On this week’s Radio Survivor Podcast I discuss the recent changes at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s college radio station KCPR. Tune in starting at around the 16 minute mark to hear my College Radio Watch segment. KCPR was one of the first college radio stations that I visited for my field trip series. Speaking of which, my latest station visit, a trip to see WHBC at Howard University in Washington, D.C. is now posted. It’s a fascinating station in that it has a very close relationship with Howard’s commercial radio station WHUR-FM and operates much like a training ground for the professionally-run station.
Also this week, Greg Barman’s series about the history of radio at Indiana University concludes with a piece about the WIUS reunions. Alumni DJs will be taking over Indiana University’s college radio station WIUX-LP starting this afternoon and there will also be a station alumni picnic on Saturday at the station house in Bloomington, Indiana. Reunion details can be found on the Indiana University Campus Radio Alumni Association website.
I’ve written a bit about Nikki Marra’s college radio road trip documentary. Well, she got some nice press on Fred Jacobs’ blog, partaking in a Q&A about the road trip and college radio in general. In response to one of his questions, Marra writes about the passion that participants have for college radio, saying, “College radio, like radio in general, is a fraternity. It was summer when I traveled through these states and none of these stations were off the air. They were fully functioning, run by students who wanted to spend their summer vacation in the studio. No one was ever at a loss for words about how much they care about their radio program, about the next great bit idea, or how college radio changed their lives forever. That is something very special.”
CBI Session Proposals Due by August 1
For those planning to attend the annual College Broadcasters Inc. confab in Minneapolis this October (official title: The National Student Electronic Media Convention), time is running out for the submission of session proposals. If you have an idea for a panel, round-table, or for another creative idea, be sure to send in a formal proposal by August 1st.
Profiling WMUL
As part of its ongoing series of Q&A’s with college radio folks, CMJ posted an interview with the Music Director of Marshall University’s college radio station WMUL this week. Located in Huntington, West Virginia, the station has been very supportive of local music, ranging from Americana to pop-punk.
College Radio LPFM News
University of Wisconsin – La Crosse Turns Back Construction Permit
As I wrote in yesterday’s LPFM Watch column, on July 13, the University of Wisconsin’s Board of Regents surrendered its construction permit for a new low power FM college radio station in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Back in June, 2014 we wrote that there was some grumbling on campus that perhaps the original application was submitted without the full knowledge of the school (this point of view is up for debate). The school currently runs online radio station Raq Radio.
Construction Permits Running Out for Some College Radio LPFMs, including Washington College
It’s been more than 18 months since the first construction permits were issued for new LPFM stations that were part of the fall 2013 filing window. This means that some permits are expiring, including a few affiliated with college radio stations. Among the expired permits is Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland, whose construction permit expired on July 16, 2015. According to its application, the station was planned to be student-oriented, with a variety of programs including radio theatre.
Other college radio stations holding LPFM construction permits should take a look at REC Networks’ list of soon-to-expire permits to make sure that you either get on the air before the deadline or you file an extension of up to 18 months with the FCC.
Some of the construction permits that could potentially expire this month if a request for an extension is not made include: National Park Community College in Hot Springs, AR (expires on July 30, 2015), Southeast Arkansas College in Pine Bluff, AR (expires on July 30, 2015), Mid-South Community College in West Memphis, AR (expires on July 29, 2015), Luther College in Decorah, IA (expires on July 27, 2015), Delta State University in Cleveland, MS (expires on July 27, 2015), and Rocky Mountain College in Billings, MT (expires on July 28, 2015).
A Few Licenses to Change Hands…
FCC Approves Assignment of KCFS to Badlands Pawn Owner
In May we wrote about University of Sioux Falls’ plan to sell its license for college radio station KCFS at 94.5 FM in Sioux Falls, South Dakota to Badlands Airtime. The FCC has approved the license assignment as well as the request to convert KCFS from a non-commercial educational radio station to a commercial radio station. Under Badlands Airtime’s control, it’s expected that the station will become part of the new “Guns, Gold & Rock ‘n Roll” network.
Spring Arbor University to Sell KTGG-AM License to West Central Michigan Media Ministries
Spring Arbor University, which has historically run a number of Christian radio stations, has submitted paperwork with the FCC to sell the license for KTGG-AM in Spring Arbor, Michigan to West Central Michigan Media Ministries for a purchase price of $230,000. Back in December, 2013, we reported on the school’s plans to sell off another of its AM licenses for WJKN-AM to Jackson Lansing Catholic Radio. At the time, the school used the AM stations to train beginning radio students.
Alaska Bible College to Assign KCAM-FM to Joy Media Ministries
It’s interesting that both of the new college radio transactions that I’m reporting on this week involve stations that air religious programming and that in both cases it appears that the stations will maintain some sort of religious format. Alaska Bible College in Glennallen, Alaska filed paperwork with the FCC to assign its KCAM-FM license to Joy Media Ministries. The station currently plays “Christian hits.”
We cover the culture of college radio every Friday in our College Radio Watch feature. If you have college radio news to share, please drop us a note at EDITORS at RADIOSURVIVOR dot COM.
