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11/1/2006 Email this article • Print this article Hmong Businessman Acquires AM 1600 KPNP By Dai Thao
Minneapolis, MN - Peter Phia Xiong, co-owner and radio show host at Hmong Minnesota Radio has recently
purchased "Minority Radio" 1600 AM, to serve the underserved communities in the Twins Cities. Mr. Xiong was a successful broker and property investor before he and three partners created Hmong
Minnesota Radio, a low band station requiring the use of a special radio, in 2003. For Mr. Xiong what was once a dream is
now a thriving business - serving the Hmong community with news, entertainment, and cultural programming. In recent years
the Hmong Minnesota Radio has connected the homebound and elderly. It has made their universe smaller and a lot less lonely.
It has created a community within the Hmong community for those who long for the sweet sound of Hmong songs, culture, and
information on world events.
Hmong
newspapers and radio have become part of the Hmong American culture and a tool to reach thousands of people. "Radio can
change a person's mind like any other media," said Mr. Xiong. "The media becomes so powerful that it can make a
person happy or mad. It could move a community forward, faster." Studies have shown that people learn differently. Some
learn visually and others through sound. Hmong has a rich oral tradition of history and stories passed down from one generation
to the next, which is similar to radio, only more mobile. Mr. Xiong agreed, "Many of the Minority communities are learning
by hearing rather than by reading. It is so easy to listen to radio, people can listen in their car while traveling, in their
kitchen while cooking, doing laundry, etc." No one knows how long Hmong Minnesota Radio will be running. According to a source who asked
to remain anonymous, "Minnesota Public Radio (MPR), who owns their low -band frequency has attempted to shut down Hmong
Minnesota Radio, but so far has failed. It seems like MPR is threatened by Hmong Minnesota Radio's presence on the radio.
It feels like they want to keep radio to only their people." Mr. Xiong remains a partner in Hmong Minnesota Radio and continues to
host his evening program while being the sole host for the programs on AM 1600. Getting into the radio business and obtaining airtime has
been a difficult journey up to this point. There are always obstacles according to Mr. Xiong. Using his past experience, Mr.
Xiong has designed AM 1600 to serve the Somali, Lao, Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Hmong communities everyday from 8:00 A.M.
- 6:00 P.M. "We would like the Minority Community to feel like they have a home here and give the mainstream the opportunity
to reach the Minority Community," said Mr. Xiong. Even with the slogan "One message reaches all," operating a
radio station is an expansive business and Mr. Xiong is the only staff for now. He said money is not his priority. He is more interested in educating, informing and entertaining the community. Money is a
by-product of servicing the community. And he believes the community can support Minority Radio 1600 AM. "In my opinion,
a dollar invested in radio programming to the Minority community is worth more than $100 invested into flyers and brochures.
1600 AM belongs to the Minority Community and I strongly believe that the Minority community can support it." 1600 AM is believe to be the second Hmong owned radio station
in the United States. The first is a Fresno station owned by Su Thao. Currently the AM 1600's best reception is in Minneapolis
or Hennepin County. All the shows and programming are done at AM 1600's studio in Brooklyn Center and then sent to a tower
west of the metro area. For now the distance from the tower to St. Paul is just too great to get quality reception. This is
something that Mr. Xiong is working to correct. Hours and schedule are posted on their website at www.kpnp1600.com
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