KCRW Reveals Best of 2020

KCRW Reveals Best of 2020

Top 10 Albums, Best 15 Songs, Best New Artist and

Most Popular Today’s Top Tunes

Santa Monica, CA (December 17, 2020) – KCRW has revealed its Best of 2020, the coveted list of the year’s Top Ten Albums, Best 15 Songs, Best New Artist, and Most Popular Today’s Top Tunes. The annual Best Of recognizes the music that caught KCRW DJs’ attention throughout the year. These artists continually innovate and inspire, while pushing culture forward.

Thank goodness for all of the stellar music in a year in which we really needed it. As our team of DJ’s began compiling KCRW’s Best of 2020, we realized even more how much we were affected by the music and lyrics of these incredible artists. I heard music differently this year. Old songs sounded new and context changed everything. Our Best of 2020 says a lot about everything that we’ve lived through in recent memory – from work built to further engage us in challenging conversations, to pure sonic euphoria, and everything in between. It is truly my honor to present you with KCRW’s Best of 2020.
— Anne Litt, Program Director of Music and Host of Morning Becomes Eclectic

KCRW’s Top 10 Albums of 2020
Intimate chamber pieces circle and spiral into bombastic anthems. These albums found their way into our hearts and have permanently set-up camp — so much so that we had no choice but to honor a tie at #1.

Sault – “Untitled (Rise)” and “Untitled (Black Is)”
Fiona Apple – “Fetch The Bolt Cutters”
Gabriel Garzón Montano – “Agüita”
Run The Jewels – “RTJ4”
Lianne La Havas – “Lianne La Havas”
Mac Miller – “Circles”
Tame Impala – “The Slow Rush”
St. Panther – “These Days”
Little Dragon – “New Me, Same Us”
Peter CottonTale – “Catch”

KCRW’s Favorite Fifteen Songs of 2020 (listed alphabetically by artist)
Each KCRW DJ presented a list of their favorite songs of the year. Out of all of them, these were chosen in equal numbers.

“Look Over Your Shoulder” – (Featuring Kendrick Lamar) – Busta Rhymes
“The Good Life” – Devon Gilfillian
“Brasil” – EOB
“Shameika” – Fiona Apple
“In Loving Memory” – Gabriels
“Love And Hate In A Different Time” – Gabriels
“SULA (Paperback)” – Jamila Woods
“Wolves” – Jensen McRae
“Remember Where You Are” – Jessie Ware
“Grey Skies” – Kate Bollinger
“Time (You and I)” – Khruangbin
“Good News” – Mac Miller
“Virile” – Moses Sumney
“Buenos Aires” – Nathy Peluso
“Real Magic” – Ricky Reed

KCRW’s Best New Artist of 2020 – St. Panther
As KCRW’s 2020 pick for Best New Artist, St. Panther joins Black Pumas, Rosalía, Anderson .Paak, and Tom Misch, who have also received this distinguished KCRW endorsement in recent years.

2020’s Most Popular Today’s Top Tunes
This year, KCRW has offered more than 250 free downloads as Today’s Top Tune, and we are proud to spotlight the artists that our audience has chosen as our collective top picks. Thank you for sharing your love of music (and good taste) with us.
— Ariana Morgenstern, Executive Producer, Music Department and Curator, Today’s Top Tune

“Stand With Each Other” – Nubya Garcia
“Shepherd Song” – Keleketla!
“Apart Together” – Tim Minchin
“Grey Skies” – Kate Bollinger
“Eso Que Tu Haces” – Lido Pimenta
“Look At Me Now” (Acoustic Version) – Emily King
“Power Is Taken” (Featuring D.H. Peligro) – Moby
“Sarava” – Seu Jorge & Rogê
“Turn Me Up” (Featuring Aloe Blacc) – José James
“Blue Comanche” – Westerman

Be sure to tune in tomorrow, Friday, December 18, at 9:00AM, to KCRW’s flagship music program Morning Becomes Eclectic, hosted by Anne Litt, for a three-hour special show highlighting KCRW’s favorite artists, albums and songs of the year. Personal picks from each individual KCRW DJ will also be revealed tomorrow morning, online at the Best of 2020 website.

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For more information please contact:
Laura Cohen, LC Media, lcmediapr@gmail.com

About KCRW Music
KCRW’s hand-picked music programming is thoughtfully curated by actual people, not algorithms. It encourages real music discovery and delivers a truly eclectic listening experience. KCRW Music is helmed by Program Director of Music, industry veteran Anne Litt and a team of influential tastemaker DJs – Aaron Byrd, Anthony Valadez, Chris Douridas, Dan Wilcox, Garth Trinidad, Henry Rollins, Jason Bentley, Jason Kramer, Jeremy Sole, John Moses, José Galván, LeRoy Downs, Novena Carmel, Raul Campos, Scott Dallavo, Tom Schnabel, Travis Holcombe, and Valida. KCRW DJs are given one directive: “play what you love.” KCRW has hosted radio debuts and album celebrations for countless artists. Now household names, KCRW has been influential in helping launch the careers of such luminaries as Adele, Alabama Shakes, Anderson Paak, Angel Olsen, Beck, Billie Eilish, Brett Dennen, Coldplay, Eels, Fiona Apple, Gabriel Garzon Montano, Garbage, Gillian Welch, Janelle Monae, Jenny Lewis, Juana Molina, Kamasi Washington, Mac DeMarco, Natalie Lafourcade, Ray LaMontagne, Sofi Tukker, and Tame Impala, among many others. KCRW Music offers a robust array of music programming and content including nearly 100 hours of on-air music every week and a continuous curated stream of music, Eclectic24. In addition, KCRW is currently producing; a storytelling live session series In Residence that focuses on one artist via different platforms; Throwback Sessions that tap into the station’s vast archive of live performances exclusively available on YouTube; “Today’s Top Tune,” a free daily downloadable song; in-depth music reporting via the Lost Notes podcast; and Private Playlist which highlights local L.A. musicians and the music that’s moving them in the here and now.

