Radio Station Visit #150 - Portland Radio Project

Portland Radio Project signage on its building in Portland, Oregon. Photo: J. Waits

Amid the flurry of new low power FM (LPFM) community radio stations is Portland Radio Project in Portland, Oregon. Originally planned as a streaming radio station, the founders embraced the LPFM opportunity in order to bring a mix of music and public affairs programming to the airwaves.

Read my full report on Radio Survivor.

Radio Station Visit #140 - KLLG-LP in Willits, California

Stickers at KLLG-LP. Photo: J. Waits

In April, 2017, I took a trip to see one of the newest low power FM (LPFM) community radio stations: KLLG-LP in Willits, California. Located at the Little Lake Grange, the station has already proven to be a vital community resources, particularly after a devastating wildfire threatened the region last month.

See my full report on Radio Survivor.

Radio Station Visit #138 - WPPM-LP in Philadelphia

Stickers at PhillyCAM. Photo: J. Waits

It was my good fortune to be in Philadelphia on the day that PhillyCAM officially launched its new low power FM community radio station WPPM-LP back in October, 2016. The long-time public access non-profit recently branched out into radio and is enjoying the benefits of operating both television and terrestrial radio outlets.

Read my full report on Radio Survivor.

Radio Station Visit #132 - WXTJ-LP at University of Virginia

Studio at college radio station WXTJ. Photo: J. Waits

After years of declining student participation at WTJU, its General Manager had the novel idea of starting up a brand new college radio station that would be 100% students. Now known as WXTJ-LP, the student-run station started out as an online-only endeavor, but as of April, 2016, has also been broadcasting terrestrially over low power FM (LPFM) in Charlottesville, Virginia at 100.1 FM.

Read my full report on Radio Survivor.

Radio Station Visit #130 - WNUW-LP at Neumann University

WNUW sign at the Neumann University college radio station. Photo: J. Waits

One of the newer low power FM (LPFM) radio stations, WNUW-LP broadcasts from beautiful new studios on the Neumann University campus in Aston, Pennsylvania. Originally an online-only station, Neumann Media jumped at the change to have a terrestrial signal in the suburbs of Philadelphia.

See my full report from my October, 2016 visit on Radio Survivor.

Radio Station Visit #124 - Community Radio Station WRIR-LP in Richmond, VA

Art at Richmond Independent Radio. Photo: J. Waits

My March 18, 2017 visit to Richmond Independent Radio (WRIR-LP) was a treat for many reasons. First of all, I met a fellow Haverford College radio alum and second, I learned about WRIR's important role in the history of low power FM. A LPFM station from the first licensing window, WRIR has been on the FM airwaves in Richmond, Virginia since 2005.

Read my full report on Radio Survivor.

Radio Station Visit #121 - KUHS-LP in Hot Springs, Arkansas

Glimpse into KUHS-LP Studio. Photo: J. Waits

My final radio station visit during my journey to Arkansas last October was a trip to low power FM station KUHS-LP in Hot Springs. Host station for the 2016 Grassroots Radio Conference, KUHS-LP is a new LPFM, having launched in August, 2015. The solar-powered station is home to an interesting mix of music and talk programming, from hip hop to vaporwave.

See my full report on Radio Survivor.

Radio Station Visit #119 - KUOZ-LP at University of the Ozarks

KUOZ poster. Photo: J. Waits

My Arkansas travels continue with a trip to see college radio station KUOZ-LP at University of the Ozarks in Clarksville. Launched as a low power FM station in 2003, KUOZ is the descendant of a radio history on campus that dates back to the 1980s. With close ties to the campus television station, which is just down the hall from KUOZ, the radio station has a broad line-up of music, public affairs, sports and news programming.

See my full report on Radio Survivor.

Radio Station Field Trip #118 - KPSQ-LP in Fayetteville, AR

Promotional materials at KPSQ-LP. Photo: J. Waits

On my first day in Arkansas during my October, 2016 visit, I wrapped up my night with a trip to new low power FM (LPFM) community radio station KPSQ-LP in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Located on the third floor of the Chancellor Hotel, the station plays a mix of local and syndicated music and talk shows, including programming from Pacifica.

Read my full report on Radio Survivor.

