 to 1984.
Chris also worked at Lake 102, Country 105.7, 680 The Fan, Kicks, Sunny 100 and Cool 105.7. He hosted the "Sunday Night Oldies Show" for a number of years at several locations, the last one at Johnny's Hideaway.
The entire list of Legacy winners can be found here.
The nominees for the 2015 annual career achievement awards will be named soon. The induction ceremony is set for October 24 at the Strand in Marietta. Randy Cook and Spiff Carner will host again. Tickets can be had here.
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