KUVO has been a part of the Denver radio landscape for over 20 years. But what do we do besides bring you the best jazz, blues, and Latin jazz? What is the difference between us and other radio stations?
Here is where you will find some of the most frequently asked questions. If you have a question that you don’t see answered here, send an email to us at info@kuvo.org with “Questions” in the subject line.
What is HD Radio?
What is the difference between public radio and commercial radio?
How can I become a member of KUVO?
How often do you have membership drives?
How long will it take to get my premium?
As a member of KUVO, what benefits will I have?
What are some of the ways I can support KUVO?
Are my donations and membership dues tax-deductible?
How do I find out what music has been played on-air?
What goes on at the performance studio?
New Streaming Radio
What is HD Radio?
HD Radio is a brand name of a method of digital transmission of both AM and FM stations. The HD Radio system is unique in that it allows stations to broadcast high-quality audio (no hiss) and offer a variety of text-based services (what song is playing, who played it) much like satellite radio. HD also offers the option of broadcasting additional channels without changing to a different frequency. In the near future, jazz89 KUVO will be able to offer 2 channels of programming at 89.3.
HD stands for “Hybrid Digital” and not “High Definition” as is commonly thought. HD Radio is a trademarked brand name. The FCC decided that HD would be the standard, giving AM channels more clarity and FM channels the opportunity to multicast. As of July 23, 2007, more than 1360 radio stations across the country are broadcasting with HD radio technology and more than 600 of those stations are offering multicast channels. Like traditional AM and FM stations, HD radio programming is free, but a new radio system is required. Right now, HD is readily available for car stereos and a limited number of desktop/home HD radio brands are available.
jazz89 KUVO was the first Colorado radio station to begin broadcasting in HD!
What is the difference between public radio and commercial radio?
Commercial radio is for-profit, income-generated programming. Commercial radio stations often must stick to corporate-driven playlists and depend on the sale of airtime for commercials for their income. Commercials can be pre-recorded, and often are call-to-action-based (i.e, “buy now”, “for a limited time”, “mention this ad”).
Public radio is non-profit, member-driven and community-based. Public radio stations cannot broadcast commercials or use call-to-action-based announcements. That means public radio is “commercial-free”! Instead of commercials, an on-air host will read the information (usually 30 words or less) and give the phone number and address of the supporting business or event.
jazz89 KUVO is a public radio station, and commercial-free. We rely on our members and sponsoring businesses for income. That means more music for you, the listener!
How can I become a member of KUVO?
KUVO depends on the support of our individual members – 63% of our income comes from them! It’s so easy to become a member of KUVO!
You can become a member online anytime – just click here!
You can call in and pledge your support during a pledge drive.
You can download our membership form and fax it back to us – please click here.
There is a level of membership for everyone. To find out more, click here.
How often do you have membership drives?
Unlike other public radio and television stations, we only have three formal membership drives per year, and one end of the year Gift Giving Day. KUVO is committed to bringing you more music and less interrupted programming. We strive to make our drives FUN for everyone involved by having live in-studio performances, offering the best premiums and instant payment incentives, and having special guests come in and share the mic with our on-air hosts.
How long will it take to get my premium?
We begin fulfillment for your premium upon receipt of your donation. It usually takes 1-2 weeks for the entire process – from receiving your membership request to mailing your premium. Occasionally it can take a little longer for specific premiums such as gift certificates – or if a premium (such as a t-shirt or CD) is on backorder. We strive to keep our members satisfied, and work to get your premiums to you as soon as possible!
As a member of KUVO, what benefits will I have?
When you become a member of KUVO, you will receive a membership card, you will be invited to special events at the station, you can receive discounts at supporting businesses, and most importantly – you help keep the music that you love on the air! Depending on your level of membership, you can receive premiums that are not available to the general public – such as CDs not available in retail stores, concert and theater tickets, t-shirts, gift cards to restaurants, and so much more!
Nearly 90% of our budget comes from membership and supporting businesses. That means KUVO is YOUR radio station! Your music, your community, your KUVO.
What are some of the ways I can support KUVO?
There are many ways that you can support KUVO. You can become a member or a volunteer. If you are a business owner, you can become a supporting business or a sponsor of a program. You can donate a car to the Junkers for Jazz program.
There are also a couple of ways that you can support KUVO that don’t cost anything. If you shop online, you can use Giveline, an online shopping network that partners with other online shopping sites and a portion of your purchase will go to support KUVO.
If you do a lot of internet searches, instead of using Google or Yahoo, use Goodsearch! Every time you do a search on Goodsearch, $.01 is donated to KUVO. GoodSearch is powered by the Yahoo! search engine and is one of the fastest and accurate search engines available – and don’t worry, you can use Goodsearch to get to Google and Ask if you wish! 1,000 people doing just 2 searches per day would earn KUVO an additional $7,300 per year!
