Stunning landscapes, mouth-watering steaks, soaring peaks, and unique…music?
Alberta is known for many things, but one local gem that’s often overlooked and that we should get a lot more credit for is CKUA Radio.
Founded in Edmonton in 1927, it began as a student-led project that exploded off the campus of the University of Alberta.
CKUA was Canada’s first public broadcaster, and it’s been Alberta’s broadcaster of choice for keeping up with new music and the local arts scene.
Because of its wide-ranging musical coverage, it’s heard not only across Alberta but around the world, with fans singing its praises on social media:
“I grew up with CKUA playing constantly, and dad even had stickers with the CKUA logo here and there (on his car, on our fridge, I think there was even a newspaper article tacked to the fridge).”
“This station is on in my place almost every day. Very fond of the hosts. I’m constantly learning about new artists.”
“I liked the classic lunch… I can’t remember the host’s name, but his taste in musical masterpieces was second to none. If the CKUA goes down, then so dies a piece of every Canadian.”
As we’re sure you can tell from these Reddit users, loyalty to the station runs deep.
As the chair of CKUA’s board, J. Lindsay Hood, told The Tyee, “We are the voice of music, arts, and culture in Alberta and the incubator for local and Canadian artists.”
Donor-Funded Community Radio Station
CKUA relies on funding from donors to keep on the airways, and support runs deep from the generous pockets of Albertans and people around the world.
Nothing has proved this generosity more so than the absolute rush of support that has flowed towards the community-run radio since they issued an emergency plea for help in April.
A decade ago, after its old building had started falling apart beyond repair, CKUA acquired $5.9 million in debt to purchase its headquarters at the iconic Alberta Hotel.
What initially seemed a manageable investment became a major problem after borrowing costs doubled in 2022 due to high interest rates.
The station also lost its main tenant, who’d brought in about $450,000 in revenue every year. The CKUA pockets were starting to feel pretty empty.
The board rose to the occasion, lobbying the federal and provincial governments to increase their funding. “But weeks ago, we hit the wall,” said Hood.
Neither government was interested in further funding, and CKUA ran out of options.
So they turned to the people who’d been their biggest supporters from day one, Albertan listeners.
Ask, And You Shall Receive
“We must raise $3 million by Sept. 30,” said Marc Carnes, CKUA’s CEO, in a tough to watchsocial media post.
“Without it, CKUA’s cash reserves will be depleted, and we’ll be forced to shut down after 96 years serving Albertans and honorary Albertans.”
And boy, did they show up.
7,400 people responded to the call for support, raising 1.67 Million in just 2 weeks.
“We were elated,” said Hood. “There was a sense of the importance of the station in the life of Albertans.”
The care people showed was unmatched, immediately covering more than half the funds needed to keep the station running.
There’s still much time before September, and CKUA has much more money to raise.
Albertan country music icon Corb Lund released a video that thanked everyone for their contributions, saying he wouldn’t be there without the station.
“CKUA has been a huge part of my career, and they’ve helped me build, and they’ve supported me from the very beginning, and they still support me,” he said.
“They still support many, many young Alberta artists that are up and coming.”
“So please support them. We need them.”
Not There Yet
While there’s a long way to go to meet the amount CKUA needs to stay afloat and airing, the station is hopeful.
“We’re a community. We’re connected across the miles, digitally and through terrestrial radio,” said Marc Carnes, CEO of CKUA.
“That connection between our hosts and musicians and the people who listen and support us, it’s so powerful.”
At the rate their cause is gaining traction, it looks like “video didn’t kill the radio star.”
As Hood said, “Without CKUA, our cultural landscape is severely diminished.”
And people are hearing that loud and clear.
If you’re interested in becoming a donor or getting involved and telling local and federal governments that your local radio matters, you can head here to support.
You can always tune in here and see why the program gets so much love.
Happy listening!
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