Ballard loses KEXP Hood-to-Hood Challenge

Geeky Swedes Ballard

KEXP isn’t coming to Ballard again this year. West Seattle has won the 4th Annual Hood-to-Hood challenge, a membership drive for the radio station.

Last year, KEXP DJ’s and local bands played at several venues throughout Ballard for an entire day. This is Common Market playing at Cupcake Royale.

Geeky Swedes

The founders of My Ballard

43 thoughts to “Ballard loses KEXP Hood-to-Hood Challenge”

  1. did they come last year?

    if so, it wasn't that memorable.

    what was the challenge based on? attendance? proceeds?
    maybe playing at a cupcake joint wasn't such a good idea.

  2. Thank you, the avoidance of actual live music venues doesn't bode well for the competition, as well as the limited exposure to the event in general.
    I never heard about it, and that says a heck of a lot.
    btw, Ballard is more west than West Seattle…just saying…
    But they can have it, the name, the prestige, the Mayor.
    Oh, and death to DJ's. Talk about killing live music!

  4. Looks like I'm not the only one who was out of the loop on this one. True, I don't go to the Tractor as often as I used to but I'm usually paying attention to this kind of stuff. Maybe it's just for people who listen to KEXP?
    And I'm with you on DJ's. Maybe it's cheaper than paying for a live band. Be cheaper still just to melt a jukebox, get the same effect.

  6. Agreed, and throw in karaoke too.
    The wealth of musicians in this area is unbelievable, yet, they leave Seattle by the hundreds, New York, L.A., anywhere but here. It isn't hard to understand why.
    Most people settle for crap, instead of supporting live music.
    This summer, some Ballard natives will be returning home, and they will play. Find and support them, please.
    (you won't find them at a karaoke pub, or a DJ bump off.)
    And yes Trix, it is cheaper, that is why it's everywhere, including a cupcake house….

  7. West Seattle, eh? I suppose next year they'll include Bothell in the challenge, or perhaps Auburn?

    I kid! I kid! Those West Seattle folks sure are part of the city, yep yep! Big long bridge and pig farms notwithstanding.

  10. Yeah, this is essentially a pledge drive where different neighborhoods “battle it out” to see who can donate the most to KEXP…winner gets a live show. Ballard has won it quite a few times if I remember correctly.

  13. Everyone should care.

    The neighborhood that wins gets a day of live bands and DJs. It is usually well attended and brings a nice influx of money into the neighborhood at least for that day, maybe dividends if some people decide they like some of the venues and start coming back.

    And with the constant “support local Ballard businesses” messages on here, it sounds like it would have been nice if we had won.

  14. I would have cared a lot more if I'd known about it. What I'm getting from the comments is that this whole contest was a surprise to many of us who live here and do support local businesses. Was this only advertised on KEXP?

  15. Huh? I'm having trouble understanding your point. Would someone like to enlighten me? I'm just not getting it.

    As someone who did pledge for Ballard in the hood to hood challenge this year I would like to say thanks to all those who did and better luck next year. Maybe we should have a heads up on the board when the pledge drive happens again so we can win it back from West Seattle.

  16. There are only two things I like about summer. Affordable live music, and the summer lagers.
    Karaoke doesn't bother me (so long as they stay away from 'My Generation'). Most places that have it never had live bands anyway. So, there isn't the sacrifice there.

  17. Because It is part of the KEXP spring pledge drive. KEXP is not a commercial radio station, it's publicaly supported in part by doing pledge drives and this was a prize for which neighborhood gave the most money during said pledge drive.

  18. yes, but even some of us who pledged were never asked what neighborhood we live in, or that there was even a contest afoot.

    I've lived here for some time and don't remember kexp ever providing a free day of live music in our neighborhood. this station seems to be more capital hill than ballard. imo, it's gone downhill since Paul Allen became involved.

    now kcbs, there's a station worth listening to.

  22. Go Westside!

    I actually lived in Ballard this time last year and donated. Now I live in West Seattle and donated. Both great neighborhoods. We may have a long bridge, but it makes for less hipsters. I'm just glad both 'hoods beat Capitol Hill.

  27. Look out Paul I can easily see West Seattle as the next Ballard, after their hype is over. West Seattle has most everything Ballard has AND a better beach.

  28. Ballard has won the hood to hood challenge twice. Twice the neighborhood has had a day dedicated to live music and the djay's spinning in various places. If you missed it kcmuer, clearly you don't support KEXP during its pledge drives. As someone else pointed – the pledge breaks are bombarded with the message. Hope you support your beloved KCBS when it asks for $$ because publicly supported radio is going to go away if people tune out the pledge drive support message.

  32. Last years Hood to Hood was won by Capital Hill. From what I heard the party was pretty hoppin. Good bands at a number of different venues. Last I checked, the scene still seems to be pretty “grunge” (not tight boy pants required). But maybe its the venues I like to go to. Don Slack and Leon Burman kick ass and their favorites are Hatties and The Tractor.

  33. Ballard has won it a few times so I imagine it's only fair to let someone else win. It has actually brought business and lots of free advertising to Cupcake Royale and some of the other businesses they've broadcast from in Ballard. The first year that Ballard won they interviewed the executive director from the Ballard Food Bank and did a lot of fundraising plugs for them. Even though it is part of the radio stations fundraiser, it is also a way to bring free advertising to businesses in different communities in Seattle. KEXP actually does a lot of stuff for the community including their once a month shows to raise money for a different charity every month.

  34. Oh my god – you moved and that is why Ballard lost. I thought it was because I didn't pledge this year but it's because you moved.

  35. I wasn't talking radio.
    I was talking clubs.
    What passes for live music?
    DJ bump, karaoke, etc.
    This is not live music folks.
    Call me whatever, it aint live music!
    Please support live music.
    I don't know what KEXP cares about.
    I care about live music.

  36. I know what you mean. I've been watching the new construction in the Junction with concern. I think we're a little harder to get to than Ballard, so we'll see.

  37. Could be true. Of course, I went my whole time in Ballard without a local Trader Joe's and then they opened one after I moved, so I'm not sure if I'm bad luck or good luck.

  38. Ah, Ballard….I'm glad that I got to live there, even if it was only for six months. Not many other neighborhoods could have lured me away.

    Ironically, there are areas of West Seattle where I can't get KEXP when I'm driving. Luckily my house isn't in one of those areas.

  39. oh me sorry – thought article was about radio station – not a place for random talks about what you type music you care about….maybe you should listen to radio too?

  40. I am a singer. I have a band. But I also like karaoke. In fact, I used to host it because it was paid singing practice. I don't think that karaoke and DJ's fall under the same category at all. Just sayin'.

  42. I'll give you that. I don't feel it's universal, as in good/bad, just that the preponderance of what constitutes 'live music' is being washed to gray.
    As a singer/band member, I'm certain that you see my point.
    I wish you the best.
    Keep up the music!

  43. I was in Ballard this time last year as well and moved to West Seattle. I'm a forth generation West Seattlite, but took a four year hiatus to live in Ballard…sadly, I came crying and crawling back home after Ballard broke my heart. I guess you can say Ballardians helped to contribute to the West Seattle win!! I'm excited for the event!

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