Following last month’s directive from the City Council to investigate prospective entrepreneurs for the Summer Music Festival, City Hall has made a “general inquiry” of Santa Monica radio station KCRW.
Without disclosing the dialogue between Special Events Coordinator Susan Obrow and the station, Todd Tipton of the Community Development Dept., said a definitive response is at least weeks away.
“KCRW said they would get back to us in a few weeks,” he said this morning.
As the Summer Music Festival heads into its 17th season, Councilman Scott Malsin — responding to restlessness by the advisory Cultural Affairs Commission — suggested that city staffers check out the promotion-minded station as an alternative to Gary Mandell, producer of the festival and its Mr. Everything for the past 10 years.
While Mr. Malsin’s colleagues green-lighted his idea, none displayed his enthusiasm for change.
After the initial contact, Mr. Tipton, the department’s redevelopment administrator, said, “There is a lot involved with the production of the concerts.”
“KCRW needs time to digest all of the information and to get back to us with what they are able to do.
“I don’t know exactly what Susan said. But she was sitting there and heard the City Council’s direction last month.”
Mr. Tipton said of KCRW: “This caught them a bit off guard. They need time to assess the demands and the opportunities, and they are going to get back to us.”
