Coachella Valley Weekly connected with Michelle Rizzio, Station Manager for KDHS 98.9 FM to discuss the radio station and their direction.
Format
“KDHS 98.9 FM is a low power FM terrestrial broadcast radio station and non-profit operating out of Desert Hot Springs, California. Our format is free-form and we aim to serve the local community of Desert Hot Springs. We offer unique broadcasting every other Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9p.m. from volunteer DJs as well as hosting events in and around DHS.
Community Radio Station
“KDHS does not have a paid staff. We are a non-profit community radio station and we continuously seek volunteers to continue expanding. We aim to be completely be volunteer run and operated. Our mission is to serve various marginalized communities in DHS through providing volunteer and training opportunities to be a DJ on the radio or simply to be involved with the emerging arts and culture scene of DHS, along with the neighboring cities in the Coachella Valley.”
Support
“Local support is absolutely crucial and we are immensely grateful for the friends we have made in the last year. We look forward to continuing to strengthen and expand our community ties. KDHS 98.9FM is currently aiming to give back to the community by creating a diverse entertainment hub out of DHS; not only for established musicians and our audience, but for budding talent in our city. We currently host events monthly, such as, Block Parties with the DHS Neighborhood Group. We hope to expand our monthly events in the future to include Slam Poetry events, Open Mic Nights, and more.”
Goals
“My largest goal at this time is to raise enough funds and attract enough attention to obtain and maintain a public production space in Desert Hot Springs for KDHS 98.9FM. We currently operate out of a private studio with limitations. I see KDHS 98.9FM reaching this goal within the year.”
“Within five years I would like to see KDHS 98.9FM established with both pre-produced and live 24 hour broadcasting in various languages, festivals, participation in SXSW, various pop-ups around the Valley, educating the youth and marginalized communities on radio broadcasting and production as a means of social change, and supporting and stimulating local business development, economy, and entertainment.”
“In ten years I would like to see all of our current DJs successful at all of their ventures. I would like to see multiple musicians and artists gain international exposure due to their work and collaboration with KDHS 98.9FM. I would like to see KDHS educate the youth in the local school system and offer scholarship opportunities to send the youth of DHS to college. I would like to see KDHS 98.9FM expand their reach internationally and become an example of the limitless possibility that a low power FM community radio frequency can offer a small and marginalized community. I see much collaboration and creation in the future. The future of KDHS 98.9FM is not limited to my ideals, but only structured by them. The community will fill in the rest.”
KDHS 98.9 schedule is as follows:
9 a.m.-12 p.m. DJ CloudyIE’s Word On The Street
12-3 p.m. DJ Echø’s The Sound of the Desert Heat featuring an interview with sound healer Mary Electra of The Sounds For The Soul Music Festival on March 19, from 11a.m.-9 p.m.
3-6 p.m. for DJ Big Red’s Shurp Town Hour featuring an interview with Director Jason Pine of Desert Age: A Rock And Roll Scene History, premiering March 19th, at the Camelot Theaters in Palm Springs.
6-9 p.m. for DJ Meesh Izzi’s GAZE.
You can meet DJ Echø at The Sounds For The Soul Music Festival at the Leslie Jean Porter Gallery in Cathedral City on March 19. ($20)
You can also meet DJ Meesh Izzi and DJ Big Red at The Desert Age World Premiere Party on March 19 at The Camelot Theater in Palm Springs (Sold Out)
Block Party at Dillon’s Burgers and Beers: Sunday, March 13, from 1-4 p.m. featuring Calico Wonderstone, The Small Wonder Experience, The BrosQuitos. This event is free and all ages, features a raffle, Local Business Booth, and family friendly crafts.
Our Shurp Town Record Swap Fundraiser to support the opening of a DHS record store by DJ Big Red Dillon’s Burgers and Beers: Sunday, March 20, 2016 from 1-4 p.m. featuring Calico Wonderstone, Pale Palace and The Hive Minds. $1 cover includes a raffle ticket. This event is all ages. We are always seeking vendors for this event.
A Night At Playoffs, our KDHS 98.9FM evening event and fundraiser. We offer diverse monthly music for the young adults and evening crowd at Playoffs Sports Bar in DTown. Saturday, March 26, 2016 from 8 p.m.-12 a.m. featuring SymaraStone, Lisa Lynn Morgan, Anna Christie, and Sunny McNair 21+ $5 cover.
KDHS 98.9FM is always seeking talent, available venues, and volunteers for our events, those interested can email me at djmeeshizzi@gmail.com. For more information about KDHS 98.9 FM call 760-288-9069 or go to www.kdhsfm.com
