New Website Comes As KCRW Makes $10 Million Investment in Technology and New Programming

LOS ANGELES, CA (June 9, 2014) — Today, KCRW launched its all-new Website at KCRW.com.  Strikingly modern, the new Website’s streamlined design features an “always on top” smart  media player and allows users to easily explore KCRW’s award-winning content with over 100 hours of new weekly programming, HD video, and 20 years of archives.  Driven by the spirit of Los Angeles, KCRW’s unique mix of content centers around music discovery, NPR news, cultural exploration and informed public affairs.  The Website launches as KCRW makes an additional $10 million investment in technology and new programming, as part of its broader $20 million capital campaign.

“In our rapidly changing media landscape, we are constantly exploring new ways to connect with our audience, whether through mobile devices, apps, social media, or live performances.  KCRW.com is the most important tool we have to reach our global community,” said Jennifer Ferro, KCRW President and General Manager.  “The new website focuses on what we do best—our programming.  It brings audio and video to the forefront, delivered to people at home, in their car, at work, and at play.”

Originally founded in 1945, KCRW became Los Angeles’ first NPR affiliate in 1969.  Over the past 30 years, KCRW has organically attracted a national and international audience.  Today, over 70 percent of KCRW.com visitors come from outside of Los Angeles, 2.1 million hours are digitally streamed monthly, and 1.6 million programs are listened to on-demand.

“The new website is a giant leap forward for KCRW, bringing all our content to mobile devices through responsive design, and focusing our listeners on rich media experiences,” said Nathan Lubeck, Digital Director for KCRW.  “The homepage is no longer a catch-all—a big priority is allowing users the ability easily find content, no matter what page they arrive on.  With the reimagined navigation and user interface, we are providing a valuable portal into KCRW’s rich cultural history.  It’s an exciting time.”

KCRW.com features now include:

• “Always on top” media player that allows users to browse while listening to audio.  Media player will recommend programs based on previously selected “favorites,” fostering discovery of new programs that speak to specific listeners’ interests.
• “Mobile first” and responsive design with the screen scaling to a user’s smartphone, tablet, or computer, and allowing listeners to take KCRW with them everywhere.
• Ability to listen to and easily share individual segments from show pages.
• Contextual HD video of Morning Becomes Eclectic live in-studio performances from emerging and established artists and bands, and cultural events.
• Optimized search with streamlined user interface, filtering options and faster search results.
• Ability to easily share content via social media or email, as well as view popular content.

Access to 20 years of archives featuring hundreds of original in-studio performances, and hundreds of interviews with leading thinkers and creators, including such musical talent as Jake Bugg, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros,  Moby, Jim James, Lorde, The National, Phoenix, Tame Impala, Ben Harper, Vampire Weekend, Local Natives, The XX, Hot Chip, Jimmy Cliff, M. Ward, Alabama Shakes, Future Islands, Death Cab for Cutie, White Denim, Cut Copy, St. Vincent, among hundreds of others.

World-renowned for its music programming, KCRW DJs are given one directive: “play what you love.”  Many artists made their U.S. live performance debut on flagship music program Morning Becomes Eclectic, currently hosted by music director Jason Bentley, including Beck, Adele, Massive Attack, Gotye, Sigur Ros, Coldplay, Fitz and Tantrums, Franz Ferdinand, Mayer Hawthorne, Sigur Ros, The Naked and Famous, Two Door Cinema Club among dozens of others.  Now, all Morning Becomes Eclectic and other music show archives will be easily accessible on KCRW.com.

KCRW’s 100 weekly hours of original programming also feature nationally syndicated news and culture shows To The Point with Warren Olney, The Treatment with Elvis Mitchell, Bookworm with Michael Silverblatt, Left, Right & Center, and The Business hosted by Kim Masters and John Horn, among many others that continue to uniquely capture the essence of Los Angeles.

ABOUT KCRW
KCRW creates and curates a unique mix of content centered around music discovery, NPR news, cultural exploration and informed public affairs. KCRW is driven by the spirit of Los Angeles and delivers in innovative ways—on the radio, digitally and in person—to diverse, curious communities around the corner and around the world.  A community service of Santa Monica College, KCRW can be found on the air in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Mojave, Palm Springs, and via five KCRW-developed smartphone apps and online at kcrw.com.