Summer break is rapidly drawing to a close and college campuses will soon be a buzz of activity as students return for the fall semester. I’ve been on my own break, traveling to the Pacific Northwest (which also allowed me to record last week’s Radio Survivor Podcast live in the studio in Portland, Oregon!), so last week’s College Radio Watch was atypical in that it didn’t include a run-down of the week’s college radio news. Because of that, this week’s edition is largely a collection of college radio news from the past few weeks. As a bonus, my college radio field trips have resumed and I have a few station reports to share: one audio and one written.
Vampire Weekend Member Shares College Radio Memories
In an interview with Billboard, musician Chris Baio of Vampire Weekend shares some advice for college students, including a few college radio memories. While a student at Columbia he DJ’d and was Music Director at college radio station WBAR (see my tour here). Of that time, he says,
I loved doing college radio. I would spend all week getting ready to do a show on the internet from 2 to 4 a.m. for zero to three listeners. But during my two hours there, I’d get to go through this incredible, well-curated library and just listen to stuff. That’s where I think I was able to form a lot of my tastes. I sort of stopped making music from the time I was 18 to the time I was 21, and I think that was very important for me, now when I think about what I like and what I listen to.”
Contest Asks Students to Create Ads for NextRadio
Additionally, College Broadcaster’s Inc. announced details of a competition related to the promotion of FM radio app NextRadio (we spoke about the app, which allows smartphone users to listen to FM radio, on a recent Radio Survivor Podcast). Students (the contest is open to full-time college students) are being invited to craft 60 second commercials promoting NextRadio and the winning student will receive a paid trip to CBI’s Student Electronic Media Convention in Minneapolis this October.
This is all part of a broader campaign, supported by the National Association of Broadcasters. According a statement by Paul Brenner, President of NextRadio, “Currently, 50,000-70,000 radio spots run each month supporting the NAB National Awareness Campaign, which launched in February. This is a huge opportunity for students to have their radio spot played nationally among thousands of broadcast stations and heard by millions. We will get the opportunity to showcase rising talent for the radio industry.”
The contest runs from August 17th through September 18th and complete rules and submission information can be found on the NextRadio website.
And, speaking of the CBI convention, finalists for the organization’s National Student Production Awards will begin to be announced on Monday, August 17th on the CBI website.
Recapping Radio Survivor’s College Radio Coverage from the Past Two Weeks
Touring WGMU at George Mason University
A recap of my spring field trip to the college radio station in Fairfax, Virginia
An Audio Tour of KWVA at University of Oregon on the Radio Survivor Podcast
It’s my first audio tour! I chat about my visit to KWVA and share clips from my interview with its General Manager
Princeton Review’s 2016 List of the 20 “Most Popular” College Radio Stations
My annual analysis of the “methodology” behind this list, which is based on student surveys
Radio and Bicycles: Can They Help Each Other?
College radio station WKNC to host a bike race and scavenger hunt
College Radio Watch: A Unicorn on FM – Commercial College Radio
Did you know that there are commercially-licensed college radio stations?
College Radio Playlist Reports and College Radio’s Role in the Record Industry
I look back at some vintage college radio playlist reports
The History of College Radio at Women’s Colleges on the Radio Survivor Podcast
Did you know that at least three women’s colleges claim to have the oldest women’s college radio station?
Other College Radio News
UM Moves to Purchase Stephens College Radio Station
University of Missouri is purchasing KWWC-FM from Stephens College for use as a classical radio station. KWWC has aired a jazz and 80s format and according to the Stephens College website, “We are in the process of transferring the 90.5 radio frequency to the University of Missouri to be operated as part of the KBIA radio family. We will continue to broadcast cool jazz and Awesome 80s programming until this transition is complete sometime in the first quarter of 2015. Thank you all for your loyal patronage to KWWC, and we encourage you to continue to support Stephens College radio as we convert to our online format.”
Could Ottawa University Station Move from FM to Podcasts?
University considers moving student radio station KTJO in Ottawa, Kansas off FM
Is College Radio Still Viable?
Radio World reports on sessions at the Broadcast Education Association convention
Missed Opportunity: UW-L Surrenders Low Power Radio License
The LaCrosse Tribune gives more back story on University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s decision to turn back its new LPFM license
University Graduate Takes Charge of Campus Radio Station
The Washington Times profiles a few of the student (and alumni) leaders at Mississippi State University’s college radio station WMSV-FM (which we wrote about a few weeks back)
1989 College Radio Promo for Alice in Chains Concert
Consequence of Sound shared recently unearthed footage from a 1989 Alice in Chains concert, along with a promo from Washington State University’s college radio station.
East Mississippi Community College Launches Radio Station
New student-run LPFM station, WGTC, plans for broadcasts after being granted a construction permit last December
The Soundtrack to Penn State: The Lion 90.7 FM
Profiling the college radio station, which recently moved to new digs.
Q&A with WXTJ Student Managers
Learning about plans for the new LPFM college radio station at University of Virginia
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.
