I continue to be impressed by the number of colleges and universities who applied for new LPFM radio licenses in the fall 2013 window. As I wrote in LPFM Watch yesterday, in the past few weeks a handful of college radio stations were granted construction permits for new LPFMs. By my count, this brings the total number of newly granted college radio LPFMs to 63.
The most recent permits went to Visible Music College (Memphis, TN), Lasell College Radio (Auburndale, MA), Kentucky State University (Frankfort, KY) and Morton College (Cicero, IL). You can read more about these applicants in yesterday’s LPFM Watch column.
Former WRVU DJs to Launch LPFM station
Another of the newly granted construction permits goes to WRVU Friends and Family in Nashville. This group of WRVU fans and alumni originally formed in order to fight the sale of the FM license for Vanderbilt’s college radio station WRVU, but will now launch a new community radio station. Although the WRVU FM license was sold to Nashville Public Radio, WRVU.org has continued as a student-run online station at Vanderbilt.
A number of college radio stations are still in the running for new LPFMs and we’ll continue to monitor their progress.
KURE Being Asked to Leave its Dorm Basement Home
After 65 years in the same dormitory (in various locations), Iowa State’s student radio station KURE is being asked to leave its home. According to the Ames Tribune, the station must move out by summer 2015. The article states that,
The ultimatum from ISU’s Department of Residence, which caught members of KURE off-guard, was made because of concerns the station has long outgrown its status as a residence hall organization and no longer meets the requirements to operate in a dorm because it is open to non-residents and broadcasts throughout the city of Ames.
In part because of student turnover at the station and related miscommunication with a now-former faculty adviser, most were unaware that a deadline was first brought up about three years ago. But Pete Englin, ISU director of residence, said he recalled that even when he served as a faculty co-adviser for KURE in the early 1990s, there was off-and-on discussion about the need to find a new home for the station.”
KWCW General Manager Chats about Dealing with FCC Violations
CMJ ran a really helpful interview with the General Manager of Whitman College radio station KWCW in Walla Walla, Washington. Nicole Holoboff talks to CMJ about she and her station navigated through some public file issues and explained that the station had a positive experience dealing with the administration, lawyers, and the FCC and ultimately worked to reduce the potential fines.
WMLU Profile
Longwood University radio station WMLU was profiled in the Rotunda, following its move to a new building. Located in Farmville, Virginia, WMLU airs NPR programming over its FM signal and has student-run music programming on its online stream.
WESU Film Honor its 75th Anniversary
Earlier this year we wrote about Wesleyan University station WESU-FM‘s 75th anniversary and I was thrilled to see that the station produced a short film (8 minutes and 81 seconds long as a nod to its 88.1 FM frequency) in honor of this significant event. It features interviews with some of the station’s founders as well as some great vintage photos. In other news, WESU is currently beginning its fundraiser in order to support studio upgrades.
New Book Explores College Radio Around the World
I wish that my Spanish was better, as I’m eager to read a new book, Las Radios Universitarias en America y Europa, that focuses on college radio in Europe and the Americas. Its chapters delve into U.S. college radio history, as well as topics related to university radio in Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, and more.
College Radio Watch runs every Friday on Radio Survivor. We welcome your story ideas and tips to EDITORS at RADIOSURVIVOR dot com.
