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College Radio Watch: 1980s Syndicated Radio, WBRU-LP Revives Bit of WBRU, and More News

This week’s Radio Survivor Podcast #125 focuses on Radio Free America, which provides streaming and archiving services for public, community, college, and LPFM radio. Most intriguing to me is Radio Free America’s long history in college radio, with connections to CMJ and a former initiative that produced a radio show that was syndicated to 600 college radio stations.

On the podcast, Ken Pushkin talks about the syndicated college radio show, “New Music – the Alternative 10,” that he produced on LPs in the early 1980s as part of his Radio Free America project (Billboard wrote about it in 1982). Shows were full of music performances and interviews with up and coming bands of the time, including U2 and Stray Cats.

I certainly remember these types of syndicated college radio shows from back in the day and even have a similar LP of a 1987 show called “Music View: Radio’s Weekly New Music Magazine.” According to promotional material included with the LP, the show was “the hippest 1/2 hour on America’s airwaves.” Produced and hosted by former WNYU Program Director Jon Fox, Music View also included contributions from Jack Rabid (then the Alternative Editor for Rockpool).

Music View - the Radio Interview Show flyer from 1987. Photo: J. Waits

Music View – the Radio Interview Show flyer from 1987. Photo: J. Waits

Sponsored by the Columbia Record and Tape Club, the free weekly service was busy signing up affiliate stations when episode 1 landed in my mailbox at WHRC in fall, 1987. Episode one included interviews with Robyn Hitchcock and Tommy Stinson (the Replacements) and featured music from both artists, as well as from Flower, Rema Rema, and The Saints. On the B-side of my LP, episode two includes music from Hoodoo Gurus, Celibate Rifles, Flag of Convenience, New Model Army, and Redd Kross.

More College Radio News

Station Sales, Movement off FM

Rowan College Says Goodbye to FM Radio Station, Moves Fully Online (Burlington County Times)

Anderson University Plans to Sell its Commercial Radio Station 98.7 The Song (The Herald Bulletin)

Station Programming Returning to FM

WBRU Programming Returns to FM Airwaves, For Now (WPRI)

WBRU Programming Returns to Radio Airwaves over WBRU-LP (Providence Journal)

WBRU Returns on Low-Power Station (WJAR)

Continuing the KUSF-FM Legacy, San Francisco Community Radio Celebrates Upcoming Launch (CBS San Francisco)

History, Anniversaries, and Archives

Carpark Records Founder Todd Hyman Reflects on 1990s Music Scene in Chicago, including His Time in College Radio at WNUR (Pop Dust)

The KALX Origin Story (California Magazine)

WREK 91.1 FM’s 50th Anniversary (Technique)

Rare Martin Luther King, Jr. Speech was Part of College Radio Station Archives (Mankato Free Press)

In 1965, Penn State’s Student Radio Station Broadcast Martin Luther King, Jr. Speech Live (Penn State Daily Collegian)

Radio Survivor Podcast: Radio Free America is an Online Hub for Noncomm Radio (Radio Survivor)

College Radio Culture

Letter: Protect WXYC, For the Culture (The Daily Tar Heel)

KZSC in Santa Cruz Asks: How College Radio are You? (Radio Survivor)

Station Events and Projects

William Paterson Students Visit Puerto Rico, Forge Radio Partnership (NorthJersey.com)

College Community Radio Journalists from Darjeeling Initiate Indo-Nepal Friendship (Kathmadu Tribune)

Sydney Radio Inspires Initiative at Savitribai Phule Pune University (Hindustan Times)

Station Personnel: RIP and Staff Changes

Former Students Remember KUHF Faculty Adviser Arvil Cochran (Houston Chronicle)

FAMU Radio Station GM Miles Moves to Athletics (The Famuan)

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