About KCRW
KCRW creates and curates a unique mix of content centered around music discovery, NPR news, cultural exploration and informed public affairs. We are driven by the spirit of L.A. and deliver 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 L.A., Santa Barbara, Ventura, Mojave, Palm Springs, San Luis Obispo, and worldwide via the KCRW-developed smart phone app or online at kcrw.com.

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KCRW announces new co-hosts of Morning Becomes Eclectic, Novena Carmel and Anthony Valadez

Santa Monica (December 8, 2020) – KCRW President Jennifer Ferro and Program Director of Music Anne Litt announce today the new co-hosts of Morning Becomes Eclectic (MBE), Novena Carmel and Anthony Valadez. MBE, the station’s flagship music program, weekday mornings from 9AM to Noon, has been a powerful source of music discovery since 1978. This is the first time two hosts will lead MBE.

Novena and Anthony both come from KCRW’s after-midnight roster, where unique and exciting voices have the opportunity to experiment and bring adventurous listeners into the KCRW fold. From podcasts and livestreams to viral videos, Novena and Anthony have collaborated extensively over the course of their years-long friendship. This authentic camaraderie and willingness to explore and experiment will make for a natural synchronicity as co-hosts of Morning Becomes Eclectic.

Morning Becomes Eclectic abides by the ethos of KCRW Music: Play what you love. The effervescent Novena Carmel loves timeless — and timely — music; whatever makes her antennas tingle. She is driven by her lifelong passion of sharing music with the masses. L.A.’s beloved Anthony Valadez brings his considerable DJ experience, turntablist skills, intrepid spirit, and positive energy to this dynamic duo. Together, they will usher in the next era of music discovery and exploration at KCRW, the innovative public radio station well known for helping launch the careers of many celebrated artists.

“I am so excited to pass the torch of MBE to Novena and Anthony,” says Anne Litt. “Novena is pure joy and Anthony is the heart and soul of Los Angeles. Together, they will explore fresh, new ways to reach music lovers globally.” She continues, “My journey will be to delve deeper into my role as Program Director of Music, bring our roster of incredible DJs to their fans, and capitalize on the boundless talents of our entire music department across all of our platforms.”

Of her new role, Novena says, “I feel ecstatic and a bit like I’m dreaming. I greatly admire Anthony’s work and what I would call his ‘creation ethic;’ he seems to never stop creating and finding inspiration for creativity everywhere. We already have a lot of fun and exciting ideas for the show, and I’m so looking forward to collaborating more with the KCRW team and connecting with the listeners.”

“I’m excited to wake up with L.A. and Novena,” says Anthony. “She’s my best friend, but what I admire the most is her ability to stay positive and always add perspective.” Of his new role, Anthony notes, “I’m a fan of the show’s celebrated history and hope to be an extension of it moving forward. It’s not a position I take lightly. I’ve always wanted to be at the intersection of ‘culture’ and ‘institution.’ KCRW has been the launching pad for ideas that fuse tech, social media, and execution of music discovery. These varied platforms have given me creative freedom to spotlight emerging artists and talent, and while I get the sense my aesthetic is perceived as ‘the sound of LA,’ in reality, it’s the sound of the world.”

Morning Becomes Eclectic continues to be a haven for music discovery, and the two hosts will double the reach for unearthing new artists. New albums will be debuted. Exclusive, in-studio live performances will resume as soon as it’s possible. In addition, the new format presents countless opportunities to extend MBE well beyond its on-air end time of noon. “Obviously you’ll have the variety of two hosts instead of one, but we’re looking at ways to include even more voices that represent the KCRW community and beyond, including KCRW DJs, musicians, and listeners,” says Novena. “I believe that cultivating and nourishing community and connectedness, now more than ever, is so important, and that’s part of what I’m hoping the new format will allow. Music will always be one of the main conduits of making this possible, and from there the possibilities are endless.” “I love that we all want to be bold and daring,” continues Anthony, “KCRW is held to such a high standard. Let’s go higher! Something new implies a fresh palette of ideas and colors. This new format will allow us to venture into something that’s never been done before.”

“Music is part of the genetic code of KCRW,” states KCRW President Jennifer Ferro. “Our approach to this important role of MBE host was to really push the boundaries of what it means to be a DJ in today’s on-demand world. Novena and Anthony, together, make a powerful and joyful duo who will help KCRW be where the people are and share the magic of KCRW music. With these new hosts plus Anne Litt solidly at the helm of our strategy we are ready to define a new era in music.”

In 2019 Anne Litt became KCRW’s first female Program Director of Music and host of Morning Becomes Eclectic. She will continue hosting the show until after the New Year, and then remain an on-air presence with her own show; time and day TBD. As she prepares to hand over hosting duties, she notes, “it’s been a privilege to have been with you during these challenging times. I leave MBE in the most capable of hands, and am truly excited to see our new co-hosts in action.”

