I hope you caught the plethora of college radio coverage on Radio Survivor this week. I shared my final radio station field trip report from 2015, which recounts my visit to University of San Francisco’s college radio station KUSF.org. It’s been 5 years since KUSF lost its FM signal and it was reassuring to see that the radio tradition is alive and well on campus.
Additionally, I joined Eric and Paul for the entire Radio Survivor Podcast this week and the whole episode should be of interest to college radio fans. We talked about Seton Hall University station WSOU’s blizzard broadcasts, speculated about the shutdown of Columbia University station WKCR’s online stream, and also delved into the FCC’s forthcoming online public file requirements.
We also shared a fascinating guest post this week from Erik O’Brien. Erik writes about how the introduction of automation software at University of Utah’s college radio station K-UTE didn’t go so well. Finally, Matthew gives more perspective on the changes at University of Massachusetts, Amherst’s college radio station WMUA. He argues that the reduction of some non-student shows will mean that the station will lose some of its diversity (particularly related to the age of programmers).
In other news this week…
College Radio Stations WKNC, WXYC , WXDU and WUAG Rally to Help Local Venue
I LOVE hearing stories about college radio stations working together and it warms my heart that four stations in North Carolina banded together to help a music venue that’s in dire shape financially. According to The Technician, “The ‘Save the Pinhook’ concert series, hosted by the college radio stations, is part of this massive [fundraising] effort. On Wednesday, WKNC presented the first show in the four night series. The stacked lineup that night included the highly-danceable headliners, Sylvan Esso, and bluegrass maestros, The Chatham County Line.”
CIUT Embraces Student Podcasting
University of Toronto’s radio station CIUT-FM has been around since 1965 and has a schedule full of programming run by both students and community members. According to the Strand, the number of students at CIUT has been increasing in recent years and that has led to new initiatives, including podcasting. The piece quotes Station manager and program director Ken Stowar, who argues that, “Podcasts are the fastest growing part of our website.” Additionally, “Stowar is calling for students to experiment with podcasts and produce the content they and their peers are missing from the FM dial today,” reports the Strand.
NextRadio Partners with IBS for Student Radio Spot Competition
From now until February 12, students are invited to submit radio spots promoting the NextRadio App. Winning commercials will be included in a future radio campaign set to launch on March 1st. Additionally, the creator of the 1st place commercial will be awarded travel, lodging, and registration at the upcoming Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) conference in New York City, according to All Access. Radio Survivor readers may recall that NextRadio previously partnered with College Broadcasters Inc. (CBI) on a similar contest last year. We played some of the winning spots on the Radio Survivor Podcast too.
KBGA’s Annual Fundraising “Thon”
Missoulian writes that University of Montana’s college radio station KBGA is in the midst of its annual on-air “Thon,” during which the station hopes to bring in $20,000 in donations. During the fundraiser, which runs through February 6, DJs will be doing various challenges, including one related to tattoo designs. The Thon culminates in a live concert on Saturday, February 6. I was also interested to read that KBGA has around 100 active DJs, with a bigger group of up to 400 individuals who help out occasionally.
WGSU Covers Tragic Breaking News on Campus
Michael Saffran from State University of New York at Geneseo writes a poignant piece for Radio World about how the college radio station stepped up to cover breaking news about a tragic double murder/suicide involving students from the small school. He writes, “Wadsworth Street, where the murders happened, lies practically in the shadow of campus radio station WGSU’s antenna and tower, across University Drive and behind the library.” Students worked to quickly cover the breaking news and “the station’s student news director and assistant news director produced a special report focusing on the victims.” WGSU also took part in several college “moments of silence” and aired a remembrance ceremony.
