The End of Channel 6 on FM Is Imminent
Over the past year I’ve been tracking the mini-phenomenon of a few low-power TV stations on channel 6 using their signal as a back-door to the FM dial rather than real TV stations. This situation occurs because the audio portion of analog TV channel 6 bumps up against the far left end of the FM […]
WOXY Abruptly Goes Offline; Streaming Ain't Cheap
I–along with many other online radio fans–was surprised to learn this morning that online indie rock station WOXY abruptly shut down its live stream this morning. The only explanation was a short blurb on their website blaming “current economic realities and the lack of ongoing funding” for the closure. The situation was all the more […]
Radio Obsessive Profile #6 and #7: Jonathan Winter and John Jenkins of American Museum of Radio and Electricity
Folks in Bellingham, Washington are lucky to have an amazing resource for radio history right in their backyard. What is now known as The American Museum of Radio and Electricity (AMRE) began in 1985 as the Bellingham Antique Radio Museum as an outgrowth of Jonathan Winter’s personal collection of vintage radios and radio-related objects. As […]
LPFM Restoration Closer than Ever
While health care reform has seemed to dominate the Congress for all of 2010 thus far, community radio enthusiasts have been waiting for action on the Senate version of the Local Community Radio Act. The House passed its version back in mid-December and now the full Senate is set to take up their bill during […]
FCC To Host Media Cross-ownership Workshop in Tampa
In advance of its upcoming biannual review of media ownership rules, the Federal Communications Commission is holding a series of workshops on the issue. These workshops are less formal and expansive than hearings, and tend to be focused on a smaller array of topics. On April 20 the Commission’s Media Bureau will host a panel […]
Yamamoto's audio picks: Abandoned Pools, Gatsby's American Dream, Metric, and Science Daily
Each week I’m posting a few bands, songs, and music videos that have caught my eye at some point. Enjoy! Bands 1) Gatsby’s American Dream: I can’t even remember how long I’ve loved this band, but I’ve seen them play on multiple occasions and have never been disappointed. Feel free to scope out both their […]
Radio's Critical Role in War-Torn Regions: Interactive Radio for Justice's Work to Empower Citizens in Central Africa
The recent earthquakes in Chile and Haiti are a strong reminder about the importance of radio as a communications tool, especially in times of disaster. Haitian radio stations have served to help with rescue efforts and shortwave radio operators in Chile were also instrumental in transmitting tsunami updates and emergency communications. Along these lines, the […]
Hey radio deejays, I want more back announcing!
Man, of all the things that commercial radio has dropped over the last decade or so, I miss back announcing the most. Yes, that lost courtesy of actually telling you the name of the song you just heard, and maybe even the one before that too. Apparently in this time-is-money-to-the-nanosecond age of broadcast radio, back […]
SXSW: we're digging those nerdcore bands
As some of you probably already know, more than a thousand bands from around the world have recently been gathering in Austin, TX for South by Southwest (SXSW), a collection of interactive, film, and music festivals. If you find yourself in the area or are simply interested in learning more about the musical offerings provided […]
Voice of America says its signal to Ethiopia being jammed
Voice of America, the official radio outlet of the United States, says that its Amharic language signal to Ethiopia has been blocked “by an unknown source” since February 22. But obviously it’s the corrupt and repressive government of Meles Zenawi that is behind the jamming. “We have added another frequency, 9700 in the 31-meter band, […]