This week I learned about college radio station WUTS-FM relinquishing its license, likely out of fear of receiving large FCC fines for public file violations. A letter dated December 24, 2019 from University of the South to the FCC states, “On behalf of the University of the South, Licensee of Radio Station WUTS-FM at Sewanee, […]
Archive | Noncommercial Radio
Podcast #234 – Community Access Radio in New Zealand
In New Zealand a dozen partially government-funded radio stations are charged with providing access to under-represented groups and communities. Wellington Access Radio, situated in New Zealand’s capital city, was the first station of its kind in that country, and station manager Kristen Paterson tells us more about its history and mission. Kristen explains the funding […]
College Radio Watch: College Radio Night in L.A., KUMD Sale and More News
It’s super inspiring to hear about college radio stations collaborating on projects and events. The latest example is an upcoming College Radio Night in Los Angeles, featuring participation by eight college radio stations. The February 27th event will also include guest panels as well as live music. Radio stations taking part include KCSN, UCLA Radio, […]
College Radio Watch: Saving HBCU Radio History and More News
On last week’s Radio Survivor show, my colleague Eric Klein did a fascinating interview with Eric Nuzum about the podcasting landscape. In the wide-ranging conversation, Nuzum talks about his college radio past at Kent State University in the mid-to-late 1980s. I love a college radio origin story, so it was fun to hear about his […]
Podcast #232 – Documenting & Preserving Radio at HBCUs
Scholar Jocelyn Robinson says about one-third of Historically Black Colleges and Universities have radio stations. Her mission is to survey them and help preserve their histories and recorded legacies through the HBCU Radio Station Archival Survey Project, which she directs. On this episode Robinson tells us about this project, and explains why it’s important to […]
College Radio Watch: 1980s College Radio Flashback and More News
In a testament to college radio’s influence at the time; a 1990 piece in the Village Voice includes colorful trash-talking about the 1980s college radio scene. Republished this week, 1980-1989: Pop Goes the Decade carries the byline “Eddie Gorodetsky, as ranted to Jan Hoffman.” The comedy writer/comic collector/pop culture commentator touches on many things in […]
College Radio Watch: Student Radio at the Super Bowl and More News
As you sit down to watch the Super Bowl this Sunday, take a moment to think about the college radio stations who have been on the scene at “Radio Row” this week in anticipation of this major sporting and media event. Amid all the major broadcasters, students are also in the mix, doing interviews and […]
College Radio Watch: Mapping U.S. Radio and More News
I’ve often dreamed of a college radio map, so I absolutely love the radio visualizations crafted by Erin Davis. While it’s not a pragmatic guide to find radio stations, her beautiful service contour maps give a general sense of how certain formats of FM radio are dispersed across the continental United States. The college radio […]
College Radio Watch: College Radio in the 2010s, WCWS-FM Buyer, KMSM to Leave Air? and More News
In these early days of 2020, we’ve been taking a look back at the big radio trends from the past decade. It’s pretty mind-boggling to tally all of the changes in radio and technology since 2010. Amid it all, college radio experienced both highs and lows, but ultimately leaves the decade as strong as ever. […]
Podcast #228 – College Radio’s Biggest Decade
Last week we declared that the 2010s were a banner decade for community radio. As Jennifer notes, though college radio had a tough start to the last decade, with the loss of prominent stations like KUSF, KTRU and WRVU, the service seriously bounced back, aided by factors like the low-power FM boom, internet radio, HD […]