Dave Kim

How did you first hear about Ferndale Radio? How long have you been involved there and when did you become PD?

100.7 Ferndale Radio got its start when a group of my friends and I saw an opportunity to apply for a low-power FM license after President Obama signed the Local Community Radio Act of 2010 into law, which loosened the restrictions put on LPFM radio stations. We all had radio experience — two of our co-founders who are married met at Oakland University’s WXOU, I worked in commercial radio for over 12 years (WGRD, WCSX, WMGC), and one of our co-founders was our high school radio advisor. When the FCC opened the LPFM application window in October 2013, we applied and received our construction permit in August 2014 — just one of two LPFM stations approved in metro Detroit from that filing period.

After a couple of location plans for the station fell through, we met our most critical partner in the Rust Belt Market, a collective of 30 independent shops in Ferndale, Michigan open during the weekends. The Rust Belt Market’s owners envisioned a community radio station housed in the building in their initial business plans, so it was a lightning in a bottle moment for us to connect with them. We started a crowdfunding campaign in 2016, and after raising enough funds, construction began the following year. The FCC granted our broadcast license in August 2017 and we stunted with public domain music since we were waiting on our music licenses. After recruiting passionate volunteer DJs, we launched live programming on Ferndale Radio during Black Friday 2017.

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

My main duties are programming music during the hours the Rust Belt Market is not open, which is mainly a Triple A / Alternative format. I also manage the station’s digital channels and create content for both broadcast and web. The part I love the most is discovering new music every week to add to Ferndale Radio’s rotation. That also happens to be the most challenging part because there is so much music to go through when it comes to deciding who gets to be in our top 10 weekly adds.

What is the process for reviewing new music and what sort of commitment does the station have to exposing your listeners to new releases?

For the most part, the process is going through all the music sent to me and checking the MusicMeeting.Directory every week. I also have Ferndale Radio DJs send me their playlists of any new music they feature on their shows. Ferndale Radio is strongly committed to sharing new music with our listeners. Our rotation of currents is probably larger than many commercial stations’ entire music library.

Who is an artist or band that you’ve discovered in the past year or so that has become one of your favorites? What is it about their music you love?

I’ve really enjoyed Wishy ever since they released their debut studio album Triple Seven last year. Their Planet Popstar EP is also stellar. I’m always a sucker for catchy shoegaze with a ‘90s influence.

Do you have an all-time favorite artist or album you never get tired of listening to?

The Cure are my favorite band of all time, and Cure fans have been eating good these last couple of years with the 2023 tour and Songs of a Lost World dropping last November.

What upcoming 2025 release(s) are you most anticipating the release of?

As someone who has listened to The Starting Line for over 20 years, their new music has me excited about Eternal Youth coming out September 26. I’m also looking forward to new albums from Wednesday, Jay Som, Florence + The Machine and Neko Case.

Who is an artist or band totally outside the realm of the music you play on Ferndale Radio that holds a special place in your heart?

Aaliyah. She was so talented and raised in Detroit. It was incredible to see her evolve with each new album release. I still think about how Aaliyah would fit in today’s music landscape if we didn’t tragically lose her in 2001.

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

Banish fascism.

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

I think joining my high school radio station WPHS shaped me the most as a person. It helped me decide what I wanted to do as a professional career after graduating from college and I made some lifelong friends there — some who co-founded Ferndale Radio with me.

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

The 1980s when alt rock radio was starting to gain its identity at stations like 91X and KROQ. I would have loved to experience being in radio when it was still in its heyday and bands like The Cure, Depeche Mode and REM were breaking.

Do you have a favorite restaurant in the Detroit area that you’d recommend people try if they are ever there?

My favorite restaurant in Detroit is Grey Ghost in the city’s Brush Park neighborhood. It’s a bit like a modern steakhouse and the food and drinks are incredible. Grey Ghost’s burgers are so popular that they just opened a spinoff carryout location called Little Ghost right in Ferndale.

What in your life brings you the most joy?

My dogs Greg and Greta.

Lightning Round:

Dog or Cat? I have two rescue dogs but I’m also pro-cat.
Morning Person or Night Owl? Night owl. I know the snooze button hates seeing me coming.
City or Country? City. I need my regular doses of concerts and sporting events.
Beach or Mountains? Both.
Watch TV or Read A Book? I would like to say read a book, but I always default to TV.
Sunny or Rainy? Depends on the season. Summer? Sunny. Fall? Give me the rain, cider and donuts.
Restaurant or Home Cooking? Home cooking.
Pants or Shorts? Shorts.
Warm or Cold drinks? Cold drinks.

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

Abbott Elementary brings so much joy to my life. I just watched “Nobody 2” and highly enjoyed it. Bob Odenkirk is a gem.

Finally, If you could have a lifetime supply of anything, what would it be?

Pierogi.