IBS Conference for College Radio in NYC this Week

The Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) is a non-profit association for college radio that's been around since 1940. They will be holding their 68th convention March 7th-9th in New York City along with host stations WUSB 90.1 FM (Stony Brook University) and WFTU 1570AM (Five Towns College).

The convention is jam-packed with information for college radio station staff, with over a hundred workshops and sessions on topics ranging from nitty-gritty "how to" panels to more philosophical discussions of the future of radio and the music industry. Some highlights include conversations about community radio and low power FM (LPFM), social networking and college radio, satellite radio, HD radio, college radio and the presidential election, marketing and promotions, record company relations, indie labels, music-themed sessions on reggae, electronica, hip hop, rock, jazz, classical and Latin music, fundraising, engineering, how to do remote broadcasts, and aircheck critique sessions.

IBS has a lengthy history advocating for college radio. According to their website:

"...Intercollegiate Broadcasting System is a nonprofit association of mostly student-staffed radio stations... Over 1,000 IBS member-stations operate all sizes and types of facilities including Internet - Webcasting, closed-circuit, AM carrier-current, cable radio and FCC-licensed FM and AM stations. IBS was founded in 1940 by the originators of AM carrier-current campus college radio...Originally, most of the interest involved exchanging technical information...the interest evolved to include management, programming, funding, recruiting, training, and other operational and creative areas...When the FM broadcast band was shifted to its present band (88.1 - 107.9 MHz), IBS people were active in efforts to reserve a group of frequencies specifically for noncommercial educational use. The result was the creation of the reserved band (88.1 - 91.9 MHz) where most noncommercial stations are now located... "

If any of you are heading to IBS this week, please share your highlights in the comments section of this post.