~posted by Alison @ KMFA  🙂

KMFA just recently wrapped up our Spring Fund Drive (thanks to our dedicated and appreciative listeners and supporters). And while we were able to raise enough funds and awareness to continue broadcasting commercial-free classical music in Central Texas, we did end up a little shy of our goal… and I can’t help but wonder, “What if….?” What if we did not have a successful pledge drive? What if listeners kept listening, but stopped supporting this rare gem?

For the past few years, our average listener base has been approximately 100,000 listeners per week. You might be surprised to learn that only 5% of of that number actually support KMFA with personal donations in any dollar amount.

A while back, my colleagues and I shared a creative-writing exercise during our lunch break. It basically proceeded thus: What if KMFA vanished tomorrow? No longer existed? Poof, gone? We tasked ourselves to eulogize the very radio station that we assumed would be around forever. The point of our exercise was to articulate exactly what we valued most about KMFA, and what we would miss if we didn’t have an all-classical oasis on our radio dial. Of course, to keep it from being too sad, we injected a bit of hypothetical humor as well.

So, in the spirit of April Fool’s Day, here is what we wrote:

IN MEMORIAM

On [date of demise], Central Texas lost it’s only source for classical music on the radio. KMFA, our classical music friend and companion, departed this world after a long battle with apathy. It’s last words were reputed to have been “472-2221…”

In its 45 years on this earth, KMFA blossomed from a 1-room, 2-employee, 4-hour operation into a glorious enterprise consisting of a dozen employees and 24/7 service to the community. KMFA dedicated its life to expanding musical horizons in its community while providing the finest classical music programming. It also strove to provide comfort and solace to any who sought the warmth of its welcoming embrace. 

“The community is in a state of disbelief today at the loss of KMFA, Classical 89.5,” said Austin Mayor Leslie Cochran. “We thought it would always be there to provide its rare programming. There were only 9 such radio stations in the United States; now there are 8. Our city’s cultural landscape is devastated by its absence.” 

KMFA will be forever remembered as providing companionship, inspiration, therapy, and solace.

Survivors include listeners, (former) members, and Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. They will dearly miss the palliative effects on road rage, crying babies, pet-sitting, and late-night studying. 

Fans request that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the KMFA Phoenix Fund.

~ posted by Alison @ KMFA 🙂