On Tuesday, supporters of college radio station WUEV gathered at University of Evansville to speak out against a rumored sale of the station’s FM license. I’m glad they are keeping up the fight, as WUEV was my shining example of how college radio stations could successfully convince and educate university administrators about the relevance and importance of student radio. Back in 2006, a Save WUEV campaign worked and as a result, the station’s FM license remained under the control of University of Evansville.
Following Tuesday’s protest, University of Evansville continued to deny that WUEV has been sold. Courier and Press writes,
WUEV producer Zach Barnett mentioned on air multiple times during his radio broadcast that the station, which is owned by the University of Evansville, was being sold. UE released a statement Tuesday refuting Barnett’s on air comments stating no official agreement is in place to sell WUEV. Barnett said that he doesn’t have documentation of the sale, but his decision to talk about it on air was, instead, a call to action.
However, a statement from University of Evansville today hints strongly that negotiations are underway with a buyer for WUEV’s FM license. Most notable the line that, “Details about unsettled business decisions require a commitment to confidentiality that we must maintain for all parties involved. We understand that this precludes a full disclosure of public information. We will provide updates as we are able.”
The release also reiterates that the school may not view FM radio as a form of “21st century communications.” Courier and Press published the entire statement, which reads in part:
While there is still no official agreement in place to sell UE’s radio station, WUEV, we want to address the conversation about WUEV and what our students can expect to prepare them for a future in communications.
The idea to consider a sale of the radio station based on the future of communications is not a new one. In 2005, a sale was explored and after much consideration, we decided to retain the radio station. Now, 13 years later, we are once again examining the relevancy of the medium and exploring opportunities to enhance our curriculum through providing additional experience in 21st century communications methods.
A variety of academic departments have academic plans about how the station’s space and its equipment could be utilized to provide a student-centered multimedia and multidisciplinary experience. Those plans complement and support the already existing ESPN3 and ONB Radio Network and include podcasting, online television and video production, streaming opportunities in both audio and video capacities, and potentially more. These methods do not require maintaining a broadcast frequency, therefore, the possibility considered 13 years ago to sell the FCC license is being explored.
From this statement, it would also seem that there’s a desire for the station’s real estate on campus. All of this does not bode well for the future of FM at WUEV. Stay tuned.
KFJC Broadcasts from Two Festivals in Berlin
The station where I volunteer and DJ, Foothill College’s KFJC-FM in Los Altos Hills, California, is preparing for a couple of live remote broadcasts from Berlin, Germany. In what’s starting to become an annual tradition (KFJC traveled to Iceland and Liverpool in 2017, which I wrote about for Radio World), the station will be presenting live streaming video and audio from niche music festivals far from its home.
This time around, my KFJC colleagues are trekking to Berlin for the Reverb Rampage surf music festival (Oct. 27) and for the metal-focused Never Surrender Fest (Nov. 1, 2, and 3). As always, I’ll be watching from home, marveling at modern technology.
It’s not unusual for KFJC to do remote broadcasts from out of state (starting with SXSW in 1994 and continuing with trips to Providence, Milwaukee, and most recently Takoma Park). The station undertook its first international live remote in 1996 (Brixton, England) and its first international remote with video in 2008 (Tokyo, Japan). The fall trip to Berlin will bring the international live remote tally for the station up to 11 events.
Upcoming Events
Oct. 20 in Chicago, IL: IBS Regional Media Conference (IBS)
Oct. 25-27 in Seattle, WA: CBI’s National Student Electronic Media Convention (CBI)
Oct. 25-28 in Louisville, KY: ACP/CMA National College Media Convention (National College Media Convention)
Nov. 3 at WMLU: Virginia is for Radio 2018 Un-Conference (Facebook)
Nov. 3 at Simmons College, Boston, MA: IBS Regional Media Conference (IBS)
Nov. 10 at Nassau Community College, Garden City, NY : IBS Regional Media Conference (IBS)
Dec. 1 at Cal State Long Beach, Long Beach, CA: IBS Regional Media Conference (IBS)
More College Radio News
Rumored License Sale
University of Evansville Says No Agreement in Place to Sell WUEV (Evansville Courier and Press)
On-Air Report Suggests WUEV Was Sold for $350K (Tri-state Homepage)
WUEV Supporters Gather Today Amid Rumored College Radio License Sale (Radio Survivor)
University of Evansville Refutes WUEV On-Air Claims of Sale (Evansville Courier and Press)
UE President Talks about New Role, WUEV (Evansville Courier and Press)
UE puts out new Statement on WUEV 91.5 Radio Station (Evansville Courier and Press)
Station and DJ Profiles
Video: ASU Radio Blazes its Way to the Top (The State Press)
Radio Queen: DeVito Has Four Decade “Habit” (Roanoke Times)
Show Spotlight: Ben’s Rock Revival (The Dynamo)
WCSB DJ Cameron Rivera Picks Three Albums You Should Check Out (Cleveland.com)
Studio Upgrade
College Radio Station Dedicated to Late Morningside Professor (KCAU 9)
Professor Leaves Lasting Legacy to Morningside College Radio Station (Sioux City Journal)
Morningside College Dedicates On-Campus Radio Studio to Mark Heistad (KTIV)
Radio in Emergencies
Hurricane Michael Batters Florida; Gulf State College Radio Provides Information (US News)
College Radio History, Anniversaries and Alumni
KUPS 90.1 Celebrates its 50th Anniversary (The Trail)
WRUR in on the Air: 70 Years of College Radio at Rochester (University of Rochester)
Fanshawe College Marks 40 Years of Campus Training Radio (The London Free Press)
Alternative Songs 30th Anniversary: Are Any ’80s Bands Still Getting Played on Alt Radio? (Billboard)
KNKX: The Little Radio Station That Could (Tacoma Daily Index)
North Campus Radio Tower Still Used after WBFO Sale in 2012 (The Spectrum)
Joe Rainey Dead: Capitol Records Pop Promotion Executive Dies at 43 (Billboard)
‘The Media Rats’ Revisit WERG for Homecoming (The Gannon Knight)
Bobbito Garcia Shares Chuck D’s Appreciation for College Radio (HipHopDX)
Events
College Radio Day Rocks out at Barcadia (LSU Now)
Students Conduct Cleanup of Adopted Section of Interstate 390 (The Livingston County News)
Homecoming: Friendly Competition Fosters Creativity (Royal Purple)
Programming
WSOU’s TGFM to Interview Seton Hall University President (WSOU)
Funding and Fundraising
WIUX to Have Annual Fundraising Week (Indiana Student)
Student Vote: Brock University Student Radio Levy (The Brock Press)
Editorial: Students Need to Use Their Voice and Vote on Upcoming Referendums (The Brock Press)
Awards
Smoke Radio Success at Student Radio Award Nominations (University of Westminster)
