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Monday, October 10, 2011

Sort of News / Television PBS Makes Documentary About Seattle Music Scene

Posted by Kelly O on Mon, Oct 10, 2011 at 5:28 PM

SEATTLE MUSIC SCENE IS THE FOCUS OF NEW PBS DOCUMENTARY
On October 21st, PBS will air a new documentary about Seattle's music scene titled Seattle Music... something in the water? The short highlights KEXP and DJ John Richards, along with local record label Sub Pop. It also features Seattle artists such as Pickwick, Pat Wright and the Total Experience Gospel Choir, The Tripwires, Shabazz Palaces, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, and The Head and the Heart. It will air as part of the PBS program American Masters.

I sort of wonder if John Richards will talk about his controversial paycheck. I know I need to let it go, but every time they do a pledge drive I can't help but think of it. Maybe it's just that I wish my monthly take-home was $7,500. Or maybe I have too much Occupy Wall Street on the brain.

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Occupy community-driven... wait.

Posted by Sammich on October 10, 2011 at 5:31 PM

If they're talking to .1-Million-Dollar John (I only wish I found him half as hilarious as he finds himself), at least it'll be 100% CMJ-compliant.

Posted by maddogm13 on October 10, 2011 at 5:34 PM

I have seen this. It is not good.

Posted by Grant Brissey, Emeritus

on October 10, 2011 at 5:39 PM

Kelly you do realize that's multiple jobs that he does. It's not just KEXP. Also, if it wasn't for folks like John Richards that station wouldn't be anywhere near where it is today and helped put Seattle on the map which in turn helps The Stranger as well. People work hard should get paid. Sometimes it doesn't work out that way, but no reason to begrudge somebody that works his ASS off for a zillion hours a day. My two cents anyways.

Posted by Steven Severin on October 10, 2011 at 7:35 PM

And what is Dan Savage's salary?

Posted by edie murphy beverly hills have eyes cleary on October 10, 2011 at 7:51 PM

forget Dan Savage... I wanna see Derek Erdman's.

Posted by piratesmile on October 10, 2011 at 9:31 PM

When you put in the hours and time of someone like John Richards (let me guess, you think he works his shift and goes home, just like those idiots on the teevee think teachers work 9-3 with summers off), maybe you'll be a resource, a name people recognize and rely on. I would have figured a paper that covers the arts would understand that salaries in that space don't hold up to comparisons and that some people's value is in who they are as well as what they do.

Seriously, that article was news almost 6 years ago: what have you done to make yourself as valuable as John Richards in that time?

Posted by local curmudgeon on October 10, 2011 at 10:28 PM

John Richards' morning show, his fundraising ability, and his passion for music pretty much built that small radio station into the worldwide force that is today. If only more politicians and corporate types had such a positive impact. He more than deserves his salary. Let it go already.

Posted by Gern Blanston on October 10, 2011 at 10:51 PM

KEXP does rule. Absolutely. 300-10%. Best radio station in the whole United States. Hands down. Respect. It's community-driven, sponsored by community, and by the same community of people who listen to it.

I'm not trying to be a fucking asshole. I also have a passion for music. But more importantly, a passion for the humans, the musicians who make THE MUSIC. Right now, I have, at least, 19 musician friends who cannot EVER-NEVER go to a dentist, or a real doctor. EVER. Oh, hell no. They have no money, no health care, no safety net...

Again, I'm sorry if this post challenges John Richards income, It's immature, and knee jerk. But I want someone to justify, $7,500 a month, to all my friends who bust and burst their fucking balls to make the music that KEXP plays... They get zero. They struggle to survive. Nobody does a fundraiser for them, ever

Posted by Kelly O on October 11, 2011 at 12:07 AM

every time KEXP does a pledge drive i think about how hard everyone at that station works to give our city and the world a great radio station and how much positive energy they bring to the scene. and i donate and volunteer to help.

the stranger is a for-profit organization that talks shit about the scene as much as it supports it, and yet loves to call out john richards for being some kind of fat cat. it makes me want to avoid the businesses that advertise in the stranger.

Posted by cb on October 11, 2011 at 3:01 AM

KEXP has its own fundraiser for themselves. No one else does it "for" them. Maybe you should do a fundraiser for your friends. Or tell them to do one for themselves.

P.S. Your friends should be grateful KEXP plays their music; it gives them publicity, which ultimately leads to more albums and tickets sold.

You're just way off on this one.

Posted by beej_shan on October 11, 2011 at 4:23 AM

If you want smart, talented people to run your organization you have to pay them well or they'll go somewhere else.

Posted by care bear on October 11, 2011 at 9:59 AM

WFMU!

Posted by Adam Bernstein on October 11, 2011 at 10:36 AM

Kelly wrote: "I have, at least, 19 musician friends who cannot EVER-NEVER go to a dentist, or a real doctor. EVER. Oh, hell no. They have no money, no health care, no safety net..."

These are some of my friends too, but you are leaving out a big part of the equation: These people (self included) chose this path in life. Don't want to be poor, sleep on floors, get paid in PBR and play Tuesday night shows to empty rooms?

Then don't get into the music BUSINESS.

If you want to be a starving artists who suffers for art, don't complain when that happens.

Like him or not John Richards pays the bills with his skills, your (our) friends don't.

Posted by Jeff on October 11, 2011 at 10:55 AM

KEXP is so mainstream...

Posted by Keekee on October 11, 2011 at 11:33 AM

KEXP is a good station, but I find John Richard's taste in music pretty fucking boring.

Also, I love how KEXP's boosters' arguments largely equal Reaganomics.

Though the stupid amount of money he makes probably has something to do with 1) ridiculous hours and 2) a long long time of basically working for free.

Posted by gi on October 11, 2011 at 1:30 PM

Kelly, I'd say what John and the rest of KEXP is doing (albeit for a pretty hefty price tag) is actually a gateway to helping make sure that local musicians can sustain a career outside of playing in Seattle, and hopefully help them to pay those bills. Exposure=more ticket sales=more opportunities to take care of themselves.

Posted by Casual_Observer on October 12, 2011 at 12:48 PM

And I couldn't agree more with Jeff's comment. It's not like anyone is selling the musician lifestyle to folks out there with grand promises of health insurance and not having to live with 7 roommates. It's a chosen path. If your friends are having trouble getting insurance, they can pay 100 bucks a month for basic coverage from various websites.

Posted by Casual_Observer on October 12, 2011 at 12:51 PM

Just keep in mind that Mr. Richard's per hour rate is around $50 dollars (including benefits like 100% paid health insurance). Most of your favorite part-time DJs make somewhere in the range of 25% of that - around $13 to $15 bucks an hour - with no benefits. As for him every "working for free" - he was briefly an intern, but he's been paid and paid quite well for years since the early nineties. Remember, he's not the only DJ at the station and not the only DJ who has helped KEXP become the station it is today.

Posted by shameless_dan on October 14, 2011 at 3:51 PM