More About Novena Carmel:
Novena Carmel was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area surrounded by her mother’s record collection, classical music books atop her piano, and a deeply rooted musical legacy. Her father, Sly Stone of Sly & The Family Stone, instilled in her the love of the funk and the brilliance of “everyday people.” Her family’s decades-long connection to Brazil along with her Japanese-bilingual elementary schooling, further expanded her world-view. Inspired by the guidance of one of her best friends and mentors, her grandfather, she moved to Los Angeles at 18, to attend UCLA, and graduated with degrees in Mass Communications and African-American Studies. She has been a proud LA resident ever since with a deep appreciation for the city’s contributions to the global cultural landscape. For the past 14 years, Novena has worked in entertainment booking for Temple Bar Concepts, which owns and operates live music venues and cultural havens throughout the LA area including famed Temple Bar, Zanzibar, The Virgil and Townhouse & The Del Monte Speakeasy. During this time she was also a member of multiple music groups, leading to the opportunity to perform at Lollapalooza, Warped Tour, Abbey Road and Coachella. She launched her DJ career six years ago, which quickly took off, fueled by her lifelong love of sharing the music she loves with people, infectious energy, and ability to read a room. As a DJ she has worked with Natural History Museum, “The Squad,” California African American Museum, the Underground Museum, Soul in The Horn, Dublab, Stones Throw Records, Ace Hotel, Amoeba Records and many others. In 2018 Novena was invited to join the DJ team at KCRW, and has quickly become popular through her quirky sense of humor, energetic spirit, and expansive and personalized music collection. She is currently not in a band, but enjoys singing with her soul and jazz choir, The Voices of Creation.

More About Anthony Valadez:
Anthony Valadez is a native Angeleno; a DJ, producer, and radio and podcast host. Dating back to skipping 6th period during his senior year in high school, he became part of a cast of rotating DJs on KVCM. He would later land shows on KCSN, KPFK, Dublab, and KROQ. He joined KCRW in 2008. His show has been championed by the likes of Childish Gambino, Khruangbin, Ty Dolla $ign and Julian Casbablancas for Valadez’s celebration of music discovery. He has held DJ residencies in Los Angeles including the legendary Temple Bar and the Natural History Museum for their First Fridays series, and in Las Vegas at the SLS. He also served as host and co-producer for three seasons of Crate Diggers on Fuse TV. The show documented the art of digging for recorded gems with top record collectors across the United States. He was hand- selected by Jennifer Lopez to open for her 2014 homecoming show in the Bronx. He has remixed official releases for David Bowie, Ozomatli, Local Natives, and has released three full-length albums of his own on indie label, Plug Research. He has had the honor of sharing the stage with Prince, Ben Harper, Meshell Ndegeocello, Bruno Mars and was voted Best Club DJ by the LA Weekly’s Readers Poll in 2016.

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For more information please contact:
Laura Cohen, LC Media, lcmediapr@gmail.com

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Station Announcement

Open Letter from KCRW President Jennifer Ferro

Dear Friends of KCRW:

The past six months have been a test for all of us. Through it all, the KCRW team has worked tirelessly to deliver on our mission to inspire our listeners – across Southern California and across the globe – with the content we put on the air and online.

I have never met a more talented or more dedicated team of people. And I have never been more honored to work among them.

Unfortunately, like so many media organizations across the country, KCRW cannot escape the long-term effects of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. We are projecting a 30% loss to our operating budget this fiscal year, primarily due to a large dip in sponsorship revenue from categories worst hit by the pandemic.

Thankfully, our audience is growing. KCRW has moved to become LA’s #1 most listened-to public radio station over these last few months. Our digital traffic has grown as well. More people are connecting with KCRW during this time than ever before. Our membership numbers and dollars are also strong.

Earlier this year, we were able to secure a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan from the federal government. That, coupled with immediate non-personnel budget cuts, allowed us to keep our staff whole through August.

However, the extended nature of the economic ramifications of COVID has now required us to take further action to preserve the financial sustainability of the station and the services we provide.

Several weeks ago, we offered a generous voluntary separation package to all eligible employees. We know the employees of KCRW are the most important asset we have, and we wanted to give people who were interested in this option the chance to make a decision for themselves about their future.

In the end, 24 KCRW employees took advantage of the voluntary separation program. Their participation helped stave off the need for larger cuts. In order to align ourselves strongly for the future, we made the difficult decision to eliminate four positions. Affected employees were informed today and will be offered severance and job support, during what we know will be a difficult time. We wish all of our departing team members our gratitude for their time at KCRW.

In an effort to avoid any further reductions to our staff, the senior leadership team will take an aggregate of 20% salary cuts with me taking the largest portion.

As we look to the future, we will lean into what KCRW is known for – music discovery, vital news and information and cultural programming. We plan to place even greater emphasis on engaging with our digital audience, which has grown significantly since the safer-at-home orders began.

And, we will continue to advance our programming mission.

On September 9th, along with NPR, we launched Consider This, the nation’s first local/national daily podcast produced in an unprecedented partnership between both major Los Angeles NPR affiliates, KCRW and KPCC. Lost Notes: Season 3, KCRW’s documentary music podcast, launches this month with critic and poet Hanif Abdurraqib as host.

Soon, KCRW will announce our new host for our signature music show, Morning Becomes Eclectic. And later this month, we are looking forward to launching Our Body Politic, a political show by, for and about women of color, with journalist Farai Chideya. KCRW has also had great success with virtual events around music, like This Album Saved My Teenage Years, and virtual events analyzing politics, which we will continue to offer leading into this year’s landmark election.

KCRW is a special place with deep connections to the communities we serve. We remain committed to telling stories that inspire a greater understanding of the institutions and people around us. In the current moment, our mission is more important than ever.

And while the changes we have announced this week were not easy, we know they are necessary to ensure KCRW remains strong for years to come.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Ferro
President, KCRW

Events, KCRW Music Announcement

KCRW Presents Season Three of Lost Notes Music Documentary Podcast, Lost Notes: 1980

KCRW Presents Season Three of Lost Notes Music Documentary Podcast, Lost Notes: 1980

Hosted by Celebrated Poet and Cultural Critic Hanif Abdurraqib, with Episodes on Stevie Wonder, Grace Jones, Ian Curtis, Sugarhill Gang, Darby Crash & John Lennon, Hugh Masekela & Miriam Makeba, and Minnie Riperton

#1 Podcast of 2019 – Vulture

This Album Saved My 1980
Virtual Event, Thursday, October 1, at 7:00 p.m. PDT
Featuring Hanif Abdurraqib, Anne Litt, Eric J. Lawrence and Dart Adams

Santa Monica, CA (September 10, 2020) – KCRW announces today details of the third season of the critically acclaimed music documentary podcast Lost Notes. Season three, Lost Notes: 1980, explores the brilliant, awkward and sometimes heartbreaking opening to a monumental decade in popular music. Hosted by celebrated poet and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib, all episodes of Lost Notes: 1980 will be released simultaneously on Thursday, September 24.

