Radio Survivor Podcast #6: The Portland Radio Project’s Journey from Online to LPFM
The Portland Radio Project is Portland, Oregon’s newest low-power FM station. However, it started as an online station, with no plans for a terrestrial broadcast. On this episode we learn why PRP made this pivot, and the philosophy behind its public service approach to broadcasting. Paul and Eric run down the top radio news stories, […]
Farewell to Small Town AM Station WYBG
Recently a reporter asked me how common independently-owned commercial radio stations were. I told him that they were a dying breed and another example of this disappearing category is talk radio station WYBG-AM in Massena, New York. After 57 years on the air, the station shut down on June 30. Its owners still hold out […]
Chicago’s MeTV FM Takes the Back Door to Radio Ratings Success
Chicago may be the home of the highest rated channel 6 TV station dressed in a radio station’s clothes. I wrote about MeTV FM in February when it hit the airwaves. The station broadcasts on the audio channel of WRME-LP channel 6, which is receivable at 87.7 FM. I call these “back door” radio stations […]
Report: NPR costs not “primary contributor” to KUSP financial woes
A report from a committee of advisers to struggling community radio station KUSP in Santa Cruz, California, offers an updated overview of the signal’s financial situation. “There has been a focus in the public discussions on the NPR cost, with the mistaken assumption that the cost of NPR programs was the primary contributor to the […]
College Radio Watch: Scrutinizing “Best College Radio Station” Lists, Stolen Gear at KRFH & More News
I’ve been reluctant to publish my own list of the “best” college radio stations, as it would be an entirely subjective endeavor. Of course I do have some of my personal favorites, but overall, I’m a proponent of all kinds of college radio. I would prefer to expose more people to the breadth of college […]
LPFM Watch: LPFMs up 12% in Q2 of 2015; KZAP Returns as LPFM
No new low-power FM construction permits were issued this past week, which, of course, had a holiday weekend probably slowing down the works. However, the FCC did release its quarterly count of broadcast stations in the US. Not surprisingly–especially if you keep up with LPFM Watch–the radio service with the biggest increase in the second […]
Is Beats 1 Radio Like College Radio?
On this week’s Radio Survivor Podcast, Paul Riismandel and I talked a bit about the release of Beats 1 Radio, giving our take on the brand new service. As part of the discussion I mentioned that some reviews of Beats 1 have been making comparisons with college radio. Aaron Lammer, the co-host of the LongForm […]
Digital Watch: Chicago Taxes Spotify; Internet Radio Awards
After dedicating two consecutive posts–and part of this week’s podcast–to Apple’s Beats 1 Radio I’m taking a little break before reviewing Apple Music. So this week I have just a few stories of interest to online and digital radio. Chicago to Tax Subscription Radio Services First, is a truly puzzling one from Chicago, where the […]
FCC’s Quarterly Station Count: Radio is Still Growing, Particularly LPFM
Today, the FCC released its quarterly list of the total number of licensed broadcast stations. As we’ve seen in recent years, the number of licensed stations continues to grow, with the current grand total at 15,455 licensed full power radio stations as of June 30, 2015. The biggest increase this quarter is in the number […]
“Madroids” take to New Mexico’s airwaves
Low Power FM station Madrid Community Radio is on the air. We posted about the Madrid, New Mexico station some months ago and now it has gotten a write up from the Santa Fe Reporter. Author Benjamin Yeager says he can pick up K96.9 all the way from Santa Fe. It broadcasts from the lower depths of […]