[JPL] New music and audience surveys

[Doug Crane]

If you're really interested in comparing and contrasting the budgets 
and compensation for 501c3 organizations like public radio stations, 
a very useful resource is Guidestar.org.  They allow you to access 
the IRS 990 forms that all non-profits must file each year.

Also included on the 990 forms are the salaries and benefits for at 
least the top five individuals earning more than $50,000.  The IRS 
doesn't care if you're paying your staff less than that I guess.

Here's some of the salary info I gleaned off of GuideStar this evening:

In the case of KUVO, there was only one person on the station's 
payroll that earned more than $50,000 in 2005.  By sharp contrast, 
the other public radio broadcaster in Denver known as Colorado Public 
Radio (CPR), had 17 individuals earning that much or more in 
2006.  The top six accounted for over $750,000 in salary and 
benefits.  If one includes the classical music announcers heard via 
the Classical Public Radio Network (based here and in LA and heard in 
other markets nationwide), the number of individuals earning more 
than $50,000 jumps to 24 and the salary and benefit number jumps to $1,250,000.

I looked at the 990's for some other public broadcasters too.  In no 
case did I find the disparity in salaries and benefits as dramatic as 
those between KUVO and CPR.  WGBH's salaries were somewhat higher 
than CPR's but not significantly so.  Those that were listed were 
primarily for the TV station.  Any of those salaries would be totally 
defensible given that they are paid to producers of some of the best 
programs that PBS has to offer.  Like NOVA, This Old House, 
etc.  KCRW's salaries were either the same or lower than CPR's which 
I found surprising given the number of programs that KCRW produces 
in-house.  Minnesota Public Radio's salaries were on par with or 
perhaps slightly higher than what CPR paid but once again MPR 
produces far more original content than does CPR.  Other than a daily 
interview show, CPR produces no original content.  I believe the 
Classical Public Radio Network final production work takes place at 
Boise State Radio and not in Denver unless things have changed.

I think it's fair to say from these examples that by and large public 
broadcasters can be relatively cost conscious and extract as much 
value as possible from each and every dollar they have at their 
disposal.  Some of the salaries are far too low considering the 
demands and responsibilities the job requires.  Others, while less 
than what might be available in the commercial sector, are at least 
livable.  It's only when one enters the realm of CPR do the salaries 
get out of whack.

Doug Crane
dcrane at comcast.net
KUVO Denver 89.3 FM