RSS 2.0 FeedDecember 8, 2010, KCM News
Meet us
KCM is a new breed of media—a nonprofit arts service organization. Based on a combination of expert critical thought, action-provoking commentary from the new social communities and derived from new technologies, we are the new face of arts media.
KCMetropolis.org (KCM) was conceived in July 2008 by arts marketer Marcy Chiasson and local entrepreneur/Sony recording American Tenor Nathan Granner in response to the changing face of traditional print media. They understood intimately that media coverage is an important aspect of arts accessibility, and that the constriction—and in some cases, demise—of local media outlets like newspapers and magazines would have a direct impact on ability of the performing arts to promote themselves to the general ticket buying public.
Based on a combination of expert critical thought- and action-provoking commentary from the new social communities and derived from new technologies, KCMetropolis.org launched on October 5, 2008. As an online publication with unlimited space, the website also acts as a record and historical marker for the robust achievements in this community with an archive of articles stretching back to the first weekly edition. We cover traditional and contemporary classical music, dance, theatre, jazz and independent film with articles, reviews, previews and interviews, and over the past two and a half arts seasons we have published over 1,200 stories.
We are a new breed of media—a nonprofit arts service organization.
Our mission is to promote and celebrate the performing arts organizations in the community, to offer easy access to events and to help augment ticket sales with an ultimate goal of making a positive impact on the economic health of the arts. Since its inception, KCM has pursued partnerships with other arts nonprofits and arts purveyors in the community to help cross-promote missions and the arts. A page called Community Connections was added to the website in early 2010 with links to partner organizations.
In July 2009, KCM launched the KC Events calendar which allowed arts organizations to add and manage their own events. Over 90 arts organizations—both great and small—have since listed their events. In the fall of 2009, KCM added an Arts News section which has become a conduit for regional, state and national arts agencies to promote their events and call-to-actions, and act as another conduit to celebrate artists and organizations in the community. 
KCMetropolis.org is a true grassroots organization comprised of dedicated and knowledgeable volunteer writers from within this community. They are musicians, teachers, composers, actors, film-makers, professional writers and experienced in their genres. KCM conceived this innovative idea to use multiple voices from the community and therefore offers more expertise in more genres. Now with 19 regular contributors on "staff," the arts have never had so much coverage in one place.
In 2009, KCM classical contributor Megan Browne Helm was one of a small group of journalists selected to attend the National Endowment for the Arts’ Arts Journalism Institute in Classical Music and Opera in New York City—and in October 2010, fellow KCM writer, Libby Hanssen was selected to attend this year's Institute. Click here to meet all the KCM writers.
As editor-in-chief, Marcy Chiasson ran the organization for the first two seasons, but as the writers' roster and content grew, regular contributors Lee Hartman and Kristin Shafel stepped into managing editor positions. And just recently, writers Christopher Levin and Victor Wishna have joined the staff as assistant editors.
The organization has grown successfully as a dedicated volunteer effort with a very small annual budget by marketing with word-of-mouth, social medias and cross-promotions with other arts groups. Readership continues to grow monthly as well. At the end of the first year (May 2009), KCM was receiving about 2,000 hits per month. Readership reached an all-time high of 12,000 the following May, with a season total of just over 95,000 hits. In this, our third year, we anticipate doubling that number.
Despite the challenging economic climate, the performing arts scene continues to persevere and grow, and Kansas City is brimming with strong organizations and compelling events. KCMetropolis.org is excited to lead the way in arts coverage into this new technological and economic era.
All material contained in KCMetropolis.org is the property of or licensed for use by KCMetropolis.org. Any use, duplication, or reproduction of any or all content of this publication is prohibited except with the express written permission of KCMetropolis.org or the original copyright holders.