WMSE, a community-funded radio station in Milwaukee, WI needs to replace its in-house digital studio to keep live music on the air.
Keep Live Music on WMSE
WMSE 91.7 FM, a community-funded radio station in Milwaukee needs to replace its in-house digital recording studio. After 30 years of supporting and documenting local artists, the dated and deteriorating equipment will soon preclude WMSE from recording and broadcasting live in-studio performances.
This Kickstarter project is intended to outfit the new studio and produce the Best of Local/Live. This project will also allow WMSE to expand programming to include the recording and production of entire albums for local artists and increase the number of live in-studio performances from touring artists that visit Milwaukee.
The impact of these performances, and especially the support of local music, has been recognized outside our broadcast boundaries. The station bolstered the careers of Milwaukee based national recording artists such as the Violent Femmes, Kings Go Forth, Jaill, and countless others.
To be clear, this project is completely different from WMSE routine, annual fundraising efforts. All of the equipment that makes programs like Local/Live possible is over 12 years old; a pretty long life in terms of technology! Because of the aging equipment, we are experiencing a host of compatibility issues, failing preamps, and other problems that may soon prevent us from broadcasting and recording live music. Subsequently, we launched this special capital project to raise $30,000 by December 22nd.
Per Kickstarter’s rules, we must meet a $30,000 goal by December 22 or WMSE will receive nothing and your pledge will not be processed. Kickstarter was chosen for this project because the “all-or nothing” arrangement represents the dire urgency of our failing equipment and we are confident that we will be successful thanks to the community power of WMSE listeners!
Please back the project to Keep Live Music on WMSE today.
FAQ
-
This is a special capital project.
It costs $440,000 just to keep the station on the air every year. This includes programming, signal maintenance and engineering, library management, and staffing to name a few. Our listener contributions cover almost two-thirds of that amount, and the rest comes from our underwriting partners, and a select few grants including the NEA grant that help make Local/Live possible. We run a tight ship to make our programming happen and that doesn’t leave any extra money for capital projects such as this. That’s why we are asking for your help with this special project to Keep Live Music on WMSE!
-
Sure can! It's going to be an amazing night of Milwaukee bands covering... Milwaukee Bands! I know, right. We were going to change the name in the Rewards to something like Cover Milwaukee but thanks to savvy backers who already pledged at that level, the language is locked in.
Access to this one of a kind event, is exclusive to project backers. More details, including date, venue, and artist announcements will follow shortly. (Keep an eye on the FAQ and the Updates)
-
We chose this platform because we thought it accurately represents the urgency of our failing equipment and, because, we are confident that we can exceed our goal with your help. Plus, we get to offer up all of this sweet stuff at a mega-bargain!
-
Contrary to our first update, we can’t actually post a photo in the FAQ (sorry about the confusion). Check out update number two for the T-shirt design.
-
Absolutely! When the project is over, we will be administering a survey through kickstarter to get some basic information. One of the things we'll ask is how each backer would like their name, or the name of someone they would like to honor, to be displayed on the studio wall. At that point, please enter the name of the person you would like to recognize and that is what will be proudly displayed at WMSE.
We will also be posting a downloadable "gift recognition card" as a project update very soon. We've spoken to many people who have given on behalf a friend or family for Christmas. Since we cannot turn around rewards quite that quickly, this downloadable card will allow you to give something on Christmas morning, Christmas eve, or any other time for any other holiday.
369
Backers
$33,393
pledged of $30,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding period
Oct 24, 2011 -
Dec 22, 2011
.medium.jpg?1317759246){kind=avatar}
Pledge $1 or more
38 backers
Your name printed, framed, and forever hung on the walls of WMSE and that warm fuzzy feeling knowing you proudly support Milwaukee music.
Estimated delivery: Jan 2012Pledge $15 or more
42 backers
Exclusive access to the Local/Live concert in early 2012 and your name on the wall of the WMSE studios.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2012Pledge $25 or more
66 backers
Your very own copy of The Best of Local/Live CD, a compilation of WMSE in-studio performances. You will also receive a ticket to the Local/Live concert and your name on the wall of the WMSE studios.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2012Pledge $50 or more
107 backers
A $50 pledge will get you a one of a kind WMSE t-shirt printed exclusively for this project. You'll also get everything above.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2012Pledge $75 or more
33 backers
How about the Best of Local/Live DVD to go along with you new CD and T-shirt? How about knowing that that DVD has entirely different material from the CD and it's only available by pledging to this project. You will also gain access to the exclusive concert, and your name will be hung proudly on the wall at WMSE. So... how about that?
Estimated delivery: Mar 2012Pledge $150 or more
20 backers
YOU become an Executive Producer of The Best of Local/Live. That means that you'll receive your name in the CD liner notes and the DVD credits. Plus, you'll get the other sweet stuff above.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2012Pledge $250 or more
14 backers Limited (26 of 40 left)
Not only will you receive all of the above, we'll also have your name engraved into a plaque, commemorating your contribution to Keep Live Music on WMSE. The plaque will be hung on the wall of the WMSE studios... forever!
Estimated delivery: Mar 2012Pledge $500 or more
2 backers Limited (8 of 10 left)
Kick it in the studio for 3 Local/Live tapings of your choice in 2012. An awesome and intimate way to see your favorite bands and you'll get your hands on all of the other amazing stuff above.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2012Pledge $1,000 or more
2 backers Limited (1 of 3 left)
Need to record your bands next album? For pledges at this level, WMSE’s own, Billy Cicerelli, will record, produce, mix and master your 6 song album in the WMSE studio. If that's not enough, our friends at Sooper Dooper are throwing in CD duplication and packaging for 100 CDs. Oh, and everything else above!
Estimated delivery: Mar 2012Pledge $2,500 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
All of the above, plus Milwaukee's own Paul Cebar will play at your next event or perform an intimate private house show just for you!
Estimated delivery: Mar 2012Pledge $10,000 or more
1 backer All gone!
NAMING RIGHTS! WMSE's newly outfitted Studio will be named after you! This means that your legacy will be present on-air during every Local/Live and in-studio performance at WMSE. You'll also get executive producer credits and copies of the CD and DVD, access to a live Local/Live performance and tickets to the Local/Live concert in 2012! Milwaukee will never forget you!
Estimated delivery: Mar 2012