In 1980, the horizon was bursting with possibility. The Voyager 1 had confirmed a new moon of Saturn. “The Miracle on Ice” saw the US beat the USSR at the Olympics and the country was still buzzing. “The Empire Strikes Back” and Pac Man were released on back-to-back days.

In the music world, the Sugarhill Gang were riding the success of “Rapper’s Delight” to release a debut album. Siouxsie and the Banshees were ascending to their creative peak, and Elvis Costello, Talking Heads and The Police all released landmark albums. Yet, 1980 also saw tremendous losses, revolutions, redefinitions and reformations. David Bowie got divorced. Lou Reed got married. Ian Curtis died before Joy Division got to touch down on a U.S. Tour. And by the end of the year, John Lennon’s death would signal the end of a rock n’ roll era.

Lost Notes: 1980 explores the uncovered corners of this storied year. Hosted by Hanif Abdurraqib, a nationally celebrated poet and essayist from Columbus, Ohio, each episode conjures new looks at familiar artists, examining their work and their life through a uniquely personal lens. Topics include: The first full-length album from the Sugarhill Gang which set the stakes for an entirely new genre of music; how record producers set out to bring Minnie Riperton back to life; how Stevie Wonder delivered on the comeback he was due; an Ian Curtis song that the fallen singer’s bandmates used to birth New Order; a reflection on the concert that the South African government never wanted Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba to perform; how punk singer Darby Crash tried to rise to immortality, but was interrupted when John Lennon passed away the very next day; how Grace Jones rose from disco’s death rattle — reinforced and reimagined — into a new decade freshly obsessed with risk.

Every episode of Lost Notes: 1980 will be released simultaneously on Thursday, September 24, and will be available on all major podcast platforms.

To help celebrate the launch of the new season of Lost Notes, KCRW presents This Album Saved My 1980, on Thursday, October 1, at 7:00 p.m. PDT. Hosted by KCRW’s Program Director of Music Anne Litt, DJ Eric J. Lawrence, Hanif Abdurraqib, and music journalist/historian Dart Adams, This Album Saved My 1980 is a truly interactive event with hosts and audience alike sharing their essential albums from the decade of decadence.

More About Season Three – Lost Notes: 1980
(All episodes drop September 24, 2020)

Episode 1: Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder released seven albums from 1970 to 1976. It was an impenetrable run of albums and songs, one of the greatest in music history. Then in 1979 he faced his first defeat of the decade. Reviews for The Secret Life of Plants were harshly mixed. In 1980, Stevie was due for a comeback. Enter Hotter Than July.

Episode 2: The Sugarhill Gang
In 1979, the Sugarhill Gang released “Rapper’s Delight,” a rap song with the goal of pushing MCs to the forefront. Then, in the early months of 1980, they released the first full-length rap album. The debut self-titled record wasn’t received without controversy, and wasn’t received without skepticism. But, sometimes, legacy is not about the spark itself, but about the flame the spark causes.

Episode 3: Ian Curtis
In May of 1980, Joy Division lost its lead singer, Ian Curtis. The band decided that they would carry on, though not as Joy Division. New Order had great success throughout the 80s with soundtrack-ready songs and rapturous live performances. But the first single, Ceremony, came to life the most. One written by their departed bandmate.

Episode 4: Darby Crash & John Lennon
The punk singer Darby Crash had dreams of immortality. He sought a romantic end. But Darby Crash died on December 7, 1980. The next day, by the time news of his death started circulating and radio stations in Los Angeles began their marathon of Germs songs, John Lennon lay dying in New York. News and radio stations broke away to deliver what must have seemed like a larger, more urgent heartbreak.

Episode 5: Hugh Masekela & Miriam Makeba
In December of 1980, two exiled artists and freedom fighters attempted a return to their home in South Africa for a concert. This is the story of Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba and the new, temporary home they made on a stage, within new borders, in Lesotho.

Episode 6: Minnie Riperton
Minnie Riperton fashioned her legacy with a single note in 1974, sung at the very peak of the song “Lovin’ You.” The posthumous album is a tricky business, but in 1980, record producers tried to bring her back to life.

Episode 7: Grace Jones
In 1980, anti-disco sentiment was at a high and Grace Jones was coming off a trilogy of disco albums. If she stayed stagnant, it felt like her career could be swept away. So out of disco’s death rattle – driven by the discomfort of white male tastemakers – Grace Jones rose, reinforced and reimagined in a new decade freshly obsessed with risk.

More About Hanif Abdurraqib
Host of season three of Lost Notes, Hanif Abdurraqib is a poet, essayist, and cultural critic from Columbus, Ohio. His poetry has been published in Muzzle, Vinyl, PEN American, and various other journals. His essays and music criticism have been published in The FADER, Pitchfork, The New Yorker, and The New York Times. His first full length poetry collection, The Crown Ain’t Worth Much, was released in June 2016 from Button Poetry. It was named a finalist for the Eric Hoffer Book Prize, and was nominated for a Hurston-Wright Legacy Award. With Big Lucks, he released a limited edition chapbook, Vintage Sadness, in summer 2017 (you cannot get it anymore and he is very sorry.) His first collection of essays, They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us, was released in winter 2017 by Two Dollar Radio and was named a book of the year by Buzzfeed, Esquire, NPR, Oprah magazine, Paste, CBC, The Los Angeles Review, Pitchfork, and the Chicago Tribune, among others. He released Go Ahead In The Rain: Notes To A Tribe Called Quest with University of Texas press in February 2019. The book became a New York Times bestseller, and was met with widespread critical acclaim. His second collection of poems, A Fortune For Your Disaster, was released in 2019 by Tin House. He is a graduate of Beechcroft High School.

