Owned by Santa Monica College and Located at 1900 Pico Blvd., the Station Commenced Voluntary Buyouts
The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Santa Monica’s KCRW-FM (89.9), while handling an anticipated $3 million budget shortfall, initiated steps to downsize its workforce amid challenging conditions in the media landscape.
The widely followed radio station, owned by Santa Monica College and located at 1900 Pico Blvd., commenced voluntary buyouts for numerous employees within its organization on Friday. Staff members are granted until December 18 to consider accepting separation packages.
The station’s revenue has been impacted by reduced film studio advertising during the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes, which extended from May until early November. Operating with an annual budget of approximately $23 million, as L.A. Times reports, KCRW relies on member contributions and corporate sponsorships, notably from studios promoting their movies and television productions.
Renowned for its local programming, featuring shows like “Morning Becomes Eclectic,” Madeleine Brand’s “Press Play,” and the weekly political series “Left, Right & Center,” in addition to national content from NPR, KCRW navigates financial strain similar to other Los Angeles-area media outlets.
