The Current Promotes David Safar to Head of Music, Artist and Label Relations

Jan 29, 2019

ST. PAUL, Minn., Jan. 29, 2019 – The Current announced it has promoted music director David Safar to the new role of Head of Music, Artist and Label Relations for The Current. In this new role, David is responsible for leading the direction of the music on The Current, The Current’s streams, and curation on digital platforms. This position will select music for airplay, manage the extensive music library, and maintain contacts with record labels and the music industry. 

“David has a passion for our audience, and he has far exceeded the skills and scope of the role of a traditional radio music director,” said Jim McGuinn, program director, The Current. “As we expand The Current enterprise in new directions, David will lead us in crafting our sound and creating content that speaks to our audiences across our platforms.”

The title change reflects the growth David has exhibited through his 12 years at The Current and last seven as music director, and more accurately describes the changing nature of his work and The Current. Over the past few years he has helped create and manage new activities such as Microshows and Live Video Streamcasts. Additionally, he has booked and managed The Current’s activities at SXSW and Iceland Airwaves, and managed the booking of more than a thousand sessions and live performances. The primary contact for artists and labels seeking airplay on the Current, Safar oversees The Current’s local music initiative and hosts The New Hot weekly radio show as he leads the music discovery efforts on air for the radio station. 

"I'm honored to be part of the talented team at The Current,” Safar said. “It's a place where there is endless passion to serve music fans in our region and beyond. Our concert streams, podcasts, and live experiences are just some of the ways The Current has grown beyond the airwaves."

Safar has played a key role in developing the strategic direction for the future of the Current, and in executing the tactics that roll up to that strategy. He has expanded the New Hot show, and his picks for that show and the weekly adds to the station playlist are followed and emulated around the country. 

“We are often lauded for making our adventurous programming succeed,” McGuinn said. “David has been a major architect to achieve the balance between music discovery and celebration that has led to industry leading ratings, audience, and critical acclaim.”

Safar has been named Non-Comm AAA Music Director of the Year nationally three times, and along with entire team from The Current, he has contributed greatly to the station winning the national Station of the Year award ten of the past 11 years. 

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About The Current
The Current® is a non-commercial, listener-supported radio station from Minnesota Public Radio® that brings listeners the best authentic new music alongside the music that inspired it. Presenting local to legendary, indie to influential, new to nostalgic, The Current® has helped launch and support more than 600 Minnesota artists during its 14-year history. The Current Sessions® host live performances of emerging and well-established artists recorded in MPR’s Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio. The Current® online is also home to four additional streams: Local Current (all-Minnesota music); Radio Heartland (acoustic, Americana and roots music); Rock the Cradle (music for kids and their grownups); and Purple Current, a stream introduced in 2018 exploring the music of Prince’s legacy. Visit thecurrent.org to learn more and find a complete list of stations.