Radio Station Field Trip #107 - KOMF-LP in Denver

Denver Open Media sign. Photo: J. Waits

A few weeks ago, on July 7, 2016, I visited a brand new low power FM (LPFM) radio station in Denver, Colorado. KOMF-LP is a project of Open Media Foundation and is the result of the collaborative efforts of Denver Open Media and Denver Hackerspace. The two groups were initially competitors, but ended up working together to build the station, realizing that both organizations had important skills that were needed to create and run a radio station.

See my full tour on Radio Survivor.

Radio Station Field Trip #105 - CHIRP Radio in Chicago

CHIRP Radio T-shirt. Photo: J. Waits

In April, I visited another soon-to-be low power FM (LPFM) community radio station: CHIRP Radio in Chicago. Already a long-time streaming radio station, CHIRP's staff and volunteers were instrumental in the grassroots movement for the Local Community Radio Act, so it's particularly gratifying that they are benefiting from their efforts.

With an active volunteer staff, CHIRP is already a respected voice in the Chicago music community in particular. See my full report on Radio Survivor.

Radio Station Field Trip #104 - WERA-LP Radio Arlington

WERA-LP legal ID posted on equipment at Radio Arlington. Photo: J. Waits

I wrapped up my east coast tour of radio stations on February 28, 2016, with a visit to Radio Arlington. The brand new low power FM (LPFM) community radio station launched in Arlington, Virginia in December, 2015 with call letters WERA-LP. Although the station is new, it's part of Arlington Independent Media, a long-time membership-based media organization that runs a television station and offers media training.

See my full report on Radio Survivor.

Radio Station Field Trip #103 - Takoma Radio

Takoma Radio sign and equipment at founder Marika Partridge's house. Photo: J. Waits

It's always fun to see a radio station before it launches and I got to do just that in February, peeking behind the scenes as Takoma Radio prepared for its foray into low power FM (LPFM) broadcasting. I met with founder Marika Partridge at her home and then we walked over to the location of the station's future studio in Takoma Park, Maryland. The LPFM community radio station will launch in a few short weeks, on July 16, 2016. See my full tour report on Radio Survivor.

Radio Station Field Trip 83 - ARTxFM in Louisville

Flyers at ARTxFM. Photo: J. Waits

I'd been looking forward to visiting Louisville, Kentucky for a long time and one of the big reasons was because I wanted to check out the streaming community radio station ARTxFM. I first met its founder, Sharon Scott, several years ago when she was working to fight the shut-down and sale of her alma mater college radio station at Vanderbilt University (WRVU-FM) and we've become close friends.

Enthusiastic about starting up a community radio station, Scott worked to found ARTxFM and then led the station through the application process for a new low power FM (LPFM) license. With a construction permit in hand, ARTxFM will be on the terrestrial airwaves within a year.

Read my full report on Radio Survivor.

Radio Station Field Trip 82 - 9th Floor Radio at Laney College

9th Floor Radio flyer on the studio wall. Photo: J. Waits

On Wednesday, April 8, 2015, I took a short road trip across the San Francisco Bay in order to see 9th Floor Radio at Laney College in Oakland. In existence since 2006 as a podcast and streaming radio station, 9th Floor Radio is preparing to add a low power FM (LPFM) broadcast this summer, after obtaining a construction permit in the recent application window.

Read my full report on Radio Survivor.

Radio Station Field Trip 75 - KXSU at Seattle University

KXSU GM Shannon Phelps. Photo: J. Waits

During my trip to Seattle for the College Broadcasters Inc. (CBI) conference, I visited five radio stations in the area. My final field trip (on October 23, 2014) was to see college radio station KXSU at Seattle University. Currently a streaming radio station, KXSU holds a construction permit for a new low power FM (LPFM) station and hopes to be on the air over 102.1 FM in Seattle, Washington by fall 2015.

Read my complete story about KXSU on Radio Survivor.

Radio Station Field Trip 74 - Hollow Earth Radio in Seattle

Entrance to Hollow Earth Radio. Photo: J. Waits

While in Seattle last October, I visited a number of radio stations that are preparing to migrate to low power FM (LPFM). One such station is streaming community radio station Hollow Earth Radio. Already an established presence in Seattle (it's been around since 2007), Hollow Earth has a full schedule of shows and also puts on an annual music event called the Magma Festival.

Read my full story on Radio Survivor.

