“I’d die for radio” – MC Sniper’s guide to being a pirate radio DJ
The BBC has launched an online mockumentary series that follows the exploits of Kurupt FM, “West London’s second most popular pirate radio station.” The leader of the Kurupt crew, MC Sniper, penned a short guide to being a pirate radio DJ for The Guardian in which he doles out valuable advice, such as this treatise […]
California Historical Radio Society is Seeking Funds to Buy Historic KRE Building
I’m hoping that I can finally make it out to Berkeley to visit the historic KRE during the annual Radio Day by the Bay on July 21. I had no idea that the group behind this event, the California Historical Radio Society (CHRS), is in danger of losing its KRE home. Ben Fong-Torres’ mentioned in […]
Follow up: how a McDonald’s radio snafu helped inspire a Pit Bull support community
Radio Survivor readers may remember the uproar over a McDonald’s radio advertisement that many Pit Bull lovers found offensive. The radio spot aired on February 3. “Trying a brand new menu item at McDonald’s isn’t risky,” it began. “You know what’s risky? Petting a stray Pit Bull. Or shaving your head just to see how […]
FCC to Allow Licensees and Consumers to File More Pleadings Online
Since I write about radio on pretty much a daily basis, I’m more obsessed with the Federal Communication Commission (FCC)’s database than your average citizen would be. Often it’s the first place where a seasoned radio reporter can find breaking news about the broadcast business. If you know where and how to search, you can […]
Jazz Funeral Tonight as WGBH Fans Mourn Loss of Weeknight Jazz Programming
Jazz fans upset about programming changes at Boston public radio station WGBH have planned a Jazz Funeral for 8:00 tonight in front of WGBH headquarters at 1 Guest Street in Brighton, Massachusetts. Musicians will play jazz songs appropriate to the occasion. According to the event invitation on Facebook: “WGBH Radio’s management has recently demolished its […]
WRVU Supporters File Petition to Deny College Radio Station’s License Renewal
This week, WRVU Friends and Family filed a Petition to Deny the license renewal for the Vanderbilt University radio station WFCL. Known as WRVU until June 1, 2011, WFCL is the non-commercial educational radio station licensed to Vanderbilt Student Communications (VSC) in Nashville. In June, 2011, WRVU DJs and volunteers were told that the station […]
In Hong Kong a thin line between radio and politics
I am still in Hong Kong, just days after the city’s huge annual demonstration commemorating the handover of the city to the People’s Republic of China. Politically, Hong Kong is a 7 million person town in turmoil. Its newly elected chief administrator, Leung Chun-ying, already faces charges that he lied about illegal structures in his […]
Canadian Campus Community Station Kick FM to Return License to CRTC
Canadian campus-community radio station CKIC-FM, known as 92.9 Kick FM, will cease its terrestrial broadcasts at 4pm today and plans to return its license to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). The license is set to expire on August 31, 2012. Kick FM is operated by the non-profit Cre-Comm Radio Inc. and broadcasts out […]
Northeastern Illinois University Evaluating the Future of WZRD
In a statement today, Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) acknowledged that it is reviewing the student radio station WZRD and has decided to “temporarily place the student organization on inactive status” while it completes the renewal process for WZRD’s FCC license. This response comes on the heels of news over the weekend that student DJs and […]
Northeastern Illinois University Suspends DJs at College Radio Station WZRD and Switches to Automated Programming
On Friday the volunteers and DJs at Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU)’s student radio station WZRD 88.3 FM were called into a meeting and told that all shows were being suspended at the Chicago-based radio station. It’s a familiar-sounding story that calls to mind the shut-downs at KUSF and WRVU. The collective of WZRD DJs (DJs […]