A couple of university-held radio station license sales are in the works, although student involvement seems to be minimal at both college radio stations. YourErie reports that the oldies station WMCE-FM at Mercyhurst University is going to maintain its format when the license transitions to the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM). According to YourErie:
LECOM officials said it is their intention to preserve the Oldies format that highlights the classic hits of the 60s, 70s and 80s…Further, LECOM will feature its multifaceted health and educational system by airing numerous aspects of LECOM Health. The sale follows a yearlong analysis by Mercyhurst University of options for converting WMCE to a student-run radio station. During that time, the university determined that its students’ academic and career interests are geared more toward emerging digital technologies like podcasting.
It’s a bit disheartening that plans for student-run radio were ditched, particularly since a student-oriented radio station can certainly embrace the “emerging digital technologies” that are attracting the interest of Mercyhurst students.
In similar news, Samford University is selling the FM license for its jazz radio station WVSU-FM to the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. A statement on the Samford University website reads in part:
The station will keep the jazz format while adding programs that feature traditional jazz with special emphasis on Alabama artists. Samford has operated WVSU-FM as a Federal Communications Commission-licensed station since 1978. Through the years, the station has served as a training ground for students in the university’s Department of Journalism and Mass Communication. That includes the station’s current general manager Andy Parrish, a 1993 graduate of Samford University.
It’s unclear what the level of student involvement has been in recent years, although the Samford University marketing department (which manages the radio station) website states, “A full-time general manager oversees the station, which often serves as a hands-on learning laboratory for students.”
Ultimately, it sounds like good news for both the Mercyhurst and the Samford radio stations, as they will maintain the formats that have been enjoyed by their listening audiences. Additionally, the new license holders in both cases have education-related missions.
More College Radio News
Copyright, Streaming
Community Broadcaster: Yale Case Reminds that Copyright is Crucial (Radio World)
License Sales
Samford Selling its Smooth Jazz Station (All Access)
Samford to Transfer WVSU-FM to Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame (Samford University)
LECOM Aquires Mercyhurst Radio Station WMCE (YourErie)
Anniversaries
Phoenix Radio Celebrates 10th Anniversary (Queensland Times)
WRFL 30th Anniversary as University of Kentucky’s College Radio Station (Lexington Herald Leader)
Happy 30th Anniversary WRFL (Ace Weekly)
Moves
Student Radio Station Set to Move This Year (GWU-Today)
Profiles of Stations, Programming, Personnel
Nearly 40 Years with Maddog at WONC (NC Clinked)
Tuning in to Campus Radio Tradition at WCNI (The College Voice: Connecticut College)
New Shows over Charles Sturt University Station (Western Advocate)
Accolades, Certifications
WSOU Inducted into Rock Radio Hall of Fame (New Jersey Stage)
Lake Land College Broadcasting Students Earn Radio Marketing Professional Certificate (Effingham Daily News)
