Support RADIOHEART: Donations are tax-deductible!

What’s it about?

RADIOHEART: The Drive and Times of Kevin Cole is a documentary film in production now, celebrating Kevin’s 50 years in music: both his passion for sharing it and the global community he helped to create. His is an exceptional, inspirational story of how music heals and how music matters.

RADIOHEART tells the tale of a man dedicated to shining a light on visionaries and overlooked voices. His is a gentle-but-fierce spirit, lit by internal forces of love, mindfulness, joy, drive, persistence, spirituality, and impulse; both deliberate and uncontrolled. All have propelled Kevin through his 50-year career.

We show the lasting effect Kevin has had on listeners in Minneapolis, Seattle, Reykjavik, Los Angeles, and other points across the planet: pretty much any place with Internet access and speakers plugged in.

We follow Kevin’s career from his early days in Minneapolis, first as a disco DJ at legendary Minneapolis nightclub First Ave., and then his journey through the birth and death of pioneering independent radio station REV 105. We track Kevin’s arrival in Seattle to set the culture for then-scrappy startup Amazon.com’s music store. And we join him as he steps into his roles as Director of Programming and Chief Content Officer at KEXP, with visionary leadership of the station’s on-air, online, and in-station experience. He went from being a guy who didn’t own a computer to envisioning how technology could blow away geographic boundaries. In-studio artist performances at KEXP brought live music to places that had never experienced it before. That intimacy created a deep and profound connection among listeners.

While music is the throughline in Kevin’s life, his has been a long and winding road. RADIOHEART examines obsession, addiction, sobriety, depression, running, veganism, social activism, community mental health, and, of course, that purple guitar-playing artist from Minneapolis formerly known as the “artist formerly known as.”

RADIOHEART is supported by a fiscal sponsorship with the Northwest Film Forum (NWFF). Your tax-deductible contribution to this GoFundMe will be used by NWFF to help fund the production of this powerful documentary.

What’s the plan?

Our film is in production in Seattle, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, New York, and Reykjavik. In addition to interviews, we will include archival footage, photos, and ephemera. Because the documentary is about a life spent in music, special attention will be paid to our soundtrack.

Our film crews have secured interviews with Kristin Hersh, Bob Mould, John Richards, Megan Jasper, Peter Jesperson, Charina Pitzel, Eva Walker, Nanna and Raggi from Of Monsters and Men, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, Steve McClellan, Jennifer Cast, and many more.

Next steps include hiring a story editor, music supervisor, and securing legal representation.

We intend to premiere RADIOHEART as part of the 2025-26 film festival season.

Who’s doing it?

RADIOHEART is directed and produced by Seattle filmmaker Peter Hilgendorf. A designer, musician, photographer, and filmmaker, Peter served in the US Air Force for four years before earning a degree in Communications and Media from the University of Minnesota. Peter led UX, brand, and design for teams at Amazon, Microsoft, and Rhapsody/Napster before going solo and founding Lake & Pine, a creative agency. Peter lives in West Seattle with his partner Judy, two teenagers, one dog, a half-dozen camera lenses, three turntables, and 8,000 LP records.

RADIOHEART producers include Susan Benson, Jennifer Cast, Eric Kassel, Paul Breslin, and Rebecca Staffel.

Where is the money going?

The funds raised will support paying fair, working rates for film crews in Seattle, Minneapolis, New York, and Reykjavik. Twenty-five percent (or more) will go to music licensing. We will raise enough to promote RADIOHEART to film and music festivals, achieve distribution, and do cost-effective marketing and advertising.

If we surpass our initial funding goal, we’ll be able to increase our music licensing budget and shoot for the stars.

What does success look like?

Our goal is to make a moving, inspiring, riveting, entertaining documentary that tells Kevin’s story and celebrates KEXP. We’ll submit RADIOHEART to U.S. and international film festivals and will feel successful if we’re accepted by several. We’ll expand our audience by pursuing distribution from the usual and not-so-usual suspects. Our goal is for RADIOHEART to be enjoyed by at least 150,000 viewers in its first year of availability. Many more will be much merrier!

What’s in it for me?

First and foremost, our everlasting gratitude. Plus, the heartwarming feeling that comes from supporting independent filmmakers and musicians. Last but certainly not least, you'll bask in the glow of showing your love for world-changing DJ Kevin Cole.

RADIOHEART is supported by a fiscal sponsorship with the Northwest Film Forum (NWFF). Your tax-deductible contribution to this GoFundMe will be used by NWFF to help fund the production of this powerful documentary.

No raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or returns on investment are offered in exchange for any donations made to this GoFundMe

Excited about the film?

Help us out by telling your friends and family about this fundraiser! Please share on your favorite social media platform.

Are you a KEXP superfan or a former REV 105 devotee? Consider giving $93 or $105 as a shout-out to your favorite radio station!

THANK YOU! Now go listen to KEXP.org!

Love,

Peter, Susan, Jen, Rebecca,

and the entire RADIOHEART team