UNESCO Proposes World Radio Day
This week, the executive board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) approved a proclamation (PDF) for the establishment of a World Radio Day on February 13 (in honor of the day in 1946 that the United Nations established the concept of United Nations Radio). The objectives of this annual event would […]
Turntable.fm: we’re working on the connection glitches
If you’ve been using Turntable.fm over the last few days, you know that the system has been freezing and crashing a lot, certainly on Firefox and Chrome browsers. Some DJs are losing their connections, chat messages are lagging or not posting, and users are being dropped out of rooms. The tt.fm blog has an update […]
Fighting for College Radio…and Winning: Part One – WWPV
Last week, I helped fact-check a lengthy list of colleges who had sold or transferred control of their student radio stations to outside entities. It was a depressing chore, as I delved into the stories behind these losses. Yet, it also reminded me that there is a more heroic story that I keep wanting to […]
Future of Music Coalition to honor FCC Commissioner Michael Copps
The Future of Music Coalition is a more than decade-old organization that advocates for the interests of musicians and their livelihoods in the contemporary media and networked environment. At its upcoming annual policy summit the FMC will be honoring FCC Commissioner Michael Copps for his work on behalf of the music community. Commissioner Copps and […]
What is your radio station’s Facebook strategy?
Jacobs Media has an interesting Xtranormal post on YouTube, which suggests that the rock radio consulting firm thinks that radio stations ought to use their Facebook pages in more interactive ways. Two little Xtranormal piggies stand next to a couch and argue. One is presumably a radio station listener, the other a radio station DJ. […]
RadioFlag’s Search Engine for Radio Courts College Stations
Amid all of the new tools for music discovery, there are many that get lumped in with online radio since they approximate a radio listening experience. Whether it’s algorithms or human DJs selecting the tunes, these customized playlists may feel like the radio of the 21st century to their users. Since I still love old-fashioned […]
R.E.M. Breaks Up, College Radio Nostalgia Ensues
The web is buzzing today with the news that R.E.M. has broken up. Once a staple of college radio, R.E.M. eventually crossed over into the mainstream. A BBC News headline today declared, “R.E.M.: The band that defined, then eclipsed college rock.” In fact, R.E.M. was one of the bands that epitomized the “college rock” or […]
CMJ Announces Nominees for 2011 College Radio Awards
Yesterday CMJ announced the nominees for its annual College Radio Awards. Based on nominations submitted by folks who report their playlists/charts to the music publication, the list of nominees includes college and community radio stations, as well as individuals who work in college radio or at college radio-connected organizations. I was excited to see that […]
NPR chides itself for “abortion doctor” reference
There aren’t very many subjects that NPR listeners won’t fight about, including tinnitus, circumcision, and Yellowstone Park bears. But when it comes to abortion—now that’s when you get the 300 comment threads. I’ve got to concur, however, with NPR listener Marcia Bryant of Cleveland, Ohio, who complained about a NPR Morning Edition story calling an obstetrician […]
Station reporting on human rights is forcibly closed by Indonesian authorities
Radio Era Baru has been broadcasting from the Indonesian city island of Batam since 2005. The station has been consistently denied a license from the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission but has a case in front of the country’s Supreme Court contesting the denial. Despite this the station was raided by Indonesian authorities on Sept. 13, who […]