It’s been an interesting few months for Pirate Cat Radio to say the least. As we reported, the online-only community radio station broadcasting out of a cafe in San Francisco was taken off the air by its founder Daniel “Monkey Man” Roberts after a contentious call with Pirate Cat volunteers back in February. Roberts, who […]
Archive | Community Radio
What makes a community radio music program great?
The National Federation of Community Broadcasters’ 36th Annual Community Radio Conference is coming up in San Francisco. It will run from Wednesday, June 1, through Saturday. Among the workshops and panels is a Friday session titled “Great Music Programs,” in which three great music programmers will talk about how to make them happen. They are […]
What I would do to Save KPFA, by Brian Edwards-Tiekert
Following former Pacifica National board member Carol Spooner’s commentary on what’s going on at KPFA, station programmer Brian Edwards-Tiekert contacted me, asking that I publish his perspective on the station. Edwards-Tiekert is a former staff representative to the KPFA Local Station Board, and was the co-host of KPFA’s Morning Show until Pacifica Executive Director Arlene […]
What’s the problem at KPFA? by Carol Spooner
At the request of KPFA programmer Peter Phillips, I am posting this public statement by Carol Spooner, former Pacifica National Board member. It offers Spooner’s assessment of why layoffs were necessary at KPFA. I am not sure whether Spooner will approve of this posting. In a separate statement, she has accused me of “Glenbeckian” distortions […]
Chicago’s Latino community radio station Radio Arte up for sale
In a scenario that’s becoming too familiar to Radio Survivor readers, the Chicago-based Latino community radio station Radio Arte is now up for sale by its parent organization, the National Museum of Mexican Art. In fiscal year 2009 the museum reported a deficit of $677,121, and according to President Carlos Tortolero the museum has been […]
Prometheus Radio Spreads the Word about LPFM with Radio Summer
This summer there will be plenty of opportunities to not only learn about how to build your own radio station (see Paul’s post about Free Radio Berkeley’s “Build Your Own Radio Station” summer camp), but there will also be events focused on spreading the word about low power FM (LPFM) and upcoming opportunities for those […]
KUSF in Exile Hits Terrestrial Airwaves over WFMU
While those opposing the sale of University of San Francisco’s college radio station KUSF continue to apply pressure to the FCC and the University of San Francisco in hopes of preventing the transfer of the college radio station to Classical Public Radio Network; former KUSF DJs are maintaining their broadcasting chops out of temporary digs […]
Build your own FM transmitter at Free Radio Berkeley’s Summer Radio Camp
Although Free Radio Berkeley has not been an operational radio station for over a decade, founder Stephen Dunifer continues to champion the cause of unlicensed micropower radio. In this spirit FRB just announced its 2011 schedule of summer radio camps. Each camp is a four-day workshop where participants learn to build a 10- or 40-watt […]
The five things I do when I hear weird music on the radio
Not long ago I was driving down the San Francisco Bay Area’s Highway 280 and listening to Foothills Junior College’s KFJC-FM, and some really weird music came on. I tried to get what it was from the deejay’s back-announce commentary, but got distracted by traffic. Anyway, it sounded like Karlheinz Stockhausen’s piece for String Quartet […]
Common Frequency Event Brings Together Community and College Stations for Education and Discussions on Future of Radio
On Saturday I headed out to Davis, California for a full day of radio immersion thanks to Common Frequency. I’ve been a fan of Common Frequency for awhile, so it was great to be able to not only learn more about their organization, but also meet some of the radio groups who they are helping. […]