The Importance of the College Radio DJ: 1986 vs. 2013
In the provocative piece, Why College Radio Still Matters, Columbia College junior Torsten Odland dissects the role of the college radio DJ today, comparing it with the presumed pinnacle of college radio DJ influence in the 1980s. A DJ himself at Columbia College radio station WKCR-FM, Odland explains that he had a particular archetype of […]
Music, technology and just a bit of radio at TechFest Northwest
TechFest Northwest is the 2 year-old self-described “little sister” to the long-running Music Fest Northwest held every fall in Portland, Oregon. One track of TFNW’s first day this year was dedicated to the relationship between art and technology, with music and musicians taking a prominent place. Although one afternoon panel was provocatively titled “Technology killed […]
![My Hybrid Highbrow plug.dj room; nobody but me there so far [sniff].](https://www.radiosurvivor.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/plugdjhybridhighbrow-250x125.gif "When does YouTube become radio? When it’s on plug.dj")
When does YouTube become radio? When it’s on plug.dj
Everybody knows that YouTube competes with broadcast radio for music listeners. A Nielsen survey posted a little over a year ago reported that more teens listen to music through YouTube than through AM/FM radio, 64 and 56 percent, respectively. Most of that YouTubeing isn’t an audience based affair, however. It is listeners creating their own […]
Prometheus crowdfunding to support LPFM build-out
If all goes right this October’s LPFM licensing window will result in a pile of construction permits issued to promising new community radio stations. Prometheus Radio Project is looking forward to supporting those new stations, launching its first crowd funding campaign with indiegogo to help support these burgeoning broadcasters. Prometheus’ goal is to raise $20,000 […]
Will the Gray Lady’s attention energize AM radio revitalization?
This week the New York Times moved AM Radio into the mainstream consciousness with a story about FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai’s ambition to save the oft-forgotten broadcast band. There’s nothing new in the story that we haven’t covered here at Radio Survivor. But the attention of the Old Gray Lady may add a little steam […]
Turntable.fm: goodbye Piki; hello SoundCloud
Turntable.fm has announced that it is sunsetting Piki.fm, which the company described as a “laid back” alternative to its better known social networking service. Here’s from tt.fm Billy Chasen’s latest blog post: “I’m also sad to announce today that we are going to shut down Piki in a couple weeks. We poured ourselves into it […]
Rough notes: Pacifica radio’s 7,200 person governance system
Last week The Village Voice posted a good piece on WBAI which identified overgovernance as a primary source of Pacifica radio’s woes. It credited me as someone who helped craft Pacifica’s by-laws, but I obtained a correction. I’m also cited as suggesting that around 2,200 people “are directly involved in the voting process” at Pacifica. […]
Don’t be discouraged – We dispel 2 LPFM myths
We’ve been writing quite a bit about low-power FM radio here at Radio Survivor. That’s because we think it’s an incredible opportunity to greatly expand community media in the US. It’s also a chance for online-only college stations to take to the airwaves inexpensively. Jennifer explained 10 reasons why online college stations should take advantage […]
WBAI taps into west coast Pacifica content
Former KPFA manager Andrew Phillips’ reconstruction of Pacifica station WBAI in New York City is on its second month. All of the station’s on-air paid talent were let go in month one. Now I’m noting quite a bit of west coast Pacifica content on the ‘BAI Program Schedule, specifically from KPFA in Berkeley and KPFK in […]
Second Low Power FM filing window? Don’t count on it
As of this writing, there are 39 more shopping days until the Federal Communications Commission’s application window for Low Power FM licenses begins on October 15. It will remain open for two weeks and close on October 29. I’m getting worried queries from various people. Are organizations ready for this opportunity? Will enough groups apply? […]