About Jack Allen

Jack Allen is a self-proclaimed dreamer, raconteur, rapscallion and radio guy. He got his start in radio, a second career, in 1992 at WMRA in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The broadcasting ethers have carried him through stints in St. Paul and Austin. He can now be found leading the team at All Classical Public Media, KQAC in Portland, Oregon.
Author Archive | Jack Allen

“The Tweaker”

By on | November 8, 2011 in | Comments { 1 }

I had a friend years ago that hired a decorator to come in and arrange his living room furniture. Mind you, nothing new was purchased, the consultant just re-arranged the room with the same pieces of furniture and accessories. Surprisingly, it actually looked really good. I was astounded, as was he. All this familiar stuff [...]

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Shelf Life

By on | July 5, 2011 in | Comments { 7 }

When is the right time to pull the plug on a radio program? When is a good thing, too much of a good thing? If one show goes away, do we revert to format (DJ and great tunes) or do we plug in another program…locally produced or off the shelf from one of the big [...]

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The Man Who Would Be Kling

By on | April 26, 2011 in | Comments { 1 }

Published on Current.org, April 20, 2011 By Mike Janssen Kling’s successor at American Public Media and MPR: Jon McTaggart “American Public Media Group, parent of American Public Media and Minnesota Public Radio, announced April 20 that Chief Operating Officer Jon McTaggart will succeed Bill Kling as president and c.e.o. The unanimous choice of the APMG [...]

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Classical Music Radio Icon Passes

By on | March 13, 2011 in | Comments { 2 }

Arthur would have scoffed at that title. Icon. He wasn’t much for titles, mantles, or even accolades. Too “effete”. He hated pomp or ceremony. Loathed pretension. Back in the late 90′s, the title “Chief Announcer” was suggested to Arthur at Minnesota Public Radio, and he smiled deliciously. That smile spoke a thousand words and you [...]

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Out With The Old, In With The New

By on | January 3, 2011 in | Comments { 0 }

I’m all for change. Change is good. Winston Churchill said, “There is nothing wrong with change, if it’s in the right direction.” Everybody loves a good list, especially at the beginning of a new year. So, as we look to improve our stations this year, what comes to mind in terms of what you’d eliminate, [...]

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