Brian Lauritzen
@brianlauritzen.bsky.social
3-8p weekdays on KUSC | nationally-syndicated host of LA Phil radio broadcasts | classical music enthusiast/advocate | opinions mine | he/him
I’m sorry what now???
August 13, 2025 at 3:47 AM
I’m sorry what now???
Call your representatives in Congress and tell them to kill this bill, not the news and music.
June 4, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Call your representatives in Congress and tell them to kill this bill, not the news and music.
Radio is still the #1 consumed medium in the United States. It is the medium which has the greatest reach and has the easiest entry point. It is a medium which doesn't discriminate based on race, income, or gender. The time to fight for it is now.
June 4, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Radio is still the #1 consumed medium in the United States. It is the medium which has the greatest reach and has the easiest entry point. It is a medium which doesn't discriminate based on race, income, or gender. The time to fight for it is now.
It's incumbent upon those of us with the resources, reach, donor capacity, audience advocates, to ACT NOW. We owe it to our Public Radio/TV siblings to fight for them.
June 4, 2025 at 5:41 PM
It's incumbent upon those of us with the resources, reach, donor capacity, audience advocates, to ACT NOW. We owe it to our Public Radio/TV siblings to fight for them.
Most, if not all, of these stations would be lost. Elect a racist president; reap racist results.
KUSC, KCRW, and KPCC (LAist) will be fine. Most of the Public Radio stations in the United States will not. The entire industry, therefore, is in existential crisis.
KUSC, KCRW, and KPCC (LAist) will be fine. Most of the Public Radio stations in the United States will not. The entire industry, therefore, is in existential crisis.
June 4, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Most, if not all, of these stations would be lost. Elect a racist president; reap racist results.
KUSC, KCRW, and KPCC (LAist) will be fine. Most of the Public Radio stations in the United States will not. The entire industry, therefore, is in existential crisis.
KUSC, KCRW, and KPCC (LAist) will be fine. Most of the Public Radio stations in the United States will not. The entire industry, therefore, is in existential crisis.
Additionally, CPB funding cuts would disproportionately affect Native and African American stations. The average dependence on CPB funding for Native American Public Media stations is 53%. The average dependence on CPB funding for stations in the African-American Public Radio Consortium is 26%.
June 4, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Additionally, CPB funding cuts would disproportionately affect Native and African American stations. The average dependence on CPB funding for Native American Public Media stations is 53%. The average dependence on CPB funding for stations in the African-American Public Radio Consortium is 26%.
Some Public Radio stations rely on CPB funding for more than 90% of their operating budget. Understandably, these are the stations in the most rural areas of our country--ie. the places where the potential for on-air fundraising is maximally minimal.
June 4, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Some Public Radio stations rely on CPB funding for more than 90% of their operating budget. Understandably, these are the stations in the most rural areas of our country--ie. the places where the potential for on-air fundraising is maximally minimal.
However, we are the outliers. The average Public Radio station receives 14.5% of its budget from CPB funding. (The figures for Public TV are even higher.)
If Public Radio stations which relied on CPB funding for more than 10% of their budget lost that revenue, 34% of them would cease operations.
If Public Radio stations which relied on CPB funding for more than 10% of their budget lost that revenue, 34% of them would cease operations.
June 4, 2025 at 5:41 PM
However, we are the outliers. The average Public Radio station receives 14.5% of its budget from CPB funding. (The figures for Public TV are even higher.)
If Public Radio stations which relied on CPB funding for more than 10% of their budget lost that revenue, 34% of them would cease operations.
If Public Radio stations which relied on CPB funding for more than 10% of their budget lost that revenue, 34% of them would cease operations.
We can weather this storm.
June 4, 2025 at 5:41 PM
We can weather this storm.
The bill proposes eliminating $1.1 billion in CPB funding. For stations in large markets, like mine, that's not an existential threat. With the proposed cuts, KUSC stands to lose approximately 5.6% of our budget. The figures are similar for our Public Radio compatriots, KCRW and KPCC (LAist).
June 4, 2025 at 5:41 PM
The bill proposes eliminating $1.1 billion in CPB funding. For stations in large markets, like mine, that's not an existential threat. With the proposed cuts, KUSC stands to lose approximately 5.6% of our budget. The figures are similar for our Public Radio compatriots, KCRW and KPCC (LAist).
The musicians of the SF Symphony have upheld their end of the bargain—making great music, night after night. Who exactly is in charge of being a responsible steward of their art? Management.
It is so sad to see such an incredible and important arts organization so poorly run. And yet, here we are.
It is so sad to see such an incredible and important arts organization so poorly run. And yet, here we are.
April 30, 2025 at 7:30 PM
The musicians of the SF Symphony have upheld their end of the bargain—making great music, night after night. Who exactly is in charge of being a responsible steward of their art? Management.
It is so sad to see such an incredible and important arts organization so poorly run. And yet, here we are.
It is so sad to see such an incredible and important arts organization so poorly run. And yet, here we are.