Minnesota Public Raccoon!
• There are times in our increasingly hectic and stressful lives when a seemingly minor event can unexpectedly blossom into a blessedly wonderful distraction from the insanity of the real world just outside our doors. Such was the delightful case this week in the Twin Cities, as a local urban raccoon impulsively decided to scale the 24-story UBS Plaza in downtown St. Paul — and the world stopped to watch. He’s pictured here on Tuesday on the 23rd floor ledge outside the Paige Donnelly Law Firm.
As it turned out, the raccoon’s exploits were clearly visible from the nearby studios of Minnesota Public Radio non-comm KCMP (The Current), and after the plucky animal had spent over 24 hours in his vertical journey, more and more folks became captivated by him, and MPR News Reporter Tim Nelson wrote about him. Fun Fact: Nelson appeared on Current morning show yesterday and mentioned that, after being on Twitter for 10 years, he had managed to amass 9,000 followers — as of today he has nearly 18,000!
Jim McGuinn, PD of The Current tells RAMP, “Our DJs started talking about the raccoon on the air (and playing ‘Rocky Raccoon,’ naturally), and pretty soon EVERY TV station in town was outside filming his exploits. There was something strangely heroic, inspiring, and just plain fascinating about watching what would happen next. Then, he climbed the entire side of the building. Social media went crazy!”
It didn’t take long before #MPRraccoon became a globally trending topic, topping even the activities in Singapore. Sometime early Wednesday morning, he finally made it to the roof, where he was humanely trapped and later dined on canned cat food. Afterwards, animal experts proclaimed that “he” was actually a -year-old female, who was then released back into the wild. McGuinn said, “Our morning show then threw the playlist over to the listeners, who may have provided the Best. Coffee. Break. Ever.”
Indeed, the Current began blasting out R.E.M.‘s “Feeling Gravity’s Pull;” The Drifters‘ “Up on the Roof;” Ike and Tina Turner‘s “I Want To Take You Higher;” Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell‘s “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough;” Franz Ferdinand‘s “Always Ascending,” and Pink Floyd‘s “Fearless.” [Raccoon photo credit: Evan Frost| MPR News]
Meanwhile, Back On Terra Firma…
With that pesky raccoon issue now settled… How would you like to work for one of the coolest music radio stations in the world? The Current is actively looking for a new Marketing Manager to succeed Matt Perkins, who recently took a job with the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, creating this amazing opportunity. Pictured, (l-r): MD David Safar, amazing human Current logo Chance The Rapper, PD Jim McGuinn and Perkins.
Since 2005 The Current has been helping redefine music radio, forging a community of artists and audience, earning unparalleled local success along with a worldwide listening audience. As Jim McGuinn tells RAMP, “The Current is a non-Comm with competitive ratings in a cool place to live! Which means we have more resources than commercial stations, beautiful facilities, an audience and clients that love us, and a community rooting for us. It’s radio the way it was meant to be, and at the same time, we’re trying to reinvent radio for the next 50 years. You better be very good, love both emerging new artists and the most critically acclaimed music of the past 50 years, and be ready to engage with an engaged audience.”
McGuinn added, “This is a great opportunity for someone who loves radio and working with a forward-thinking audience and client partners to make amazing radio and be a vital transformative force for good in a really incredible market.” You heard the man — motivated candidates may study up on the position’s qualifications and apply online for this EOE position.
