Mountain Stage Could Go Off The Air Due to Budget Cut Proposal
Mountain Stage could be in trouble. The two-hour radio show that broadcasts to over 170 NPR affiliates from West Virginia is facing a budget battle that could not only see the nearly 35-year-old music institution go off the air, but all other programing produced and distributed by West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
A recent budget proposal by West Virginia Governor Jim Justice proposes the elimination of all public funding for West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which relies on roughly 50% public funds to cover operating costs. This would not only doom Mountain Stage, but would take the West Virginia PBS station off the air, and force the company to lay off approximately 75% of its staff. And because the cuts would be immediate instead of phased in over time, they could trigger additional costs for West Virginia Public Broadcasting and the state to power down broadcast towers and break leases on land and equipment.
“This budget … eliminates all funding for WVPB’s Mountain Stage, West Virginia’s calling card to the world,” says Susan C. Hogan and Ted Armbrecht—Chairs of the Friends of West Virginia Public Broadcasting in an open letter. “More than 13,000 people attended a Mountain Stage concert in West Virginia last year, leading to more than $1 million in direct economic impact. What does the Governor’s proposed elimination of all funding for Mountain Stage save? $300,000 … We believe this would be unwise and irresponsible. We understand the state needs to save money, but such a drastic and immediate cut threatens the very existence of our state’s PBS and NPR stations.”
Mountain Stage is like the Austin City Limits of Appalachia. Each year the show produces 26 episodes at the Culture Center Theater in Charleston, West Virginia, though at times the Mountain Stage has moved to other locations, including the Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas, Fairbanks, Alaska, and has also broadcast from Canada and Scotland. 27 live albums from the Mountain Stage series have been released. Along with showcasing some of the best regional talent in the bluegrass, country, and roots relms, the prestige of Mountain Stage has attracted national-recognized performers such as Phish, R.E.M., and Norah Jones in the past.
“These proposed cuts are even more damaging because the Justice Administration did not consult anyone at West Virginia Public Broadcasting for advice. Currently, there is no transition plan for WVPB,” says Friends of West Virginia Public Broadcasting. “Eliminating all state funding endangers our ability to provide PBS Kids programming to low-income children who need it the most … West Virginia Public Broadcasting operates a 27-tower network that reaches all corners of our state. These proposed cuts would force many of the towers to be turned off. Even that takes time and money to do — and not doing it properly will expose the state to multi-million dollar lawsuits.”
These budget battles often result in had wringing on both sides. Budget proposals have put Mountain Stage in peril before, with the show always eventually finding a way forward, but only after a public outcry from fans of programming like Mountain Stage.
Some have accused West Virginia governor Jim Justice—a Democrat and billionaire—of playing politics with public funding. As David Folkenflik—a NPR media corespondent points out—in 2016 a report by NPR exposed that Jim Justice owed $15 million in taxes and fines.
Jacob W
February 11, 2017 @ 10:11 am
After I read the first paragraph, I was thinking nearly exactly what was quoted in the third. I know this show is to popular to cut. Some of the coolest performances ever come out of this. Parker Milsap doing Smokey Robinson, if you haven’t seen this you’ve got to check it out, Tyler childers set is incredible. This show has got to be a large source of donations to npr or public radio even excluding the aforementioned concert. Hope they are able to stay on
Trigger
February 11, 2017 @ 10:22 am
Yes, even though a program like Mountain Stage only comprises a very small amount of the programming per week in West Virginia, it is a signature show and institution that helps promote West Virginia to the rest of the world, and draws attention to other public broadcasting programs, not to mention the spotlight it shines on the artists who perform.
Mike W.
February 11, 2017 @ 12:43 pm
And considering to large sections of the country and world, West Virginia’s current image is of the “opioid capital of the US”, they could use all the help they could get regarding branding/promotion. You have the love the logic surrounding this proposal, or the lack thereof.
seak05
February 11, 2017 @ 10:25 am
Be it at the federal or state level public broadcasting is always a popular proposed cut, and it’s stupid…it basically saves no real money (when looked at in budget totality/it’s basically 20 cents a citizen in WV), it’s all optics.
In better news, from grammy rehearsal pics, Sturgill is rehearsing with the Dap-Kings, so looks like he’ll get a stand alone performance of his music.
Scotty J
February 11, 2017 @ 11:09 am
This is a typical governmental ploy. They find some popular and relatively small thing and then they write a budget that cuts it and they say ‘gosh, we just don’t have the money for this’ and then people rise up and say ‘no please tax us master’ so we can keep this thing. Where I live it is parks that usually get this treatment. Every few years the state or county suddenly has no money for parks maintenance and needs a new levy or something which of course gets passed every time. They have no real interest in finding the funding elsewhere only in creating more taxing power.
It’s the permanent bureaucracy blackmailing the citizenry.
