The Current Thanks Listeners for Their Overwhelming Support During the Station's First Year of Broadcasting

Listener appreciation party to be held Jan. 28, 2006, at First Avenue, Minneapolis

January 18, 2006

The Current, Minnesota Public Radio's newest station, wants to thank its listeners for their support during the station's inaugural year. Launched on Jan. 24, 2005, The Current reflects Minnesota Public Radio's desire to create a radio station for a new group of listeners by offering a deep and wide playlist, which includes the best new music and showing that music's roots and influences. Local musicians and bands are given an opportunity to showcase the vast amount of musical talent in Minnesota. The playlist cuts across genres, eras and artists.

The Current is heard on KCMP 89.3 FM in the Twin Cities and KMSE 88.7 FM in Rochester and on the Web at www.mpr.org/current.

"We're extremely grateful to our listeners for their support over the past year," said The Current's Program Director Steve Nelson. "Their musical curiosity and passion makes The Current possible."

The Current seeks new ways to reach its audience. It broadcasts an eclectic mix of music every day, delivered by a variety of hosts including Mary Lucia and Mark Wheat, while providing breaking news and information from the Minnesota Public Radio newsroom. The station also reaches an increasingly tech-savvy audience with Web streaming, podcasts and the first-ever online Minnesota music encyclopedia, Minnewiki. Through its support of more than 250 events in the community, including a live broadcast from the Walker Art Center at its reopening celebration, the "Policy and a Pint" series, and the wildly successful "Rock the Cradle" event — a day of music dedicated to families " The Current seeks to help audiences strengthen their local communities.

A list of The Current's milestones during 2005 is included below.

Listener Appreciation party
Saturday, Jan. 28
7-11 p.m.
First Avenue, Minneapolis
$8; members get in free with MPR Member Card

89.3 The Current presents a listener appreciation party to celebrate its first year on the air. Join us at First Avenue on Saturday, Jan. 28, with live cameo appearances by local bands, Current DJs spinning tunes and other special treats. For more information, click on the Current at minnesotapublicradio.org.

2005 Current milestones

• Jan. 24 — The Current goes live on the air at 9 a.m. with music director Thorn as host; first song played on the new station—local hip-hop band Atmosphere's "Shhh."
• Jan. 30 — Debut of "The Local Show with Chris Roberts," a one-hour weekly show produced by The Current and dedicated to Minnesota music, featuring frequent in-studio guests.
• Mar. 19 — Debut of "Redefinition Radio," a one-hour Saturday night hip-hop show produced by The Current and hosted by Rhymesayers Entertainment's Kevin Beacham.
• April " Winter 2005 (Jan.-March 2005) Arbitron results announced for The Current: 170,100 listen to the station each week.
• April 17 — First live broadcast from the community at The Walker Art Center's grand reopening celebration, hosted by Mary Lucia.
• July 15 — Day of Music broadcast from Peavey Plaza in Minneapolis
• July 30 — Debut of "Rhythm Lab," a Saturday night/Sunday morning two-hour rhythm-driven show produced by The Current and hosted by Groove Garden's Tarik Moody and DJ Don Cuco.
• Aug. 2 — National Night Out (NNO), with The Current providing neighborhood block party support and materials to listeners. Mary Lucia hosts a special broadcast relaying NNO activities while providing the soundtrack for block parties all over the Twin Cities.
• Aug. 8 — The Current works to inform and activate listeners with the first "Policy and a Pint" event with co-hosts the Citizens League. Steve Seel hosted as Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page led a discussion about the U.S. Supreme Court judge appointment process.
• Aug. 25-Sept. 5 — The Current broadcasts live every day from the Minnesota State Fair. The Current also hosts a live local music event at Carousel Park with Cloud Cult and The Hang Ups. Another Fair highlight: Host Mark Wheat is immortalized in a seed art portrait crafted by a listener and displayed in the Horticulture building.
• Sept. 9 — "Storm Aid: Minnesota's River of Relief," a benefit where The Current joins other Twin Cities stations on the University of Minnesota's Washington Ave. bridge to raise money to aid Hurricane Katrina survivors.
• Sept. 15 — Minnesota Public Radio's Web site launches Minnewiki — the first-ever online, user-driven encyclopedia of Minnesota music, Minnewiki.
• Sept. 21 — The Current partners with the Minnesota Music Academy to co-host the 25th Anniversary Minnesota Music Awards.
• Sept. 24-25 — The Current's first out-of-state live broadcast from Austin City Limits Music Festival, hosted by Bill DeVille.
• October 2005 — "Guest Session Sundays" series at The Fitzgerald Theater every Sunday in October featuring local musicians. There were performances by the Honeydogs, the Hopefuls, Boiled in Lead, Polara, Happy Apple and collaborators of their choice, excerpts recorded for broadcast on The Current.
• October 26 — First podcast produced by The Current — "Musicheads" — Bill Deville hosts a discussion of new music with DJs from the station. There's a new episode available each week.
• November 2005 — "12 Discs of Christmas with Mary Lucia" and guests Spin music critic Will Hermes and New York Times critic Kelefa Sanneh is The Current's first program produced for national distribution by American Public Media.
• Dec. 11 — "Rock the Cradle," The Current's first event dedicated to creating a family friendly environment to celebrate music and literacy, held at The Children's Theatre in Minneapolis.
• January 2006 — "Live Current Volume 1" to be released, featuring 19 tracks recorded in studio exclusively for The Current. Artists include Rilo Kiley, Dan Wilson, Ted Leo, Thievery Corporation, Halloween, Alaska, and Citizen Cope.

---

Press Contacts:
Christina Schmitt
Minnesota Public Radio
651-290-1449
cschmitt@mpr.org