Podcast #35 – Digging for Clues About Internet Radio’s Future
We dig into the Copyright Royalty Board’s decision on new royalty payments for internet radio, looking for clues about the future of small and medium-sized webcasters. In our final review of the 20th anniversary of the Telecom Act of 1996, Matthew Lasar explains how the Act and the political environment of the time affected community […]
Everybody happy about Radio Adelaide rescue (except its staff)
The news from Australia is that that country’s first community radio station is saved, maybe. Late last year the University of Adelaide revealed that preserving its campus station would not be included in UA’s impending five year plan. With this uncertainty hanging over Radio Adelaide’s head, you might expect its staff to welcome this week’s announcement […]
College Radio Watch: College Radio is Older than You Think
Awhile back I saw a post on social media announcing the 75th anniversary of college radio. Although I’m excited any time someone writes about college radio history, I was also troubled, because I know that college radio is much older. Being quite fascinated with the early days of college radio, I’m aware of licensed college […]
Podcast #34 – How the Telecom Act of ’96 Triggered Popular Resistance
This is our second episode examining the history and legacy of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 in recognition of the law’s 20th anniversary. This time around Prof. John Anderson from Brooklyn College explains how Reagan-era deregulation, culminating in the Telecom Act, triggered civil disobedience on the airwaves along with citizen action that continues to push […]
Can your local radio announcer pronounce your city’s name? Chris Terry on the Telecommunications Act of 1996
Once upon a time no company could own more than 20 AM and 20 FM stations nationwide. Then came the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which removed any national restrictions on radio station ownership. In a recent edition of our podcast, Paul Riismandel and Eric Klein sat down with Dr. Christopher Terry at the University of […]
Podcast #33 1/3 – World Radio Day with Francesco Diasio, AMARC Secretary General
February 13 is World Radio Day, a day set aside to celebrate radio as a medium, sponsored by UNESCO. This year’s theme is “Radio in Times of Emergency and Disaster.” Though celebrated globally, World Radio Day is less well known in the United States. To help better connect us with global community radio, Eric talked […]
College Radio Watch: What Do You Think My 100th Radio Station Tour Will Be?
In this week’s Radio Survivor Podcast, I talked about my ongoing radio station tour project. I’m nearing my 100th radio station tour, so I chatted with Eric Klein about the overall project and reflected back on some of my early station tours in 2008. (more…)
Carl Wolfson to sign off from XRAY-FM on Monday
XRAY-FM of Portland reports that morning show host Carl Wolfson will say goodbye on Monday, February 15, during the course of his 7-9 am program. We’ve written about Wolfson’s impending exit, he citing listeners angry about his comments critical of presidential aspirant Bernie Sanders. In an email blast XRAY adds: “to our members and friends: Yes, […]
LPFM Watch: How Internet Radio Royalty Rates Affect Low-Power Stations
Five new low-power FM stations have been granted their full licenses in the last week: KQRZ-LP, Oregon Amateur Radio Club (Hillsboro, OR) WTPB-LP, Third Presbyterian Church of Rockford (Rockford, IL) WEMV-LP, Elijah Message Ministry (Vandalia, IL) KMYB-LP, Killeen Independent School District (Killeen, TX) WBNH-LP, Town of Bedford, NH LPFMs Mostly Unaffected by New Performance Royalty […]
Podcast #33 – 20 Years Ago Local Radio Was Crushed
Twenty years ago a piece of legislation was passed that would change radio forever–and not for the better. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 lifted ownership restrictions on stations, unleashing an onslaught of acquisitions, consolidation and the ultimate devastation of local radio in communities across the country. Dr. Christopher Terry from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee joins […]
