HOMETOWN RADIO ADDS PROGRAMMING
KLLG Hometown Radio is in its fifth-year broadcasting information, music and a variety of shows throughout the Little Lake Valley. The volunteer-run station has continued to add new shows for listeners’ entertainment, despite the challenges the pandemic has imposed on the non-profit organization.
KLLG Committee Member Liam Uicearbhall and Program Manager Jeff Shipp discussed the new programs. Willits Community Theatre has been providing the station a new show monthly. The most recent is ‘Spoon River Anthology’ which will air Thursdays at 6 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 p.m. throughout the month.
Carla Starla is bringing her turntables into the station to provide a live, on-air DJ show for listeners called ‘Testify’. The first of which was set to air March 6 from 11 p.m.- 1 a.m. The show will be recorded and encored as well. Shipp said they have also gotten some new syndicated shows. One is called ‘Audio Ink’ and features Numetal. Another is called ‘The Mike and Mari Show’, which is a variety comedy show out of the Bay Area. Shipp said, “It’s very funny.”
Uicearbhall explained that the pandemic has dramatically cut into the station’s income, which typically has been generated through concerts and events. Community members’ donations have been keeping the station afloat, along with a temporary reduction in rent the Little Lake Grange has allotted the station.
Aside from rent, the station has to pay utilities and royalties for the music they play. Uicearbhall and Shipp discussed possibly add
ing an online streaming feature which would allow listeners to access the stations programs from a larger geographic area. They are still looking into the technology behind online streaming and funding the increased cost in the loyalties to add the feature.
To offset the financial deficit imposed by the pandemic, the station is also considering an online auction fundraiser and is hopeful that they will be able to do a concert in the fall, depending on the state of the COVID-19 pandemic. Underwriters can also support the station, and although KLLG cannot advertise for underwriters, they can thank them and provide verifiable facts about them on the radio. Uicearbhall said, “We are really reasonable on rates.”
Community radio is an asset for a variety of reasons. Aside from providing entertainment, community radio provides information.
Information can be crucial in emergency events, especially when other forms of communication are not operational. General Manager Pat Collins explained the station bought a generator with a grant they received from the Community Foundation of Mendocino County. KLLG will run the generator in an emergency event.
Being a non-profit organization, KLLG is dependent on community members and local businesses donations to stay afloat.
They also need volunteers to keep things up and running. Collins said of the KLLG volunteers, “It’s the nicest group of people anyone would want to work with.” She also said that they have adapted to be able to train new volunteers while adhering to COVID-19 guidelines.
Uicearbhall said, “We are still looking for volunteers, we are always looking for volunteers.” Shipp expanded to say, “There is plenty of space (on the schedule) for people to add new programs.”
Shipp’s own eight-yearold son is often on the radio, much to listeners’ delight. Uicearbhall and Shipp said that if students were interested in doing a show, they would work with them to make it happen.
Uicearbhall said, “That’s one of the things we really want to do, is teach youth how to do this.”
Uicearbhall said there is a need for someone to do a local news show as well. He said, “At present, we don’t have anyone reporting on what’s happening around Willits, we would love to have that.” They mentioned the possibility of an interested journalism student filling the spot.
Another thing that Uicearbhall said the station is trying to do is encourage listeners to contact the station and provide feedback on what they like, or don’t like, of what they are hearing. He said, “We really need that feedback.” The station uses the feedback to plan their programming.
For more information, visit the website kllg.org, email info@kllg.org, call (707) 459-5554 or tune into 97.9 FM.