WBGO gets large digitization grant

[ghost of miles]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Feb. 5, 2007

Gift of unprecedented generosity will usher WBGO Jazz88 into the digital age

Jonathan Otto, CEO of RetailDNA, has given a grant of $110,000 to WBGO/Jazz88.3FM-America's flagship public radio jazz station.

The grant will enable WBGO to begin digitizing its extensive jazz music library and allow the station to develop a strategic plan that plots WBGO's increased service to jazz enthusiasts on new media platforms.

The digitization project will transfer the music on every CD and album in WBGO's library to a digital code suitable for safe storage, easy play back and multifaceted categorization. All liner notes, artist information and photos that accompany the original media, will also be transferred to a digital format for storage in the station's library. The detailed organization of information about WBGO's music library will allow the station to be instantly responsive to a wide range of listeners' interests and needs. Programmers and announcers will be able to better serve listeners with an extensive jazz library that will be categorized by genre, theme, era and artist in a consistent manner. Digitization will also enable WBGO to produce and distribute its jazz

content on current and emerging new media platforms.

"I believe in the work of WBGO and recognize the important role that it plays in the cultural world," said Jonathan Otto, who is also a WBGO Board member. "The station is capable of bringing jazz to more people

in more places than virtually any other public service media outlet. WBGO has an outstanding staff of jazz experts and is one of the few remaining authentic jazz radio stations in the United States. I wanted to make sure this asset was available to as many people as possible via all of the platforms that music lovers are using worldwide."

"Jonathan Otto's gift confirms what most associated with WBGO and many in the arts world have known for some time," said Timothy L. Porter, Chairman of the WBGO Board, "that WBGO has emerged over the years as a major arts organization, whose impact, powerfully evident in the New York-New Jersey Metropolitan area, also extends with the marvels of technology throughout the country and abroad.

"This visionary grant will enable WBGO to better serve people who love jazz and understand it's cultural relevance," said WBGO General Manager Cephas Bowles. "We can now see a fast approaching future where WBGO listeners not only have access to the music from our website, but also a deep archive of historical information about the music. Jonathan believes in the increasing importance of WBGO to Newark and the jazz fans and musicians everywhere in the world. All of today's WBGO listeners, and many more to come, will be affected by his generosity and vision for a long time."

Serving Greater New York City from its base in Newark, New Jersey, WBGO is also committed to serving international audiences' ever-growing demand for jazz. This grant will enable the station to meet those needs

and to reach out to younger listeners, who are accessing the internet and online services in record numbers.

WBGO/Jazz88.3FM serves the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area with mainstream jazz, blues, and award-winning news and public affairs programming. Non- commercial WBGO is supported by over 15,000 annual members and has 340,000 weekly listeners. WBGO also streams its broadcast signal to audiences worldwide at www.wbgo.org. Jazz88 was named the "Jazz Station of the Year" by the Gavin Report and is also the recipient of the Blues Foundation's "Keeping the Blues Alive Award" for Achievement in Non-Commercial Radio. WBGO is a publicly supported, cultural institution that champions jazz, an American art form, and presents news to a worldwide audience through radio, other technologies

and events.

[Lazaro Vega]

Well, it's the playback systems, and information sharing via web sites, I would guess. I don't work with the latest and greatest technology here but have talked to others who have their entire database available so when you plug in a recoding for airplay via the computer the software program puts up who's playing, what's playing and the name of the album automatically on the web stream and in an instantaneous playlist on a web site. I'd imagine having your library all in click and drag form would make this process very, very smooth. Not to mention the man hours it will take to make the conversion, which I imagine is where the costs are.

[Lazaro Vega]

Data Janitor...

Yes, of course, $115, 000 could almost get you a concert featuring Ornette, Braxton, Muhal, Cecil Taylor, Roscoe, Rashied Ali and Reggie Workman on the same bill.....!

Edited February 6, 2007 by Lazaro Vega