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KCPT's 'The Bridge' Brings More Local Music To Kansas City Airwaves

90.9 The Bridge

A new Kansas City noncommercial radio station that features local music officially launched this week.

Kansas City's public television station, KCPT, bought KTGB "The Bridge" last May, and ownership was officially transferred last month.

After KCPT's purchase, studios for The Bridge were moved to the KCPT headquarters in Kansas City, Mo. Previously, they were housed in Warrensburg, Mo., where the station was owned and operated by the University of Central Missouri.

KCPT re-branded The Bridge, and removed NPR news programming from the program schedule. The station will continue to broadcast AAA (Adult Album Alternative) music, now for 24 hours a day. 

"Essentially we are just going to be doing the format all of the time," says station manager, Jon Hart.

Hart says the one NPR program they were definitely be carrying is World Café, which will air at 7 p.m.

"We are going to add some stuff down the road, but we are taking things one step at a time," Hart says.

KCPT-TV hired a core staff of three ahead of the launch. In addition to Hart, Sarah Bradshaw will serve as the station's music director and Byron Johnson will serve as the operations director.

Currently, Hart is hosting live from 5-10 a.m. weekdays, Johnson is on from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Bradshaw is on from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The overnight hours are automated.

"We are still building this things," says Hart. "We are going to be adding and making changes, and it will be more robust as every day goes by."

Hart says every music decision is made locally, and that the station plays more than 10 percent local music.

"It will very hour to hour but we are playing over 10 percent local music now," says Hart.

The Bridge is broadcasting at 30 percent power, preventing everyone in Kansas City from picking up a clear signal. Hart says they have been slowed by the bout of winter weather, but they hope to be at full power in the next few days. 

A California native, Briana comes to KCUR by way of KMUW in Wichita, Kan. and KUSP in Santa Cruz, Calif.
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