The Radio Survivor podcast is a weekly show that explores the future of community media, with a focus on community radio, college radio, low-power FM and public access TV, along with podcasting and internet radio. Hosts Paul Riismandel, Eric Klein and Jennifer Waits highlight the best and most innovative audio programming and keep you updated on the news that affects our ability to make, create, hear and see great community media.
This is our second episode examining the history and legacy of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 in recognition of the law’s 20th anniversary. This time around Prof. John Anderson from Brooklyn College explains how Reagan-era deregulation, culminating in the Telecom Act, triggered civil disobedience on the airwaves along with citizen action that continues to push […]
February 13 is World Radio Day, a day set aside to celebrate radio as a medium, sponsored by UNESCO. This year’s theme is “Radio in Times of Emergency and Disaster.” Though celebrated globally, World Radio Day is less well known in the United States. To help better connect us with global community radio, Eric talked […]
Twenty years ago a piece of legislation was passed that would change radio forever–and not for the better. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 lifted ownership restrictions on stations, unleashing an onslaught of acquisitions, consolidation and the ultimate devastation of local radio in communities across the country. Dr. Christopher Terry from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee joins […]
The FCC just ruled that radio stations will have to upload their public files into an online database, making certain records much more accessible. We discuss what this means for both stations and listeners, and why, even though it seems like an extra burden, this can be a good thing for college and community radio. […]
It’s the 13th hour for small webcasters, as broadcasters and supporters scramble to find a solution to new performance royalty rates that threaten to put hundreds, or even thousands of stations out of business. If that many small community or commercial broadcasters were about to go under, there most certainly would be a loud public […]
The Open Media Project is a non-profit that provides tools and support for local and state governments to put meetings and events online. This makes government more accessible to the public, but also to journalists, community radio producers, and podcasters. Gavin Dahl, the project’s leader for government, guests to discuss the group’s work. In the […]
Small and medium sized internet-only radio broadcasters are facing a very immediate danger in 2016, due to changes in the performance rates that they are obligated to pay. Some estimates indicate that these fees may increase by as much as ten-fold, threatening to put hundreds, or even thousands of stations out of business. Paul digs […]
We follow up on Nevada Public Radio’s proposal to take over programming on KUNV, the community radio station owned by the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, that we first reported on last week. We hear from a volunteer programmer, Ken Lange, who opposes the deal, and from Flo Rogers, CEO of Nevada Public Radio, […]
College Radio correspondent Jennifer Waits joins Paul and Eric to examine Nevada Public Radio’s bid to take over programming on UNLV’s radio station. They also look at bankruptcy, acquisition, and shutdown of the streaming music service Rdio, and what that has to do with terrestrial stations. Then Paul discusses why the Appeals Court hearing on […]
This week we celebrate some fun little corners of radio. Matthew Lasar explains the history of the rise and fall of “turntable style” music community websites. Then Jennifer Waits shares her passion for radio station stickers, emphasizing a particular style of sticker art. Finally, Paul and Eric talk about Paul’s recent visit to Vassar College […]
