The much-reported transition of KZME to KXRY means that the new kids on Portland's radio block have now boosted their signal, roughly quadrupling XRAY.fm’s coverage area—see map below.
XRAY.fm can now be heard at both 91.1 FM and 107.1 FM on the Portland dial with the help of KZME's former translator. And although the non-commercial station dedicated to airing locally made music is now off the air, the XRAY team has made an effort to incorporate some of KZME's most popular shows and DJs into its new schedule, including DJ Klyph's Welcome to the Neighborhood on Saturday nights, Dave Cantrell's Songs from Under the Floorboard on late-night Fridays, and former KZME music director James Dineen's well-liked Sessions from the Box on Wednesday afternoons.
The blue area represents the original KXRY 10-watt Rocky Butte transmitter at 91.1 FM while green is the former KZME 90-watt West Hills translator heard at 107.1 FM.While KZME was a financially unsustainable model, Rob Brading, CEO of MetroEast Community Media (KZME's parent company), told the Portland Business Journal in late August, "We are confident that XRAY.fm will continue to provide great music and community programming for Portland and beyond."
In addition to local music, the Portland-made indie radio purveyors also focus on progressive talk in the mornings featuring commentators Carl Wolfson and Thom Hartmann for several hours on weekdays. Breaking with the local-only idealism of KZME, the station will also feature a select number of national programs like American Roots (formerly on OPB) and Chances With Wolves (formerly of NYC's now defunct East Village Radio), as well as Greasy Kid Stuff—formerly of New York’s WFMU but now locally produced and airing kid- and parent-friendly programming on Saturday mornings.
As XRAY.fm looks to transition into a larger North Portland studio (built through a partnership with the Falcon Art Community) in the coming months, music co-director Aaron Hall says, “Monday through Thursday will heavily feature local music, new releases, and a focus on local events coming through Portland.”
The "little station with big ideas" may have raised more than $100,000 during a Kickstarter campaign in January, but to ensure its continued growth, look for an upcoming October fundraising drive to cover the costs associated with the expansion and programming development.
“The expansion is a significant step forward in furthering XRAY’s mission to serve the city by broadcasting the best of Portland’s music, culture and ideas,” says board president Jenny Logan. “We’ve still got a long way to go, but this is exciting progress.”
