Katrina - Radio and Our Listeners Continue to Respond

FMQB has a great review of inspiring fund-and-awareness-raising efforts.

KSRX/San Antonio, PD/afternoon driver Mark Landis held a "staff meeting" at a loading dock where he and his staffers helped load/unload trucks with relief supplies earmarked for 25,000 of the Gulf Coast victims that were relocated to San Antonio.

WNNX/Atlanta this past week also took $100 donatons for requests on their afternoon show with Axel with all of the money going to the American Red Cross.

WKQX (Q101)/Chicago is planning a "My Shuffle" weekend this weekend (9/10-11) dedicated to helping hurricane victims. Listeners can use the "My Shuffle" feature on the station's Web site to create their own playlist from the Q101 music library. During the process they'll be asking listeners for donations. Every hour all weekend the station will play a different listener's playlist and reward the people who donate by allowing them to program the radio station.

WWWQ/Atlanta launched an initiative to help raise donations for the over 3,000 school kids who will be arriving in the Atlanta area that will be in need of school supplies and clothing.

Tampa Bay radio stations set aside their rivalries and are banding together for "Tampa Bay Radio Relief" and are taking donations for the American Red Cross at Raymond James Stadium.

Radio World reports that radio groups serving New Orleans and the surrounding area have combined resources to provide reliable radio broadcasts of emergency recovery and relief information.

NAB is working with the Salvation Army and American Red Cross todistribute 10,000 battery-operated handheld radios to residentsdisplaced by Katrina.

Friday morning, some 30 Minnesota radio stations joined to broadcast live from 5 a.m. until noon; listeners heard interviews of victims and experts from the Red Cross and University of Minnesota. An e-commerce Web site and phone lines were provided for financial donations.

In Michigan some 200 broadcasters, including radio and TV, with Gov. Jennifer Granholm observed Michigan Cares/Michigan Gives Fundraising Day Friday, in a three-hour morning event. The Michigan Association of Broadcasters also arranged audio messages from state celebrities urging donations. Those messages are available on the Michigan Cares/Michigan Gives page of the MAB Web site.

Philadelphia's WXTU(FM), a Beasley country station, will host singer Alan Jackson in concert at the Tweeter Center on Saturday. Jackson, Beasley and the Tweeter Center management will each donate $1 toward relief efforts for each ticket sold to the event.

Bustos Media is working with Spanish-language operator Grupo PRISA and its international radio unit in establishing a cross-border radiothon linking Bustos' 23 stations with Ke Buena stations in Mexico. The event will be broadcast air Sept. 11, noon to 6 p.m. PT.

KDGE(FM) in Dallas plans "Storm Aid: The Concert at the Gypsy Ballroom" on Sept. 18, with bands including the Burden Brothers, Space Cadet, Blue October and Edgewater performing acoustic sets as part of a six-hour show. The station's promotions director said all proceeds will go to the victims.

Envision Radio Networks' morning show prep service Today's Bits is making available Katrina audio downloads to stations. Sound bites include President Bush's initial warning to Gulf residents, evacuees telling their stories and a "Bridge Over Troubled Water" Relief Mix, featuring victims and news clips with Johnny Cash's version of the Simon and Garfunkel song playing underneath. The site is www.todaysbits.com.

Delaware's WSTW(FM), in conjunction with sister station WDEL(AM) and local bank Wilmington Trust, launched the First State Friendship Fund campaign to raise funds through the American Red Cross of Delmarva Relief Fund. The campaign was to kick off Friday with personalities broadcasting live from a local restaurant. Money collected goes to the Red Cross. Donations will be accepted at Wilmington Trust branches for the next couple of weeks.

Positive press for the "United Radio Broadcasters of New Orleans," the joint effort of Entercom and Clear Channel. "I think we've saved lives. In fact I know we have," says Dave Cohen, news director of WWL(AM).