Are my donations and membership dues tax-deductible? Yes, they are! jazz89 KUVO is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so all of your donations to KUVO are tax-deductible! At the beginning of the year, our membership department mails out tax receipts as a courtesy to our member-donors. We can also generate tax receipts upon request for our members. If you have any more donation questions, you can contact our business office at 303-480-9272 x19 or our membership services at 303-480-9272 ext.13.
How do I find out what music has been played on-air?
If you are looking for a particular song and you know what time or which show it was played on, it is easy to find the song. Or if you just liked the set a specific on-air host did, you can find out what was played during the entire show. It’s easy – just click on the Programming button on our website, and then click on PlayLists. When you get there, you will find a search form. You can search by show, by CD title or by the artist.
What goes on at the performance studio?
KUVO is one of a very few radio stations in the country to have a performance studio. Our performance studio is home to the “Live at the Oasis – The Pro Series” and “Live at the Oasis: The High School/Collegiate Series”. It is also home to the Bosendorfer grand piano donated by Joe Onofrio and Onofrio Piano. The KUVO Performance Studio can hold up to 30 guests, and in-studio performances can be recorded or broadcast live on-air, in real-time. Our Studio Club Members have top priority and reserved seating for special performances.
In 2007, KUVO received a “seed money” grant from Dr. Robert Greer to expand and update the performance studio in memory of his wife, Phyllis Greer. Currently, KUVO is actively writing grants and seeking sponsorship and donations to add to the generous gift from Dr. Robert Greer.
New Streaming Radio
Streaming Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: You updated your streaming service in June 2009. Why?
A: The initial impetus for a streaming upgrade was an increase in capacity for our upcoming additional program streams. But, at the same time, we took advantage of AAC+ and Flash technology to improve the sound quality of our streams within the same bandwidth we’d been using before.
Q: What is a “Flash Player?” What do I need to do to play it?
A: The Flash player makes use of Adobe Flash. Flash is a very common technology mostly known for the extensive animations that many organizations include on their regular web pages. It can also stream high-quality audio originated with Advanced Audio Coding Plus (AAC+), a technique that’s newer and more advanced than MP3 coding. Flash is supported on many computing platforms, including Windows, Mac, and Linux. If Adobe Flash is installed on your computer (and, there’s a very good chance that it already is), just click the Flash Player link and the player will start.
Q: Do I need a broadband Internet connection to listen to the Flash player?
A: The main player requires at least 64Kbps of Internet bandwidth, so a dial-up internet connection won’t be sufficient. If you are still using dial-up, we encourage you to consider a broadband connection to enjoy all the benefits from the additional bandwidth. If you are still using a dial-up connection, however, we also provide a 24Kbps Flash player option on our streaming page. Note: We are considering discontinuing support for dial-up with our streaming players. If you still require this support, please send an e-mail to our engineering staff.
Q: What can I do if the Flash Player won’t work?
A: First, make sure the Adobe Flash Player is installed on your computer. The Flash Player is a free download from the Adobe website via the link we’ve provided on our streaming page. If you still have trouble, we’ve provided links to other standard media players (Windows Media Player, iTunes/Winamp, and Real) on our streaming page. The audio quality with these players won’t be as good as with the Flash player, however.
Q: Can I listen with my iPhone or my iPod Touch?
A: Yes! The Public Radio Player is an iPhone and iPod Touch application that streams many public radio stations, including KUVO. You may download the Public Radio Player from the Apple Appstore via the link we’ve provided on our streaming page. You may also search from the Appstore in iTunes or on your iPhone or iPod Touch.
Q: Can I listen with an “Internet Appliance,” such as a ROKU SoundBridge or an Internet-enabled tuner or receiver?
A: Yes, as long as your device supports a standard MP3 internet stream. You are typically asked to provide the Internet address (or URL) for the stream when you configure such a device. Use:
http://kuvo-ice.streamguys.org/kuvo-mp3-64
(you may need to add an .m3u extension to this URL in some cases)
Q: The sound is stuttering or cutting out. What can I do?
A: First, if you are using a dial-up internet connection, consider obtaining broadband internet. However, if you are still using dial-up, make sure you are using one of the low-bandwidth streaming options (the low-speed Flash player being the best choice). If you are still having audio trouble, try listening to other internet stations (but only long enough to troubleshoot!). If they are also problematic, you may have a basic Internet connection problem. Check your own Internet connection, or check with your corporate IT department or Internet Service Provider. If you only experience problems with the KUVO stream, send an e-mail to our engineering staff and we’ll have a listen on our end. However, in most cases, intermittent audio is an issue on the listener’s end and not our end.
Q: I’m having consistent problems or another question. Who do I contact?
A: Send an e-mail to our engineering staff. Provide as much detail as possible, such as any error messages you’re receiving, what player you are trying to use, and what happens when you try to listen.