Denver Post Stops by OpenAir

The Denver Post's pop music critic, Ricardo Baca stopped by OpenAir to witness the backstage magic in the final days before our October 31st launch. He sat down with a few staff members to get the full story on Colorado Public Radio's new-music station. 

With OpenAir, Colorado Public Radio puts its own spin on indie rock

Ricardo Baca

A funny thing is happening to Denver radio this week.

As terrestrial radio struggles with dwindling audiences, lagging advertiser interest and widespread layoffs, Colorado Public Radio is launching a new indie rock radio station — almost out of nowhere. 

You heard right — there's a new public radio station in town. OpenAir will debut at 6 a.m. Monday on 1340 AM and online at openaircpr.org. 

A full- time staff of five (soon to be six) will launch the station with mostly new music rarely heard in the metro area outside of Radio 1190 or KGNU.

It's a gutsy play by Colorado Public Radio, but based on the success of the nationally branded NPR Music and like-minded local stations KEXP in Seattle and the Current in Minneapolis, it's one CPR believes will pay off.

Read the full article here.