Oct. 29 is Public Radio Music Day, a nationwide celebration of public radio stations across the country to celebrate the joy and beauty of public radio.
It's a day to focus on the music and artists KAXE plays, and the people KAXE plays it for.
Public radio is built to bend — and built to belong to its community
As a public radio station, we are free from commercial radio rules (limited number songs in rotation, near constant airing of certain in-demand songs, etc.)
And as an independent public radio station, KAXE really has the ability to twist and turn (maybe even shout?!) on a dime as needed.
We can put emerging artists on air without waiting for chart numbers or corporate approval. A favorite Minnesota musician sends us their latest song? It can be heard on KAXE within hours, even minutes. That flexibility is the public service.
A missing piece in the defunding conversation
In all the talk over the defunding of public media, something keeps getting left out: public radio music stations are a critical piece of the music industry ecosystem.
Radio continues to be one of the leading paths to music discovery. Artists without label backing, without streaming numbers, without PR teams, who aren't "lucky enough" to go viral — they still get a chance to find their fans through radio.
In a world of endless feeds and algorithms, a voice on the public radio dial still builds relationships between artists and the humans listening on the other side.
Handpicked music in a pre-programmed world
Through a knowledgeable staff and a wide circle of volunteers, KAXE delivers the soundtrack you didn’t know you needed. Algorithmic streaming can’t read the weather out your window or the mood in your community. But a human DJ can, and ours do every single day.
Local DJs bring their lived experience to the table. You hear a smile when they’ve got joy; you hear sorrow and solace when the day is heavy. Behind the scenes at KAXE and KBXE, we see DJs singing at full volume, waving arms, pounding countertops to the beat, fully into the music at the same moment they share it with you.
I’m writing this while listening to an Essential Machine song with the perfectly timed lyric: “Sharing in the sounds that make us human.”
The human filter is not an accident. It is the value.
On the other end of the radio is a listener who hears a mix of music they cannot find on a streaming service or other big box radio.
Buddy Guy played next to Amanda Shires and Buena Vista Social Club? John Prine into Flock of Dimes followed by Trampled by Turtles into Amythyst Kiah? Kelley Smith into Chastity Brown right next to Corey Medina and Brothers?
Those are mixes you hear daily on KAXE. Variety, representation and a mixture of sounds are unique to a playlist presented by a HUMAN, not a robot.
Live. Local. Essential.
Local and community-focused stations like KAXE across the nation bring listeners local musicians, to the air and within our communities.
Through live music announcements and now our weekly feature The Setlist, you get a real-time rundown of live music in our region each week. This segment is more than just promoting shows. It helps convey the life and richness that we have in rural spaces, which as we know, includes the live music scene.
Yes, we’re still here — and yes, there is work left
After the defunding of public media by the federal government, KAXE's community responded with a humbling and significant fund drive. KAXE is still standing, thanks to our community, but there is still work to do.
KAXE and other public radio music stations are still working under a cloud of uncertainty. Up until the defunding, the Corp. for Public Broadcasting negotiated and paid for public television and radio stations music licensing rights. Those licenses with organizations like ASCAP and BMI allow us to legally play copyrighted music on the air.
We now know those licenses are covered through the end of 2027. After that, the future is to be determined, and the exact amount to pay is yet to be released.
These music licenses along with the "knowns" like staffing, studios, and the core mission, all require continued support.
Come celebrate with us!
Join us as we celebrate Public Radio Music Day, Wednesday, Oct. 29, on the air and in person. Let’s mark the day sharing in the sounds that make us human.
- 6:30-9 a.m.: Music-Themed KAXE Morning Show with Andrew Dziengel and Friends
- 9 a.m.-noon: SPECIAL three-hour-long Headwaters with Kari Hedlund
- Noon-1 p.m.: SPECIAL Musical Green Cheese Trivia with Malachy Koons and Jennifer Barr
- 1-4 p.m.: On the River with Dave Murphy
- 4-7 p.m.: SPECIAL On the River with Will Owens
- 6 p.m.: Guess the Groove at Brigid's Pub in Bemidji
- 6 p.m.: Judge That Jam! at Klockow Brewing in Grand Rapids
- 7-10 p.m.: On the River with Dug Dngrr