More About Lost Notes
Episodes from Lost Notes’ first season were listed among the best podcast episodes of 2018 by Audible Feast, The Bello Collective, and Indiewire, praising its “outside looks at some of the best music-related tales of decades past.” The second season of Lost Notes received additional accolades. Hosted by veteran music journalist and author Jessica Hopper, Lost Notes was deemed among the top podcasts of 2019 by Vulture, IndieWire, Los Angeles Daily News, Stereogum, The Verge, uDiscover Music, and Podcast Review (A Los Angeles Review of Books Channel).

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For more information please contact:
Laura Cohen, LC Media, lcmediapr@gmail.com

About KCRW
KCRW creates and curates a unique mix of content centered around music discovery, NPR news, cultural exploration and informed public affairs. We are driven by the spirit of L.A. and deliver 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 L.A., Santa Barbara, Ventura, Mojave, Palm Springs, San Luis Obispo, Berlin (Germany), worldwide via the KCRW-developed smart phone app or online at kcrw.com.

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Station Announcement

KCRW and LA Phil present: World Festival at the Hollywood Bowl

The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association and KCRW present

World Festival at the Hollywood Bowl
Radio Broadcast Series of Previously Recorded Live Concerts

The Series Opens with Kraftwerk and Yellow Magic Orchestra hosted by KCRW’s Anne Litt

Subsequent Episodes Feature Blondie, Cibo Matto, Devotchka, Femi Kuti, Flying Lotus, Janelle Monáe, Jimmy Cliff, Little Dragon, Robyn, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Santigold, Sigur Rós, St. Vincent, and Toro y Moi

Sundays, 6:30pm – 8:00pm, August 23 – October 11

Los Angeles, CA (August 17, 2020) – The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association and KCRW today announce details of an exclusive on-air series featuring previously recorded live concerts from KCRW’s World Festival at the Hollywood Bowl.

Created in partnership with the LA Phil, KCRW’s World Festival has been bringing an eclectic array of artists from around the world to the Hollywood Bowl stage for 20 years. Following the cancellation of the 2020 Bowl season due to COVID-19, the LA Phil and KCRW, Southern California’s flagship public radio station, collaborate to present highlights of past World Festivals through an exclusive series of archival concerts to be broadcast on Sundays, 6:30pm – 8:00pm, from August 23 to October 11.

The first episode features the September 18, 2016 Hollywood Bowl debut of Kraftwerk, whose electro innovations and odes to the autobahn shot well beyond their native Germany, and made them one of the most influential groups of all time. Also in the first episode is Tokyo’s Yellow Magic Orchestra, which appeared at the Bowl on June 26, 2011. The band helped to pioneer electronic music in Japan in the late 1970s and introduced the world to Ryuichi Sakamoto and Haruomi Hosono. KCRW’s Program Director of Music, Anne Litt will host.

Additional featured artists in upcoming episodes include: Blondie (July 9, 2017), Cibo Matto (June 26, 2011), Devotchka (July 14, 2013), Femi Kuti (June 21, 2009), Flying Lotus (June 17, 2018), Janelle Monáe (June 12, 2016), Jimmy Cliff (July 25, 2010), Little Dragon (June 17, 2018), Robyn (June 29, 2014), Rodrigo y Gabriela (July 14, 2013), Santigold (June 21, 2009), Sigur Rós (September 24, 2016), St. Vincent (August 30, 2015), and Toro y Moi (June 16, 2019). Each episode will be hosted by a KCRW DJ.

“Building on our long and rich history with KCRW on the World Music Series at the Hollywood Bowl over the last 20 years, the Los Angeles Philharmonic is thrilled to continue this valuable partnership by bringing music from the series to our audience in Los Angeles and beyond in a new way. We appreciate our artists collaborating with us and look forward to seeing everyone back at the Bowl next summer,” said Johanna Rees, Los Angeles Philharmonic Senior Director of Presentations.

“Music’s power to bring us together seems even more essential during this time,” stated Anne Litt, Program Director of Music at KCRW. “The long-standing relationship between KCRW and the LA Phil has made it possible to share some of the Hollywood Bowl’s most magical music moments. We can’t wait to be together in person again enjoying warm nights, under the stars, with friends, great food and a glass of wine. Until then, we are delighted to be able to share recordings of these incredible live performances with our listeners.”

LA Phil x KCRW: World Festival at the Hollywood Bowl broadcast series can be heard live wherever you listen to KCRW: on–air at KCRW 89.9; online at KCRW.com and hollywoodbowl.com/kcrw; via the KCRW app, which is available for free for both iOS and Android devices; or by asking your smart speaker to “play KCRW.”

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:
LA Phil x KCRW: World Festival at the Hollywood Bowl
Sundays, 6:30pm – 8:00pm
August 23 – October 11

Episode One:
Sunday, August, 23, at 6:30PM
Kraftwerk (September 18, 2016, Hollywood Bowl debut)
Yellow Magic Orchestra – (June 26, 2011, Hollywood Bowl debut)
Hosted by Anne Litt

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For more information about KCRW please contact:
Laura B. Cohen, LC Media, lcmediapr@gmail.com

For more information about the LA Phil please contact:
Lisa White, lwhite@laphil.org

About KCRW
KCRW creates and curates a unique mix of content centered around music discovery, NPR news, cultural exploration and informed public affairs. We are driven by the spirit of L.A. and deliver 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 L.A., Santa Barbara, Ventura, Mojave, Palm Springs, San Luis Obispo, Berlin (Germany), worldwide via the KCRW-developed smart phone app or online at kcrw.com.

