The FCC just announced today that they’d levied $7,000 fines against several college radio stations. The crime wasn’t anything salacious like playing songs with bad words. In fact, it’s much more embarrassing as it was a “failure to timely file renewal application,” which in turn led to “unauthorized operation” of said stations. This is a […]
Author Archive | Jennifer Waits
Chicago Public Radio's Fundraising Antics
Fundraiser season continues at non-profit radio stations all over the country. Princeton’s station WPRB (apparently the oldest FM college radio station in the country, founded in 1940) ends their week-long fundraiser tomorrow. My own station KFJC (turning 50 next week) is pitching for cash until the station reaches its goal. And, Chicago Public Radio station […]
Radio Awards – Pro or Con?
I was starting to feel like such a buzz kill today as I wrote yet another post complaining about the voting process for mtvU’s College Radio Woodie Award. As I mentioned in my piece for Radio Survivor, this contest has had a number of rounds; so it’s been easy for me to scrutinize various issues […]
All-Obama Radio Stunt in Athens, Georgia
Sometimes unexpected things really do happen on commercial radio. Yesterday’s buzz surrounded the introduction of a new “All-Obama” radio station in Athens, Georgia. According to Talking Points Memo: “A radio station in Athens, Ga., is drumming up publicity by calling itself ‘Obama Government-Controlled Radio’ and playing Hawaiian pop, songs like ‘Superfly’ and ‘Disco Inferno’ and […]
WXPN Lets the Listeners Program Desert Island Picks for Fundraiser
I’m always interested to see how various radio stations handle the daunting task of fundraising, especially since I’m now in the thick of things begging for cash at my own station KFJC (hint, hint…if you’re a fan of the station we need your dough!). Well, public radio station WXPN at University of Pennsylvania has a […]
Goodbye to Bus Radio
We just got word that BusRadio is no more. As we reported back in July, BusRadio was the source of controversy and parental ire for its radio service which was piped in to school buses around the country. Congress even asked the FCC to take a look at BusRadio, to make sure that its practices […]
The Romance of Radio Rediscovered on the iPod Nano
I probably don’t have to convince anyone reading Radio Survivor that radio rules. But just in case you need some persuading, I’d like to share a beautifully written love-letter to radio (written by a reviewer at Popular Mechanics of all places). While checking out the new FM radio feature on the iPod Nano, former college […]
Celebs Rally to Help WLIU Stay Local and On the Air
As Paul Riismandel reported in August, Long Island University-owned public radio station WLIU is about to lose funding from its institution and is entertaining offers to purchase the station. Yesterday was the deadline for bids and a star-studded group of “friends” held rallies and pulled together an offer to save the station from extinction or […]
"Save Energy 92.7" Resolution up for Vote at SF Board of Supes Meeting Tomorrow
Both Matthew and I have recounted the recent ownership and format change of San Francisco station Energy 92.7. The formerly gay-friendly dance music station has proven to be a fan favorite, with many people expressing their displeasure over its change to top 40. Even a member of San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors, Bevan Dufty, has […]
The Dreaded On-Air Fundraiser
Fundraiser season is in full force on the San Francisco airwaves with no fewer than 3 non-commercial radio stations pitching for dollars this week. Although on-air fundraisers seem to be a necessity, I find the majority of them to be unlistenable. In a few weeks I’ll have to start doing my own on-air cash pleas […]