Zimbabwe government bans radios, sees independent shortwave broadcasts as a threat
Last week police in Zimbabwe banned the use of so-called “specially designed radios” capable of receiving shortwave broadcasts from outside the country, not just FM broadcasts from the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Company which is loyal to President Robert Mugabe’s party. According to the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) the law is aimed at hand-cranked and […]
College Radio Comes to U.S. Virgin Islands with Launch of WUVI-AM
Students at University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) launched their first radio station on January 9. Broadcasts currently air from 6am to 6pm over 1090 AM. Previously this frequency was the home of the religious broadcaster WGOD. A post on UVI Today states that WGOD’s owner, Three Angels Corporation, is leasing the frequency to UVI […]
Giant radios invade Liverpool (everyone lives)
The Waves on the Mersey festival in Liverpool, England has concluded. From February 18 through the 22nd five giant radios aired historical documentaries about the famous city broadcast at 87.7 FM. Seventy students produced the docs. The huge radios themselves were situated at museums, churches, and other public places. On Monday, February 18, the first […]
2013 mtvU College Radio Woodie Finalists Culled to 10 Stations
Voting continues for the 2013 mtvU College Radio Woodie Award. After a preliminary nomination period, the number of college radio stations in the running was reduced to 25 and is now narrowed down to voters’ favorite 10 U.S. college radio stations. Online voters can cast ballots until 3:59:59 PM (ET) on March 14, 2013. The […]
The Mighty KBC serves long-haul truckers over shortwave radio
If you’ve ever found yourself scanning the AM dial during a late night road trip on the highways of North America, then you’ve probably encountered one of the radio networks that serves truckers with country music, call-in shows, and information tailored to long-haul professional drivers. They rely on the long-distance capacity of AM to serve […]
Radio revenue up in 2012, especially on digital platforms
The commercial radio business is looking stronger, especially on digital platforms. Terrestrial and digital radio revenue went up in 2012, with 4th quarter revenues surging even more. That’s according to a report from the Radio Advertising Bureau. Revenue from commercial spots inched up 1% for the year overall, but increased 4% in the 4th quarter, […]
Spotify reportedly pushing for more free mobile listening, but billing problems spoil experience for some
If you enjoy a free Spotify account you’re used to listening to the service’s large music catalog from your computer, but not your mobile device. That’s because mobile listening is only available to paid customers, although you can get a 30 day free trial to give you a taste. According to a report by the […]
Is Pandora radio? Why the question still matters
The folks in marketing and research are getting tired of the “Is Pandora radio” debate, it seems. But I still think the question matters. First, here is what they are saying, followed by why I disagree with their premises. In early January Sean Ross over at Edison Research chided the broadcast industry for “denial” about […]
SF Music Tech Summit Attendees Delve into Future of Music
SF Music Tech Summit is happening all day today at the Kabuki Hotel in San Francisco. Panelists are debating the future of music, sharing the latest music technology, and counting down the minutes for the after-parties tonight. Although I wasn’t able to make it to the conference in person, I did catch a bit of […]
Touring College Radio Stations in Atlanta
Last October I was lucky enough to visit four different college radio stations in Atlanta: SCAD Atlanta Radio at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), WMRE at Emory University, WRAS at Georgia State University and WREK at Georgia Tech. Although each station had its own unique flavor, it was impressive to see the range […]