Is WMOT in danger of shutting down?

For those of you not in AFM local 257, I wish to forward a communication from Craig Krampf and Dave Pomeroy about the possiblity of Jazz Station WMOT (Middle Tennessee State University's station) having to go off of the air due to funding cuts. I beg Craig and Dave's pardon for copying and pasting their correspondence, but I feel this is VERY important. As an artist who has his material played on MOT and a bassist who has contributed to many projects played there, I really feel the community would lose something if it went dark. I know many of my fellow Country and CCM sessioneers have their Jazz projects played on WMOT as well. Without it, I'm not sure that we'd have a Nashville Jazz Institute and have attracted players like Jeff Coffin, Victor Wooten and the Wooten Brothers, and all of the other world-class jazz musicians we have here in town. I don't want it to return to the Dark Ages when I first moved to town (in 1980) from Miami and asked the question:
"Where's the Latin Jazz scene here?"
The real answer:
"Well, Carlos (Nostro, the Argentinian saxophonist who lived here) is on a cruise ship, so I guess it's not here until he gets back....."
Here's Craig's communication in toto:

Dear Local 257 members,
WMOT-FM, Nashville's flagship jazz station, is in serious danger of losing its funding due to impending budget cuts at Middle Tennessee State. One of our members with longtime longtime MTSU involvement has suggested that an e-mail and letter writing campaign to the President of MTSU, Dr. Sidney McFee, could help turn the tide. The following is a template for any of you to use if you like, also attached as a document, but PLEASE feel free to write your own. WMOT has been a huge part of our music scene for many years, and has always promoted Nashville jazz artists alongside national names. Our community would lose a very important voice if WMOT is silenced. This is a unique opportunity for us to make a difference in our community. I will be sending an e-mail and a snail mail letter, and urge you to do the same. PLEASE take a moment and let MTSU know how you feel.

Thanks, Dave Pomeroy
President, Nashville Association of Musicians
AFM Local 257

Dr. McFee's E mail address is: smcphee@mtsu.edu
For letters, his address is Dr. Sidney McFee, President, Middle Tennessee State University,
Murfreesboro, TN 37132
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Letter/Email Example >>>>

To: Dr. Sidney McFee
President, MTSU
Murfreesboro, TN 37132
From:
Re: WMOT funding

Dear Dr. McFee,
As a member of the Nashville Association of Musicians, AFM Local 257, and the greater Nashville community, I am very concerned about the news that MTSU is considering cutting future funding of WMOT, one of the finest radio stations to be heard anywhere. WMOT's jazz and community programming is an indispensable part of our music scene here and is an important source of information, art, and culture for an audience that ranges far beyond the student body of MTSU and the confines of Murfreesboro. The Nashville I urge you to carefully consider all of the negative consequences of taking WMOT-FM off the air before making any decision of this magnitude.

Respectfully,

Tags: Jazz, Nashville, Radio, WMOT

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Permalink Reply by Dave Martin on January 23, 2009 at 10:02am

Thanks for the information, Roy - I've done the appropriate thing.

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Permalink Reply by Roy Vogt on January 23, 2009 at 1:04pm

The correct name is Dr. Sidney McPhee, not McFee. Please adjust your emails accordingly,
thanks,
Roy

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Permalink Reply by Johnny Mann | Diagram Collective on January 23, 2009 at 2:15pm

Are any benefit possibilities being discussed? Ad revenue is pretty hard to come by these days. I am a product of the Univ. of Tennessee Jazz Studies program, and really appreciate that station.

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Permalink Reply by Dave Martin on January 26, 2009 at 12:34pm

For those of you paying attention to this thread, here's my response from Dr. McPhee:

Thank you for your feedback regarding the University program referenced in your email correspondence. As you might imagine, I am receiving a significant number of communications regarding a variety of University entities that may be negatively impacted as a result of our current and future budget situation.

Although I am unable to address the specific concerns and details of each one, please know that we remain committed to analyzing each program that is being considered for restructuring or elimination as thoroughly as possible before any final recommendations are presented to The Board of Regents. As I have indicated many times before, the economic crisis with which we are currently faced is very serious and requires that we carefully assess every campus program and service as we seek to determine where we must make the necessary cuts and adjustments to meet our budgetary goals.

I will continue to post regular updates regarding the progress of our Strategic Work Groups in developing our recommendations on our “Positioning the University for the Future” Initiative Web site (http://www.mtsu.edu/strategic/). Again, thank you for your correspondence and continued interest in MTSU.

Sidney A. McPhee
President
Middle Tennessee State University
COPE Administration, Room 110
Murfreesboro, TN 37132
smcphee@mtsu.edu
office: 615-898-5825
fax: 615-898-2507

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Permalink Reply by Joseph Akins on January 29, 2009 at 11:00pm

Here is a fund-raiser to attend if you want to help:
WMTS Student-Run Radio 88.3 fm along with the MTSU School of Music will be hosting a Benefit Concert in support of the station on February 5th at 7pm at Club 527 Main St. here in Murfreesboro. The admission is free, although donations are suggested as this is a fundraising event. The most important part about this concert, however, is to just get the word out so we can pack the house! We have to let President McPhee see that this station is truly needed. I hope you all can make it out to show your support. It is going to be a great fun-filled night of smooth jazz along with the Middle Tennessee community.

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Permalink Reply by Myrus Jones on January 31, 2009 at 10:58am

Thanks guys, I have contributed my part. This station is amazing, it would be such a shame to see it go.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Whittaker on January 31, 2009 at 5:27pm

I really hope to be there...That would be a catastrophe losing yet another Jazz station. Americas one original artform..

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Permalink Reply by david floyd on February 1, 2009 at 8:57am

I'm not living there in Nashville currently, but when I was, my radio dial was locked to WMOT. If they have to go off the air, it will be a very sad thing.