If you think the quality of Iowa’s radio music programming is in desperate need of repair, you’re not alone.

In fact, Iowa Public Radio and the Board of Regents may be joining forces to start exploring different ways to offer listeners the most modern, progressive musical content available.

The first step in that process is Senate Resolution 21.

Co-written by Fritz Jnker, president of the Greater Des Moines Music Coalition, the resolution states that an exciting local music economy is necessary in keeping youth in Iowa, and the overdose of commercial radio is hindering the opportunity for local music acts to be heard.

The bi-partisan resolution was requested by venues, promoters, musicians, bands and music fans who are members of the music coalition, and sponsored by Senators Jeff Lamberti and Michael Gronstal.

Its timing is perfect — the three Iowa Public Radio stations (WOI, KUNI and KUSI) will soon be merging into one organization, leaving content programming to be reshaped.

“The main idea is that as the business of radio changes, our public radio system needs to successfully adapt in order to be viable for the future,” Jnker says.

The resolution passed the Senate Rules Committee and will be debated by the full Senate in the next couple of weeks.

If passed, Jnker says the resolution would become public debate and start the process of bettering Iowa’s radio.

On the air for a little more than two months, Minnesota Public Radio’s latest addition — 89.3, The Current — is already reaping the benefits of change. During its first three weeks on the air, The Current received about $100,000 in listener contributions.

Steve Nelson, program director of The Current, says much of that success has come from what he says is one of the greatest things the station has done: playing music from local bands.

“We try to play local music every hour, and people have really responded to that,” Nelson says.

Although The Current hasn’t been on the air long enough to make any bold observations about the link between the station and the success of local bands, Martin says he has seen one accomplishment so far.

“I know at least one band actually got signed by someone hearing them on the radio,” he says. “That’s certainly not our main intent, but it just shows what having a place like this can do. If a year or two years down the road more people are going to see local music and more people hear local music, I think that would be great.”

The Current thrives on diverse playlists that are never interrupted by commercial breaks.

Nelson says he hopes this varied mix of music will continue to grow.

“One of the things that we’re trying to do is play a broad, diverse, deep selection of music and one of our goals is to have that music continue to get more broad and more deep,” he says.

A diverse selection of music is especially important to college students.

Iowa State’s student radio station, KURE 88.5, gives listeners a break from the commercial radio top 40 playlists.

Neal Buchmeyer, junior in computer engineering and music director at KURE, says the resolution may perk the ears of those who have given up on radio.

“I think it’s a good thing to get people back interested in radio because I think there’s a lot of people who have stopped listening to radio after the Clear Channel takeover,” he says.

Buchmeyer says he has his doubts on the passing of the resolution, however.

“I honestly don’t think the resolution stands a chance,” he says.”The Greater Des Moines Music Coalition does a lot to get issues out there, but I don’t think at this point Des Moines and central Iowa are really willing to accept them too much [or] take them seriously yet.”

In the meantime, if people feel passionately about changing radio in Iowa, Jnker says they should make their opinions known to three main groups: Iowa Public Radio, the Board of Regents and their elected officials.

“Let them know that this isn’t just some fluke out of the blue that a few people think is important,” he says.

[It’s important] to really live up to the full intention of this resolution and create a public debate and a public forum about radio in the state of Iowa.”