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About the Los Angeles Philharmonic
The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, under the vibrant leadership of Music & Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel, presents an inspiring array of live performances – orchestral, pop, rock, country, jazz, blues, Latin, world music, opera, chamber, Baroque, organ and celebrity recitals, theatrical performances, explorations of film music, dance, comedy, groundbreaking multimedia productions and an unmatched commitment to commissioning and performing music from the composers of today – at three of L.A.’s iconic venues, Walt Disney Concert Hall (laphil.com), the Hollywood Bowl (hollywoodbowl.com) and The Ford (theford.com). The LA Phil’s season at Walt Disney Concert Hall extends from September to June and at the Hollywood Bowl and The Ford throughout the summer. With the preeminent Los Angeles Philharmonic at the foundation of its offerings, the LA Phil aims to enrich and transform lives through music, with a robust mix of artistic, learning and community programs.

About KCRW’s World Festival at the Hollywood Bowl
KCRW’s World Festival at the Hollywood Bowl embodies the eclectic music spirit of both organizations by featuring artists from a wide array of genres. Hundreds of artists have performed at the iconic venue since the inaugural season, including A.R. Rahman, Adele, Arcade Fire, Ben Harper, Bon Iver, Caetano Veloso, Cesaria Evora, Café Tacvba, David Byrne, Erykah Badu, Femi Kuti, Gary Clark Jr. Goldfrapp, Grace Jones, Hot Chip, Hugh Masekela, Janelle Monáe, Kraftwerk, Lauryn Hill, M83, Massive Attack, Miriam Makeba, Natalia Lafourcade, Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club, Os Mutantes, Ray LaMontagne, Robyn, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Sade, Santigold, Solange, Spoon, St. Vincent, Sufjan Stevens, The Flaming Lips, The Pixies, Toro y Moi, Underworld, Willie Nelson, Yellow Magic Orchestra, Yo-Yo Ma, Yola, Yoko Ono, Zero 7 with Sia, Ziggy Marley, and many more.

KCRW Music Announcement, Programming

KCRW’s Freeform Fridays feature Cut Chemist, Reggie Watts, TOKiMONSTA, Ceci Bastida, and more

KCRW announces new limited on-air series Freeform Fridays featuring special guests

Cut Chemist, Reggie Watts, TOKiMONSTA, Ceci Bastida, and a Surprise Guest TBA

KCRW DJs Aaron Byrd, Dan Wilcox, Novena Carmel, Mathieu Schreyer, and Jeremy Sole Back on Air for Opening Set

Anchored by Garth Trinidad and Travis Holcombe

Fridays starting May 15
8 – 11 PM PDT

Santa Monica (May 11, 2020) – KCRW has announced a new limited on-air series, “Freeform Fridays” featuring KCRW DJs and special guests Cut Chemist, Reggie Watts, TOKiMONSTA, Ceci Bastida, and a surprise guest TBA, starting on May 15, from 8PM – 11PM PDT, and continuing for five consecutive Fridays. Each evening opens with a set by one of the KCRW DJs – Aaron Byrd, Dan Wilcox, Novena Carmel, Mathieu Schreyer, or Jeremy Sole – back on-air for the first time since the safer-at-home order was implemented. Then, our special guest DJ takes over the airwaves with an hour of freeform radio, combining music, personal anecdotes, reflections on the current times, and plenty of surprises. Freeform Fridays will be anchored by KCRW DJs Garth Trinidad and Travis Holcombe who will close the evening with their own killer DJ set.

Freeform Fridays can be heard live on-air, at KCRW 89.9, online at KCRW.com, and via the KCRW app.

KCRW’s Freeform Fridays Schedule:

May 15
8pm Aaron Byrd
9pm Cut Chemist
10pm Garth Trinidad

May 22
8pm Dan Wilcox
9pm Reggie Watts
10pm Travis Holcombe

May 29
8pm Novena Carmel
9pm TOKiMONSTA
10pm Travis Holcombe

June 5
8pm Mathieu Schreyer
9pm Ceci Bastida
10pm Garth Trinidad

June 12
8pm Jeremy Sole
9pm SURPRISE GUEST TBA
10pm Garth Trinidad

More about Freeform Friday special guests:

As well as being one of the ablest solo turntablists on the globe, American DJ and producer Cut Chemist (born Lucas MacFadden) was also a member of two highly rated crews: underground rap kings Jurassic 5 and the Los Angeles Latin funk band Ozomatli. With J5, he contributed “Lesson 6” to the group’s eponymous EP and produced the entire record. In mid-1997 Cut Chemist recorded his album debut, Live at the Future Primitive Sound Session, with Shortkut of Invisibl Skratch Piklz. Two years later, he teamed up with DJ Shadow for Brainfreeze, and in 2001 the duo followed with Product Placement. In 2004 he issued Litmus Test, a remixed collection of his previous work. It was followed in 2006 by an album of his own productions, The Audience’s Listening (Warner Bros. Records). The next year, he released another collaboration with DJ Shadow, The Hard Sell, recorded live at the Hollywood Bowl. A more concise mix, The Hard Sell (Encore), arrived in 2008. In 2010 he released the mix album Sound of the Police, which featured Ethiopian and Afro-Brazilian recordings. He returned in 2017 with the singles “Work My Mind” (with Chali 2na and Hymnal) and “Madman.” His long awaited follow up artist album, DIE CUT, was released in March of 2019 and featured Tune Yards, Biz Markie, Deantoni Parks, Myka 9 and more!

