Denver’s music and culture scene has boomed in recent years, and the nonprofit media entrepreneurs at Denver Open Media are launching a radio station showcasing local talent that goes live June 3 — if they can raise the money for the project.
(Disclosure: The Colorado Independent rents office space from Denver Open Media.)
DOM 104.7 FM plans to use open source software to allow listeners to upvote favorite shows focused on music, culture, neighborhood news, events, comedy, talk radio and education.
DOM’s director Tony Shawcross, dubbed by Westword as the savior of public access television, hopes the rabid fans of Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats, DeVotchKa and The Flobots, among other local bands, show up in droves to support the idea.
With 61 hours to go, the campaign had only raised $7,525 of a $25,000 goal. If they don’t reach the full amount, they get nothing.
Shawcross worries the crowdsourcing campaign is thousands-of-dollars shy of his all-or-nothing goal just days before it ends at 12 a.m., May 7.
“It didn’t seem like an expansive goal. Maybe we were naive,” Shawcross said.
Jamie Laurie, of the internationally renowned hiphop group The Flobots, understands Shawcross’ anxieties, but is confident that it’s not too late for Denver music and culture fans to rally to fund the cause.
Said Laurie: “It would be a real shame if Denver’s vibrant music scene did not seize the opportunity to have our very own all local radio station.”
If you are interested in supporting this project, you can donate here. For more information, watch Denver Open Media’s video about the project below.
Photo credit: Denver Open Media’s Kickstarter video.
