Douglas DuPont

How long have you been involved with KDUR and how did you first hear about the station?

I’ve been involved with KDUR for about eight years. I initially learned of the station in 2015 upon touring Fort Lewis College, of which I am now an alumni. KDUR is a college & community hybrid station.

Tell us about the duties of your job and what part of it you love the most and what is most challenging.

A large portion of my job is ensuring the dissemination of our weekly new music lists to our DJs. My favorite part of the job is platforming bands and artists who might not otherwise have their music broadcasted. A uniquely challenging aspect of my job is doing music-tracking with promotional entities who have a strong proclivity to be overly-chummy and attempt to butter me up during our weekly conversations. It’s often T.M.I, but I try to remember that they’re marketers being paid to try and sell you something. There exists a fine-line between friendly and inappropriate.

What advice can you offer other MDs regarding the ways you encourage your DJs to play the new music the station receives from labels and promoters?

We require our DJs to play a minimum of three cuts an hour out of our new music Playbox. Our student Practicum DJs are required to play exclusively new music for their shows. These guidelines ensure I’m able to submit weekly charts to the NACC. My advice here is to hold yourself to a schedule, and make sure your DJs are receiving regular updates detailing the new music available for airplay. I send out two weekly PDFs detailing every piece of media that has landed in the respective physical or digital library. This ideally should be done weekly since college and community radio have always been about new music discovery.

What ways does the station reach out to/interact with the community and work to grow your audience/footprint?

Our bi-annual Membership Drive is a good way to gauge our listenership. Beyond that, we host an annual Cover Night (this year was Dolly Parton), and attempt to bring in musical acts to throw “Thank-You” and ”Friendraiser” type events for members. Last year, KDUR hosted Mike Cooley of the Drive-By Truckers.
I spend a solid amount of time each week reaching-out to bands and artists through the contact form on bandcamp pages, and most of the time they’re stoked to get their music to us. I believe consistently reaching-out for new music outside of what is being serviced to us is important.

What was your favorite album released in 2022 and why? Is there a 2023 release on the horizon you are eagerly awaiting?

I very much dug Nestter Donuts’s Flamenco Trash from last year. He’s a one-man garage powerhouse, and everything released via Voodoo Rhythm Records owns. Also from last year, Emily Nenni’s On The Ranch f*cking WHIPS. I am eagerly awaiting the Pusha T & DJ Drama mixtape rumored for release this year. There is also reason to believe that a non-RTJ Killer Mike solo record might be on the horizon…

 Do you have a favorite artist or album you never get tired of listening to?

Bands/Artists I never grow tired of listening to include Shilpa Ray, L.A. Witch, Mattiel, and Viagra Boys.

Who is an artist or band totally outside the realm of the music you play on KDUR that people might be surprised to know you love?

Olivia Rodrigo & Ariana Grande. Please don’t tell my Program Director or Station Manager.

If you had the power to instantly change one thing going on in the world at the moment, what would it be?

I would unequivocally get rid of all of the recent anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and the vampire culture-war politicians who champion this shit.

What event or person in your life would you say has shaped you the most as a person?

Easy: my mom. She raised three kids on her own and we all turned out pretty alright.

If you could choose, what time period in the past would you most want to travel back to visit and why?

Since I’m a superfan, I’d tailgate April 3rd, AD 33. I’d show up with a foam-finger, foldable-chair, and a cooler.

Do you have a favorite restaurant in town (dine-in or take out) that you recommend people try?

If you’re ever in Ignacio, Colorado, you should try the green chile frito pie from the Rose Cafe.

What in your life brings you the most joy?

My wife and dogs. Spending time as a unit is truly grounding.

Lightning Round:

Dog or Cat? – DOG, I have two rescued Beagles!
Morning Person or Night Owl? – Night Owl
City or Country? – Country [music]
Beach or Mountains? – Mountains
Watch TV or Read A Book? – Book
Sunny or Rainy? – Rainy, so I don’t have to feel guilty about staying in.
Restaurant or Home Cooking? – Home Cooking
Pants or Shorts? – Pants
Warm or Cold drinks? – cold beerz

Do you have any current favorite TV shows you’re enjoying/binging? How about a movie (new or old) that you’ve watched recently that you would recommend?

Not a huge TV guy, but my wife and I have been streaming Seinfeld in chronological order. Catching up on The Adam Friedland Show is a go-to if I’m unsure of what to watch. The Halo show on paramount+ was truly awful – I can’t wait for season 2.

Finally, just for funsies, share with us your most detested pet peeve!

My most detested pet peeve is being called Doug by people who don’t know me personally. That’s not my name!