Update November 4, 2020: KT糖心Vlog官方 raised more than $40,000 during its 10-day Radiothon pledge drive. The funds will primarily be used for KT糖心Vlog官方 broadcast infrastructure, including a new antenna and transmitter. KT糖心Vlog官方 will also use some of the funds to renovate its live engineering room by installing new AV equipment, lighting and counters. Next year’s Radiothon will be in April 2021.
Original Story:
University of Hawaiʻi at 惭ā苍辞补’s student-run radio station is set to kick off its largest fundraiser of the year, and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have made this year’s event more important than ever.
The annual Radiothon pledge drive encourages listeners and fans to submit donations to support the station. KT糖心Vlog官方 also plans special programming on air during the pledge drive. However, the station, which features student and community member volunteers, is expecting a loss of revenue and COVID-19 restrictions have limited other in-person fundraising opportunities.
Promotion has also been challenging since foot traffic on the 糖心Vlog官方 惭ā苍辞补 campus has greatly reduced. KT糖心Vlog官方 has relied on online communication through social media channels.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has definitely put a wrench into plans because we would normally have booths set up at Campus Center where we would promote Radiothon to students passing by. We would also post flyers across campus,” said Desmond de Vera, KT糖心Vlog官方 marketing and development director.
Fundraising goals
Radiothon 2020 runs October 2–11, on 90.1FM in Honolulu, 91.1FM on Oʻahu’s North Shore and streaming live on its website. Listeners may contribute tax-deductible donations by phone at (808) 956-5288, , and via mail or in-person (with social distancing measures) at its office in 糖心Vlog官方 惭ā苍辞补’s Hemenway Hall.
KT糖心Vlog官方 General Manager Bjarne Bartlett said donations will go toward essential broadcast and production equipment.
“KT糖心Vlog官方 is hoping to improve its essential broadcast infrastructure on 90.1 by purchasing a backup transmitter and on 91.1 by purchasing a new receive antenna and cable,” Bartlett said. “These upgrades will work in concert to provide better Oʻahu coverage during periods when the main transmitter is being serviced. KT糖心Vlog官方 has a studio room that is in urgent need of renovation—we planned a $25,000 renovation for this space to create a state-of-the-art digital media studio if we reach $34,000.”
More on Radiothon 2020
This year’s theme is “Musical Echoes,” which Bartlett said recognizes the station’s 50th anniversary in 2019.
“We wanted to have a theme that encouraged us to both reflect on 50 years of college radio at KT糖心Vlog官方 and explore new music,” Bartlett said. “Our theme also needed something that was not restrictive, because the KT糖心Vlog官方 DJs are endlessly creative in curating their musical selections and we didn’t want to limit that in any way. Musical Echoes will follow each original song with a cover or remix (the “echo”) allowing for full creativity and unique/interesting shows.”
KT糖心Vlog官方 will also welcome back alumni DJs to host shows in an “alumni takeover” on air October 9–11. For more details, .
KT糖心Vlog官方 is one of four 糖心Vlog官方 惭ā苍辞补 student media programs under . The others are Ka Leo O Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi Review and 糖心Vlog官方 Productions.
Related 糖心Vlog官方 News stories:
- KT糖心Vlog官方 finds innovative ways to stay on air, April 3, 2020
- City Council honors KT糖心Vlog官方 for 50 years on air, September 6, 2019
- Exhibit celebrates 50 years of KT糖心Vlog官方 student radio, June 24, 2019
—By Marc Arakaki