I guess it depends on what you want to do.

In this area there are three public radio stations: one at Bellevue Community College in Bellevue, Washington (KBCS-FM) that plays folk music of various kinds (plays CDs, does interviews, etc.) throughout most of the day; one at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma (KPLU-FM, an NPR affiliate) that specializes in jazz; and the biggy, KUOW-FM, also an NPR affiliate, at the University of Washington in Seattle. KUOW is mostly news, discussion, and talk, but on an afternoon show called "The Beat," they often have interviews with local or visiting musicians, including folk musicians.

If I wanted to do a program where I, say, sang a bit, played some CDs, and generally ran my mouth, I would approach KBCS. If I were promoting an upcoming concert or appearance, I would try to get on "The Beat" at KUOW. If I were a jazz musician, I would cozy up to the folks at KPLU. I wouldn't expect to make any money from appearing on the station, however. They tend to have wee, tiny budgets.

The commercial stations? Other than one good classical music station and a couple good country stations, the rest is a vast wasteland. Not much to offer someone looking for a "viable venue."

Leastways, that's the situation in this neck of the woods.

Don Firth