Happy High School Radio Day
Today is the first annual High School Radio Day and at least 30 high school radio stations are participating in this event designed to raise the profile of high school radio. I plan to tune in to some of my nearby stations in order to see if they have anything planned. Unfortunately, according to the […]
There’s still jazz on Chicago radio, despite the death of Smooth 87.7
Editors’ note: Since the publication of this article the smooth jazz format has returned to the Chicago airwaves. Read this December 31, 2014 update for more details. My post about the demise of Chicago smooth jazz station Smooth 87.7 two weeks ago continues to gather comments lamenting the station’s passing. Many of the commenters express […]
America’s Got Schmaltz – Howard Stern’s disappointing America’s Got Talent debut
Lured in by the debut appearance of Howard Stern as a judge, I watched both hours of tonight’s season premiere of America’s Got Talent. I’ve never watched the show before, nor any of its stablemates, like American Idol. So let’s not bury the lede: I will not be watching again. You see, I’m a lapsed […]
Turntable.fm for Android is out, but is tt.fm really a desktop app?
The Turntable.fm Android application is finally available (oddly unannounced this weekend on tt.fm’s official blog). I tried it on Saturday, and it works very well on my Droid X. Nice, economical interface. The chat feature is very clear and easy to use. My DJ Queue menu works fine. And, most important, the music sounds great. […]
Zimbabwe exile shortwave station wants more information about license denial
The owner of a shortwave radio station that broadcasts to Zimbabwe via the Netherlands is pressing for more information about that country’s denial of its license application. Vox Media wants a record of the proceedings leading to the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe’s decision to authorize other stations, but not Vox’s Radio Voice of the People […]
FCC will hold live forum on Low Power FM/translator applications
This Wednesday the Federal Communications Commission will hold a live, streaming forum on how the agency plans to handle Low Power FM and translator applications. “The focus of the forum will be how pending FM translator applicants from the 2003 Auction 83 window and pending and prospective FM translator modification applicants will be processed,” the […]
BBC Radio: We have to bring back younger listeners
An interesting post on the BBC Internet Blog about the service’s strategy for getting its younger audience more engaged again. “We’re missing a trick here,” explained BBC interactive music expert Mark Friend during a seminar held at the London Radio Theater. “If we look at the numbers of people who listen to our radio stations […]
The Hidden History of WTYJ at Georgia Tech
As I was researching a specific tidbit of radio history a few weeks back, I happened upon some intriguing stories about the early days of student radio at Georgia Tech. Today Georgia Tech is home to the 100,000 watt college radio station WREK at 91.1 FM; but back in the 1940s, plans were underway for […]
John Malone may not have Sirius XM, but he still has a media empire
Everybody’s blogging and twittering away over Liberty Media Corporation’s failed attempt to take de facto control of Sirius XM satellite radio. The Federal Communications Commission rejected Liberty’s application on Friday. Liberty owns 40 percent of Sirius XM stock. The reasons for the rebuff appear to be technical: “We find Liberty Media’s applications to be unacceptable […]
As May 21 Anniversary Approaches, Family Radio Avoids End of World Talk
A year ago I was growing increasingly fascinated with Family Radio as they became the center of a media frenzy over their President Harold Camping’s predictions of global catastrophe on May 21, 2011. Billboards promoting their Judgment Day pronouncements were present all over the world and Camping’s live call-in talk program, “Open Forum,” ratcheted up […]