SMP14
February 11, 2017 @ 11:10 am
Such a shame this is even being considered. The state needs to treat Mountain Stage as the valuable asset that it is, and not put it on the chopping block.
Trigger, have you ever considered doing a story on WV’s other historic radio show, The Wheeling Jamboree, which is striving to make a comeback? Its history might interest you.
Robert St
February 11, 2017 @ 12:16 pm
Speaking of which, the station that puts on the Wheeling Jamboree also hosts Anita Stapleton’s bit called “You’re Lookin’ At Country.” She is very knowledgeable about country music history.
Spoony
February 11, 2017 @ 12:15 pm
If it’s such a huge loss, it should be incredibly simple to secure private funding to have it continue, right? I can’t think of one logical reason taxpayers fund things like this, even if it is a minuscule expense compare to something else.
seak05
February 11, 2017 @ 12:40 pm
Taxpayers help fund things like this for a variety of different reasons (& not all reasons apply in all situations), here are a few:
1. A flagship program like Mountain stage is an economic draw to the state, it’s basically recruiting, the same reason the state funds tourism ads etc. It’s a way to help citizens of the state make more money
2. Often programming is included that helps people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford it, mostly reading/educational programs aimed at kids. In the long run, children’s program’s helping child literacy/academics, save a state/fed govt a ton of money. Think of it as paying a penny now to avoid paying a dollar later.
3. When you are beholden to private interests your coverage changes. Its why Fox didn’t run/investigate negative stories about Murdoch, ESPN & ABC promote Disney etc. Balancing programs/news orgs run for private interests with programs run for public interests is a good thing for citizens of a country/state.
SMP14
February 11, 2017 @ 12:48 pm
She sure is! I always look forward to learning from Anita’s show! ?
Mike W.
February 11, 2017 @ 12:53 pm
It acts as a form of promotion for the state. As I said above, Mountain Stage promotes West Virginia as something other than an incredibly poor state with a massive opioid problem and a economy that is one of the worst in the nation. It boosts the image of the state to the general public, as well as promoting the arts. The arts are always the first thing on the chopping block and to a certain extent I can understand that, but it really is such a small part of the budget for these states.
The reason the arts and programs like Mountain Stage get cut/threatened to be cut is because it makes it look like politicians actually care about budgets and responsible tax dollars and the people who oppose it are usually labeled as “hippies” and “snowflakes”. Imagine the reaction if the state of West Virginia threatened to pull all public funding of athletic programs both at the public university and public school levels? Especially funding to a certain sport proven to lead to massive brain injuries? Bet the reaction would be pretty different.
Spoony
February 11, 2017 @ 1:45 pm
I don’t know exactly what public funding of athletic programs is, but it’s not a taxpayer’s duty to fund your kid playing tennis either.
seak05
February 11, 2017 @ 3:27 pm
Shrug, it’s a question of do you see it (news, music, tourism, kids programming) as a) a public good and b) benefits outweighing costs. Different people can disagree. I would also argue that giving kids opportunities to play sports is a public good, and therefore worth a certain amount of cost.
(In economic theory Govts tend to contribute/pay for public goods)
Mike W.
February 11, 2017 @ 9:41 pm
I’m not saying it is any taxpayers duty to subsidize athletics, just that a lot of the same people up in arms about taxpayer subsides to the arts would be up in arms if football was ever threatened.
Trigger
February 11, 2017 @ 1:02 pm
A couple of things:
As supporters of West Virginia Public Broadcasting points out, about 50% of the network is supported by private donations and other revenue streams already. Could they raise the rest of the funds? Possibly, but this would take time. As is being pointed out, the timing is critical here. You can’t just pull the plug on something like this and expect to save money. There are tower leases, land and equipment leases, severance and unemployment you would have to pay if you let go workers. You can’t just take a budget from X to 0 immediately and expect a public entity to survive and not incur closing costs. If you propose phasing in budget cuts over a few years, perhaps you can find other streams for the shortfalls in your budget. Pulling it all at once will likely cost the state more by having to break leases and contracts, while you also lose revenue via the tourism Mountain Stage attracts to the state. You have to spend it to make it, and Mountain Stage is a perfect example of this.
Often these budget battles resolve amicably. One side proposes a ridiculous position as a negotiating point, and then when they finally let lose the purse strings, the other side feels thankful to get anything at all.
DJ
February 11, 2017 @ 5:32 pm
Timing is everything, even in politics. If the state godvernment only pays for 1/2 the cost then by definition it can only take away half. This is very typical of what godvernment gives it can take away.
If the cost per person is “only” 20 cents then surely those who want it will gladly pay 40 cents, right?!
Sadly that isn’t the way taxes are levied. They are taken by coercion and the threat of force according to income level (bracket) and this is an example of letting its collective mouth over load its collective ass which is typical of ALL godvernment ‘programs’ sold as though the intended benevolence out weighs the risk of future unintended consequences, i.e., higher costs, which, when ‘estimated’ were intentionally low balled so it becomes critical to statist salvation to appear as though the lip service they pay when begging to serve is sincere.
