A few years back I was lucky to get a glimpse into the world of student radio in Ireland. After visiting few stations there and learning a bit about the country’s college radio culture, I am happy to hear that student broadcasters will be convening in Ireland this week. The National Student Radio Conference will […]
Last month we wrote about the California Historical Radio Society (CHRS)’s plans to move from its current home at the KRE building in Berkeley to a new space in Alameda. Due to some ownership changes at the Berkeley location (which is also a transmitter site for KVTO-AM, the descendent of historic radio station KRE), the […]
Roger King of the Toronto/Montreal based Performance Network Agency wrote to us a fortnight ago with some exciting news. He has a documentary film in the works on the glory days of the rock radio deejay. Title: “I am what I play.” Subtitle: “a feature film about the heyday of rock radio.” From the sixties […]
College radio history is largely undocumented, with much lore locked away in the memories of its participants. Glimpses of the past can be found by digging into the archives of student publications, particularly yearbooks and newspapers, where radio activities were often chronicled. Luckily for college radio history buffs like myself, it’s getting easier and easier […]
It appears that Internet radio can soon celebrate its 21st birthday. The New York Times identified what is arguably the first Internet radio station in an article posted by reporter John Markoff on March 4, 1993. “Talk radio is coming to desktop computers,” Markoff wrote from San Francisco. “Within a few weeks, a Virginia-based entrepreneur […]
As 2013 drew to a close, the California Historical Radio Society (CHRS) announced that it had signed an agreement to purchase a building in Alameda, California to house the Bay Area Radio Museum and Hall of Fame. CHRS currently operates out of the historic KRE building in Berkeley and its days there have been numbered […]
I am reading Tim Weiner’s diverting book Enemies: A History of the FBI and have learned something about the Federal Communications Commission as well. Its Radio Intelligence Division played a critical role in anti-Fascist counterespionage in the southern hemisphere. Weiner writes: “The civilians of the Radio Intelligence Division intercepted clandestine Germany communications with spies in […]
I am endlessly buying books about the history of radio. Here are some updated recommendations for the holidays. The Hits Just Keep on Coming: The History of Top 40 Radio: Ben Fong-Torres’ immensely fun history of Top 40 radio explores the lives, accomplishments, and antics of the great Top 40 deejays. Frank, engaging, lots of […]
Much of what you read about radio station contests these days is depressing. At best, some operation botches a game by misrepresenting the rules or winnings and winds up paying the Federal Communications Commission a fine. At worst, a signal launches an ill-advised water drinking marathon that literally kills a contestant. To be fair to […]
As people are reflecting back on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy 50 years ago today, many of them may remember hearing the news over the radio. College radio stations were among the media outlets breaking the news on this tragic day in history. The WMUC archives actually contain audio from the University of […]
