On a drizzly Columbus Day morning, I arrived at the Day Theater in Portland, Oregon to visit community radio station Portland Radio Project. The welcoming message on the marquee read: “PORTLAND RADIO PROJECT 99,1 A LOCAL BAND EVERY 15 MINUTES,” proudly proclaiming the presence of the low power FM radio station that was housed within.
Portland Radio Project sign on marquee in front of Day Theater. Photo: J. Waits
The streets were quiet on the block, which contained an interesting mix of businesses, including a frame shop/art gallery on the ground floor of the Day Theater, a marijuana dispensary next door and a gun shop across the street.
Portland Radio Project sign in ground floor window, reflecting view of street. Photo: J. Waits
A steep flight of stairs leads to the upper level of the building, where a dance studio shares quarters with Portland Radio Project aka KSFL-LP 99.1 FM. Percussive sounds emanated from the dance space, where I imagined tap dancers at work. Tucked into two rooms, the station is comprised of a compact on-air studio, hallway and neighboring production room.
Production studio at Portland Radio Project. Photo: J. Waits
The studio is fairly spartan, with a board, a dedicated music computer loaded with the station’s automation system, an internet-enabled computer, turntable, microphones, and monitor speakers. A handful of vinyl records were tucked in a corner, left behind by visiting artists or sent to the station for airplay. A credenza holds office supplies, some station promotional items, and a coffee pot. Mic stands are stacked in a corner adjacent to an intentionally boarded up window, covered by decorative curtains. DJs used to have a view to the street below, but the constant traffic rumble, particularly from trucks, proved to be problematic, as the sound bled into the studio.
On-air studio at community radio station Portland Radio Project. Photo: J. Waits
DJ Nastacia Voisin had just wrapped up her three hour weekly Monday morning program and stuck around to provide me with the low-down on the station. A volunteer since 2015, Voisin began as an intern after graduating from University of Portland. She worked at the campus newspaper and got her first radio experience volunteering at community radio station KBOO (see my tour). It turns out that University of Portland has a policy that students can only participate in one student media outlet, so she was unable to work at college radio station KDUP (see my tour) while working on the newspaper.
Portland Radio Project’s Nastacia Voisin in the studio. Photo: J. Waits
Voisin recounted that when she arrived at Portland Radio Project, the station was mainly focused on music, but was adding more public affairs and talk programming, including the Community Voices show about local non-profits that she still helps produce. Voisin ran down the variety of roles that she plays at the station, saying, “I wear a lot of hats.” In addition to her music show (her program emphasizes local artists and upcoming shows), she’s also the station’s podcast coordinator, as well as the producer for the Cybercast Oregon show in collaboration with Mt. Hood Community College.
On-air studio at Portland Radio Project. Photo: J. Waits
Beginning as a streaming radio station in October, 2013, Portland Radio Project started as a reaction against the dearth of public service-oriented commercial radio stations following years of media consolidation. My colleague Paul Riismandel spoke with co-founder Rebecca Webb and marketing staffer Carrie Kikel during the early stages of the station and provides some great backstory. He writes of their ambitious goals back in 2013, saying, “They’re not looking to serve a small niche of listeners. ‘We’re trying to draw a mass audience,’ Webb said, ‘using a proven radio format: folk, rock and blues. Interjected in that programming are elements of information and news.'”
Rebecca Webb in lobby of Day Theater building. Photo: J. Waits
Interestingly, during Riismandel’s chat, he shared word of the LPFM application window. He writes, “Then the three of us got into a discussion about the upcoming low-power FM licensing window, which prompted Webb and Kikel to start rethinking the option of a terrestrial signal. Webb said she was going to investigate the option. Several days later she sent a follow-up email saying ‘an LPFM app is now in the offing.'”
Portland Radio Project sign in building lobby. Photo: J Waits
Quickly granted a time-shared LPFM channel in 2014, Portland Radio Project was winning awards for its news programming even before its FM debut in 2015. On the Radio Survivor Podcast #6 in July, 2015, we took a closer look at the station’s transition from online to FM broadcasting. Flash forward to 2018 and Portland Radio Project is now the sole inhabitant of its low power FM channel in Portland, Oregon after its time-share partner, Q Center, departed in fall, 2016.
Birthday greetings at Portland Radio Project. Photo: J. Waits
Broadcasting over 99.1 FM around the clock, Portland Radio Project’s mission today is focused on a mix of music, local artists, and engagement with the Portland non-profit community. The website states:
Along with a fresh mix of new rock/indie/pop/R&B/Soul and Hip Hop, and special shows dedicated to alternative, jazz and country, we play a local artist every 15 minutes! It’s a new model for radio: a true, independent and sustainable radio station/stream that serves as a cultural hub, reflecting and reacting to listeners. Our mission is to give a voice to local musicians, nonprofits and small businesses – engaging and mentoring new generations of arts lovers and community supporters.
Posters and flyers for local events posted in Portland Radio Project’s hallway. Photo: J. Waits
Some of the programs on the schedule include shows centered around music subcultures (“Subculture”), proto punk (“Radio After Death”), Portland artists, country, and indie rock. When there isn’t a scheduled show or a live DJ, automation software takes over. A music curation team creates “music logs,” which are essentially curated playlists utilizing both algorithms and hand-picked tracks aligned with the time of day and type of music, according to Voisin. Describing it as “rough curation,” she explained that newer DJs can also stick to the programmed music logs, adding that, “It’s like a river of music” that one can dip in and out of during one’s show.
Sound board in Portland Radio Project’s on-air studio. Photo: J. Waits
In addition to the logged digital music, some hosts also play vinyl or pull material from their own collections (Portland Radio Project doesn’t have a physical music library). Live DJs mostly come in after 5pm, as it’s a volunteer operation and most folks have day jobs. During my visit I heard a lot about plans for the station’s growing roster of podcasts, including the Portland-specific “Joyride,” which will deal with transportation, including deep conversations about ethics, access, and more. On the Friday “Podcast Co-op” show, the station airs a collection of public affairs shows, which are also available on-demand as podcasts.
Audio equipment in Portland Radio Project studio. Photo: J. Waits
As we wrapped up our visit, Voisin spoke passionately about the station, telling me what she loves about Portland Radio Project, revealing, “I’m just in love with the mission statement…my deepest goal as a journalist is to figure out a way of using media for what I believe is one of its true purposes is, which is giving a voice to those who don’t have a voice….and being able to fulfill that on a daily or weekly basis by playing local musicians and featuring non-profits and businesses from the area.”
View into production studio at Portland Radio Project. Photo: J. Waits
Voisin added that she also enjoys collaborating with fellow volunteers, saying, “The work itself is beautiful and…hopefully we’re building something that is meaningful outside of just our little collective…”
Equipment and vinyl in studio at community radio station Portland Radio Project. Photo: J. Waits
Thanks so much to Nastacia Voisin for taking the time to chat with me about Portland Radio Project and to Rebecca Webb for setting up the visit. This is my 150th radio station tour report overall and 30th community radio station field trip report. See the full collection of tours on the Radio Stations Tour page.