Reggie Watts is an internationally renowned Musician/Comedian/Writer/Actor who currently stars as the bandleader on CBS’s The Late Late Show with James Corden. Using his formidable voice, looping pedals, and his vast imagination, Watts blends and blurs the lines between music and comedy, wowing audiences with performances that are 100% improvised. Watts’ first Netflix special Spatial released to massive critical acclaim, with the New York Times calling it “a giddy rush of escapist nonsense” and dubbing Watts “the most influential absurdist in comedy today.” As a solo performer, Watts brand of musical/comedy fusion has led to sold out headlining tours in the U.S. and Europe, including festivals such as Bonnaroo, SXSW, Bumbershoot, Just For Laughs, Pemberton and more. This year, Watts released his own content app called “WattsApp,” a techno-savvy look into his life, work, and techno junk drawer. WattsApp has all original content including a show called, Droneversations where he interviews guests while it’s filmed by drones along with other fun content.

Born and raised in Tijuana and now living in Los Angeles, Ceci Bastida was just 15 when she joined the iconic Mexican ska-punk band Tijuana NO and became one of the first women to rise in the ranks of contemporary Latin rock. In 2000 she spent eight years as part of the touring band of acclaimed singer Julieta Venegas, including a featured role in her 2008 MTV Unplugged special. Bastida embarked on her solo career in 2006 with the ep Front BC, and in 2010 released Veo La Marea (I See the Tide), a mix of electronica, rock, and hip-hop that The Fader dubbed “bodacious, clicky, and gongy” and the Los Angeles Times described as “a marching-band traipsing through the Amazon rainforest.” The album, which included hot-button songs about immigration and the drug war, featured guest spots by Diplo, Rye Rye, and Tim Armstrong. It earned her a Latin Grammy nomination, appearances on NPR’s Weekend Edition and KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic, and a spot on the 2011 Lollapalooza bill. Her solo album, La Edad de la Violencia (The Age of Violence) was produced by Luke Top (Fool’s Gold) & XXXChange (Spank Rock) and includes songs inspired by the rise of everyday violence in the US and Mexico—from the drug war to the Sandy Hook shooting and the Boston Marathon bombing—and by Haruki Murakami’s novel Kafka on the Shore. Her latest album, an EP featuring collaborations with Aloe Blacc, Mexican Institute of Sound, Spoek Mathambo, and Mariel Mariel “Sueño” is out with Nacional Records. Bastida is also a member of the all-star band Mexrrissey, a Mexican homage to the songs of Morrissey and The Smiths. She is currently finishing her fourth album.

Over the last decade, the Los Angeles producer and Young Art label boss, TOKiMONSTA has helped define the sound of modern dance and beat music. In the process, she has received the co-signs of the biggest names in electronic and repped for the West Coast underground at the Grammys — all without sacrificing the purity of her vision or relying on exploding glowstick bombast. The secret is that there is no secret, other than the compositional genius and futuristic melodies embedded into the gleaming, technicolor mandalas of hip-hop instrumentalism, pop, R&B-soul, house, and IDM that encompass the TOKiMONSTA sound.

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For more information about KCRW please contact:
Laura Cohen, LC Media, lcmediapr@gmail.com

About KCRW

KCRW creates and curates a unique mix of content centered around music discovery, NPR news, cultural exploration and informed public affairs. We are driven by the spirit of LA and deliver 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 LA, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Mojave, Palm Springs, San Luis Obispo, Berlin, Germany, and worldwide via the KCRW-developed smart phone app, or online at kcrw.com.

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Events

KCRW Presents: This Album Saved My Quarantine

KCRW Presents

This Album Saved My Quarantine

Online Event Features Anne Litt, Anthony Valadez, Chris Douridas, Dan Wilcox, Jose Galvan, Liza Richardson, Mario Cotto, Novena Carmel, Raul Campos, Travis Holcombe & Valida discussing the albums that are seeing them through these troubled times

Thursday, April 30, at 7PM PDT

SANTA MONICA (April 27, 2020) – KCRW presents a special online event, This Album Saved My Quarantine, an in-depth discussion with ten KCRW DJs, about the albums that have been essential in getting them through these troubled times. Moderated by Program Director of Music Anne Litt, This Album Saved My Quarantine features Anthony Valadez, Chris Douridas, Dan Wilcox, Jose Galvan, Liza Richardson, Mario Cotto, Novena Carmel, Raul Campos, Travis Holcombe and Valida, on Thursday, April 30, at 7PM PDT. The event is open to the public, with a donation of any amount, even $1. All proceeds benefit KCRW.

Inspired by the 2019 live event This Album Saved My Life, This Album Saved My Quarantine promises to be a poignant, touching reflection on the power that music wields. It can soothe, heal, transport, inspire, bring joy, and instinctually make us move. It marks our most important moments and gets us through our darkest hours.

Join us for this special virtual presentation via Eventbrite. Donation required, but all amounts are accepted, even $1. Become a KCRW Member with all of the Fringe Benefits for $30 (regularly $60).

Editors Please Note:

This Album Saved My Quarantine
Thursday, April 30, at 7PM PDT
Platform: Zoom
Ticket: Eventbrite – any donation gets you in ($1 minimum)
Details at: KCRW.com/thisalbum

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For more information about KCRW please contact:
Laura Cohen, LC Media, lcmediapr@gmail.com

KCRW creates and curates a unique mix of content centered around music discovery, NPR news, cultural exploration and informed public affairs. We are driven by the spirit of LA and deliver 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 LA, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Mojave, Palm Springs, San Luis Obispo, Berlin, Germany, and worldwide via the KCRW-developed smart phone app, or online at kcrw.com.