Radio Station Field Trip 73 - UWave at University of Washington, Bothell

Sign at UWave Radio. Photo: J. Waits

I was busy touring radio stations in Seattle last fall, seeing a total of five over the course of a few days. My third radio station visit on October 22, 2014 was to University of Washington, Bothell's internet radio station UWave Radio. Granted a new low power FM (LPFM) construction permit last year, the college radio station is anticipating tremendous growth after it begins broadcasting terrestrially.

Read my full report on Radio Survivor.

Radio Station Field Trip 72 - KUSF-in-Exile/San Francisco Community Radio

KUSF-in-Exile/San Francisco Community Radio Studio in 2015. Photo: J. Waits

Sunday, January 18, 2015 was the 4th anniversary of the shutdown of the 90.3 FM signal for University of San Francisco's college radio station KUSF. On that occasion, I decided to visit KUSF-in-Exile (now also known as San Francisco Community Radio) and catch up with one of my favorite DJs there.

Made up of some KUSF alumni DJs as well as newer community members, San Francisco Community Radio operates its streaming radio station from a studio far from the University of San Francisco campus. With hopes of obtaining a new low power FM (LPFM) license, it's been chugging along with not only radio shows, but also regular events around the city.

Read my full report on Radio Survivor.

Radio Station Field Trip 34 - WRFU in Urbana, Illinois

Sign at WRFU (Photo: J. Waits)

This summer I was able to visit six radio stations in the midwest during my travels out there in July for the Grassroots Radio Conference. The easiest field trip to orchestrate was to community radio station WRFU-LP 104.5 FM. Located at the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center, the site of this year's Grassroots Radio Conference, WRFU is a sliver of a station nestled within a historic post office.

Entrance to WRFU (Photo: J. Waits)

WRFU first went on the air November 13, 2005. According to Station Manager Raymond Morales,

"Anyone can have a show on the air as long as they are trained, paid members, FCC compliant and not promoting hate speech. Otherwise, whatever the community wants to put on the air, we try to facilitate. It doesn't matter whether it is left or right, music or talk, atheist or religious. We are merely a channel (get it?). We are the easiest radio station to join and we represent a diverse group of voices across the community."

WRFU Studio (Photo: J. Waits)

The station airs a range of music, public affairs (in English and Spanish), and sports programs. Music shows include hip hop, dance, blues, world, gospel, experimental, jazz, R&B, and indie pop.  Public affairs programs run the gamut, ranging from a show about bike culture, to a political talk show, to programs focused on environmental topics. A number of these shows (including Radio Bilingue) are syndicated programs produced elsewhere.

WRFU board (Photo: J. Waits)

The low power FM station is a project of the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center and according to its mission statement:

"WRFU is a progressive radio station collective committed to social justice, focusing on public affairs issues and the arts. WRFU airs opinions and debates in an open and diverse forum that focuses on educating and empowering the public. WRFU provides an accessible venue for an eclectic mixture of arts programming."

WRFU Studio (Photo: J. Waits)

In addition to WRFU, the Independent Media Center includes meeting space, an event/concert space with a stage, production equipment, a computer lab, and a library.

CD Library at WRFU (Photo: J. Waits)

Throughout the Grassroots Radio Conference, I would wander by WRFU and for the most part there was no sign of volunteers at the station. They did hold some WRFU studio training sessions as part of the conference program. Additionally, an entry on the conference schedule stated that, "Throughout the weekend, WRFU will be broadcasting content from the GRC on the air. Stop on by to get acquainted with the station, drop off an audio file to play, or do an interview.  Don’t be shy!"

Sign on window at WRFU (Photo: J. Waits)

Since the station was largely unoccupied (despite the above sign on the window that read "Station Occupation"), I asked one of the organizers if it would be OK for me to take a look around. I wandered about in the cozy studio, snapped some photos, and took in the view. WRFU has a glass window that faces a row of post boxes that border an active hallway that leads into the main part of the Independent Media Center. From a DJ's perch in the studio, he or she has a prime view of everyone coming into the building.

WRFU Studio (Photo: J. Waits)

With this visit to WRFU, I wrapped up my mini tour of radio stations in Champaign-Urbana. I didn't manage to see all of them (I would have liked to have seen the other college radio station in town - WPCD at Parkland College), but I was happy to see a broad range of stations.

Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center (Photo: J. Waits)

See a complete list of all of my Spinning Indie Radio Station Field Trips here.