Does the good out weigh the bad? Both are subjective with variables that are personal and personality and belief system and not a godvernment role to play.
It’s not godvernments job to provide entertainment, or news. Its job is to ensure individual rights aren’t subjected to tyranny or oppression, legally or illegally. When that isn’t the criteria in ‘legislating’ or the role played by those who are very benevolent with OPM this is what happens. And this guy is a Democrat, an apparently rich Democrat, yet rich Republicans are blamed for all our ills…..LOL.
Sorry for those who listen, but, in the real world, MY money shouldn’t benefit your wants unless I want it to. And in that vein I don’t listen to commercial radio and rarely watch mainstream TV unless there’s a race on, which, explains to some degree my aversion to awards shows. Commercials suck and I pay an exorbitant amount to NOT watch them. But I sure don’t want any godvernment providing my watch list. It’s bad enough that ALgore claims to have invented the internet. I can only imagine what would happen if godvernment were in charge of what I listen to or watch on TV. It might decide what I like couldn’t be afforded…..LOL
Dirtdog85
February 11, 2017 @ 8:42 pm
Boy, you sure must be a joy to be around as I’m sure you rail against the oppressive, confiscatory ‘godvernment’ at every gathering of 2 or more people. Actually, it is government’s job to provide what the people demand or allow. You are very silly if you actually think there is a single politician alive who doesn’t believe that. Despite your Randian ranting, government is not the enemy – and even you don’t hope for a smaller one – you just want the big one to act on the things you hold valuable. Spare us the tyranny and oppression nonsense – one person’s law and order is another’s tyranny and oppression – of course there are moral and legal principles useful for the functioning of society, it is on the fringes where people differ and ideologies compete. Of course it’s subjective when weighing cost benefit ratios, as you admit, but to suggest that government (godvernment) has no role in such factors is complete idiocy. You only watch mainstream TV if there’s a race on? On what planet do you think you live where government does not spend money on your beloved races – for years NASCAR lobbied the government to allow the military to sponsor teams to the tune of tens of millions of dollars every year. The National Guard was spending over 40 million dollars a year sponsoring race teams until they recently stopped because they could not demonstrate that it affected recruiting at all.That doesn’t even touch the police and EMS services, infrastructure, etc necessary just to have a race. I’m assuming you’re fine with all that if it means you can watch cars go around in a circle. Your ‘godvernment’ subsidizes your beloved racing, yet somehow it’s oppressive to throw a few dollars to the arts? LOL, indeed…
DJ
February 12, 2017 @ 6:33 am
Maybe you should read the constitution and I don’t like the military sponsoring NASCAR, or drag racing, or any other form of entertainment or on bill boards and assuming that is very presumptuous of what you think you know.
I clearly stated that godvernments role is not to provide entertainment, or news.
However, IF you can show me where, in the constitution, (or what I said) you came by your subjectivity I’ll be happy to discuss it with you.
The godvernments job is to ‘objectively’ protect and defend individual rights, and what I’m like to be around is irrelevant to the point. But, your (and others) willingness to take from others what you (and others) deem worthy (which is highly subjective) is indicative of what is the number one problem in this country. Just remember; what gov’t gives it can take back, and rest assured, you probably won’t like it when it does and Ayn Rand will have nothing to do with it.
Jacob W
February 11, 2017 @ 2:07 pm
Public radio is a necessity in this modern society. Seak05 & Mike W. made great points. Though the majority of the population doesn’t tune in to public radio over regular f.m. advertising radio. It is one of the very few places to find less biased news (I can’t say unbiased), but more fact based reporting than for ratings. Kpft in Houston provides great information, charitable events, oppurtunities for up and coming artists, and very little known information in vignettes about laws, politics, civil rights, American & world history. If your not listening to public radio your missing a wealth of information desperately needed to make informed decisions about today’s world. If you think you know what is going on in Syria, Iraq, france or Russia and you only get your news from major news sources, you are sorely mistaken. Off topic, my apologies.
Where is the petition to save mountain stage?
DJ
February 11, 2017 @ 5:01 pm
Necessity does not = a right and 2 wrongs don’t make a right.
The petition would be in the in the form of YOUR dollars. That is a right you have. To take from another what you feel is appropriate is not right, no matter how it’s sold.
Corncaster
February 11, 2017 @ 6:30 pm
Public radio, a “necessity”? Who says? Our local talk radio station does *all* the local reporting for us. Our “public” radio station prides itself on being cosmopolitan, not rooted. They only get local when they need those sweet local dollars. Hypocrites!
Corncaster
February 11, 2017 @ 6:34 pm
Privatize “Mountain Stage,” fund it through Patreon (or the like), and give it a nice tax break from the state of WV.
seak05
February 12, 2017 @ 9:04 am
tax break and subsidy are two different ways of naming the same thing