Twitter | twitter.com/kcrw
Facebook | facebook.com/kcrw
Instagram | instagram.com/kcrw
YouTube | youtube.com/kcrw

KCRW Music Announcement, Programming

KCRW + Henry Rollins Announce New Long-Form Online Radio Experience,”The Cool Quarantine”

KCRW + Henry Rollins Announce The Cool Quarantine

Long-form radio experience now available exclusively online at KCRW.com

SANTA MONICA (April 7, 2020) – Henry Rollins announced today a new long-form radio experience titled, The Cool Quarantine, offered as an aural respite from these stressful times. The first episode is now exclusively available online at KCRW.com, and features personal stories, deep cuts, rarities, bootlegs, full albums, EPs, and much more. It clocks in at more than four hours and features live bootlegs of the Cramps recorded by Ian MacKaye, a story about the time Henry and Ian saw Led Zeppelin in 1977 (plus a bootleg recording from that performance), audio from original Joy Division album pressings, stories about the early days of Black Flag and Dischord Records, and so much more.

Henry Rollins on The Cool Quarantine:

For many years, I’ve had this idea for a long-form show. I mean really long-form. Like hours. To do it terrestrially would be difficult because I would be crowding other shows out. But if it was online, hey. It’s as many songs as I want, language issues are not a factor, and if anyone gets bored, they can just turn it off or mark the time they checked out and resume later. The idea is that you’re in your room and Engineer X and I come over with a bunch of records. We play you songs, I tell you stories, and we do time together. Now that many of us are under some kind of confinement, we might as well get some good listening happening. Let’s go long! It’s kind of like the show we do on Sundays but without time constraints or worrying about FCC compliance. It’s an extra slice of pizza. It will be completely indulgent. Fanatic, of course, and hopefully, as Iggy Pop, the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion Of Rock And Roll says, “a real cool time.”

The first episode of The Cool Quarantine is available on-demand at kcrw.com, and via the KCRW app. Subsequent episodes will be released in the coming weeks.

For the most up-to-date information, visit: http://www.kcrw.com/henryrollinslongform

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For more information about KCRW please contact:
Laura Cohen, LC Media, lcmediapr@gmail.com

Henry Rollins is a last row of the classroom, no-count and a presenter on KCRW. He is the author of several books. He travels extensively and collects music from almost every location, which he faithfully brings to his listeners. He’s at that age where he often yells, “What the hell are you people talking about?! Do something!” He thinks he’s testifying before Congress. Too bad he’s alone at the grocery store, addressing the soup section. If you see him, call the number on his sleeve and someone from his office will come fetch him.

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KCRW Music Announcement

CAP UCLA and KCRW present Ladysmith Black Mambazo

CAP UCLA and KCRW present Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Exclusive Concert – On-Air and Online
Thursday, March 26, at 9PM PDT

WHAT:
Last week, Ladysmith Black Mambazo was able to perform a concert in an empty Royce Hall before safely returning to South Africa. UCLA’s Center for the Art of Performance (CAP UCLA) recorded their performance with three camera operators, a few staff, and a modest yet passionately committed crew, just before increased public health measures came into place. KCRW, in collaboration with CAP UCLA, is proud to present this exclusive concert on-air and online.

WHO:
Ladysmith Black Mambazo

WHEN:
Thursday, March 26, at 9 PM PDT

WHERE:
View on Facebook Live and YouTube Live
Hear on 89.9 FM KCRW

For more information on how the concert came to be, please visit:
https://cap.ucla.edu/pressreleases/

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For more information about KCRW please contact:
Laura Cohen, LC Media, lcmediapr@gmail.com

About KCRW

Twitter | twitter.com/kcrw
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YouTube | youtube.com/kcrw

KCRW Music Announcement

KCRW Announces Music Programming Updates

KCRW Announces Music Programming Updates

Santa Monica (March 23, 2020) – KCRW has announced changes to its line-up of music DJs to ensure the safety of all KCRW staff, and to continue to provide Southern California, and listeners worldwide, with the unique blend of music, news, and community engagement, for which the station is well-known.

“This is our commitment to you,” stated News Director, Evan George. “We are a vital service bringing local news, public health information, and engagement to people who don’t want the panic inebriation of some other news sources. And who need their music more than ever. We will continue to strike that balance. We will remember to look for moments of joy. To provide context and a sense of community.”

Anne Litt, Program Director of Music added, “As always, we are committed not only to keeping our audience informed, but also to giving you a much-needed musical respite. The KCRW team has been doing incredible work. We’ve assigned essential crew to one of two teams, rotating biweekly between home and studio. Changes to our schedule are temporary, while we ramp up our ability to broadcast more shows from home, and create new shows responding to the present moment.”

The DJs who are not currently on-air will be contributing regularly to KCRW.COM/Music. KCRW will also be utilizing Eclectic 24 to fill in during this time. Curated by former Music Director Chris Douridas, Eclectic 24 is KCRW’s online music channel that features the best of KCRW music, available 24/7. “E24 will play a central role in our commitment to bring you the quality music programming you’ve come to rely on from KCRW,” says Douridas.

KCRW Temporary DJ Line-up

March 23 – April 3:

Monday – Friday
9AM – Noon Anne Litt / Morning Becomes Eclectic
8PM – 11PM Travis Holcombe
11PM – 3AM Eclectic 24

Saturday
Noon – 3PM Raul Campos
3PM – 6AM Eclectic 24

Sunday
Noon – 3PM Raul Campos
3PM – 8PM Eclectic 24
8PM – 10PM Henry Rollins
10PM – 3AM Eclectic 24

April 4 – April 17:

Monday – Friday
9AM – Noon Anne Litt / Morning Becomes Eclectic
8PM – 11PM Garth Trinidad
11PM – 3AM Eclectic 24

Saturday
Noon – 3PM Anthony Valadez
3PM – 6AM Eclectic 24

Sunday
Noon – 3PM Anthony Valadez
3PM – 8PM Eclectic 24
8PM – 10PM Henry Rollins
10PM – 3AM Eclectic 24

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For more information about KCRW please contact:
Laura Cohen, LC Media, lcmediapr@gmail.com

About KCRW

Twitter | twitter.com/kcrw
Facebook | facebook.com/kcrw
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