Radio Station Visit #149 - KDVS at UC Davis

Leo Blais sign perched on window ledge at college radio station KDVS. Photo: J. Waits

A staple of the FM airwaves for 50 years, college radio station KDVS 90.3 FM at University of California, Davis is a feast for the eyes and for the ears. Rumored to have one of the largest music collections in the west, the station is packed with vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, and more. I was comforted by the sight of so many music posters and flyers from the past, many featuring favorite artists of mine from decades ago.

Read my full report on Radio Survivor.

Radio Station Visit #148 - WVKR at Vassar College

Shelf at college radio station WVKR. Photo: J. Waits

Vassar College radio station WVKR-FM beams its signal across multiple states from its Poughkeepsie, New York headquarters. Run by students, the station also airs many long-time programs hosted by non-student volunteers, from several polka music shows to Voices Beyond the Wall: New York Prison Talk Radio.

With a large collection of LPs and CDs, WVKR is focused on providing an outlet for underexposed music. I was also charmed by its collection of whimsical mementos and WVKR's dolphin-shaped shower radio.

See my full tour report on Radio Survivor.

Radio Station Visit #143: WHPK at University of Chicago

With a funky bell tower home, fascinating history, and oodles of vinyl; WHPK at University of Chicago had long been on my college radio station tour wish-list. I was not disappointed on my December 1, 2017 visit and enjoyed meeting with both students and community members who call WHPK home.

See my full report on Radio Survivor.

Radio Station Visit #142 - WIIT at Illinois Institute of Technology

Leo Blais sign in WIIT studio. Photo: J. Waits

During my visit to college radio station WIIT in December, 2017, I was dazzled by the modern architecture and beyond intrigued by the radio station's rich history. Located at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, Illinois; WIIT-FM has connections to radio history (Lee de Forest taught on campus) and hip hop history and its studio even appeared on the TV show Empire.

Read my full report on Radio Survivor.

Radio Station Visit #141 - WKCR at Columbia University

Outside WKCR. Photo: J. Waits

In March, 2017, I took the grand tour of Columbia University's college radio station WKCR. Dating back to 1941, the station is known for its focus on jazz, new music, American sounds (think gospel, blues, underground hip hop, etc.), long-time Latin music shows, as well as adventurous international music programming. Also appreciative of its history, WKCR has an impressive collection of  reel-to-reel recordings in its archives.

See my full report on Radio Survivor.

Radio Station Visit #137 - KXLU at Loyola Marymount University

7" record bins at college radio station KXLU

Last month I spent a fun day at Loyola Marymount University for the UCRN conference hosted by KXLU. Celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, the Los Angeles-based FM radio station has a schedule full of creative programming, including weekend Latin music shows.

See my full report on Radio Survivor.

Radio Station Visit #136 - KLMU at Loyola Marymount University

Turntable in KLMU studio. Photo: J. Waits

A number of college radio stations serve as training grounds for a sister station on campus. That's the case at student-run KLMU at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. An online-only station with roots over AM carrier current, KLMU DJs have considerably freedom compared with their FM counterparts at KXLU. Part training station for KXLU and part student-haven, KLMU has around 50 participants who host a range of music and talk shows.

Read my full report on Radio Survivor.

Radio Station Visit #135 - WKDU at Drexel University

WKDU in an old monitor. Photo: J. Waits

Back in college I was a WKDU listener, so I'd long been eager to visit the Drexel University college radio station. Lucky for me, I was able to tag along on a group field trip to the Philadelphia-based station during the College Broadcasters Inc. conference. The tour did not disappoint and the station was full of familiar college radio ephemera.

See my full tour report on Radio Survivor.

Radio Station Visit #134 - WHIP at Temple University

WHIP Tshirt. Photo: J. Waits

On October 21, 2016, I visited Temple University in Philadelphia to see student-run, internet radio college radio station WHIP. With around 100 volunteers, the station has a long history with sports broadcasts and has more recently been getting buzz for its news coverage, particularly during election season. An online station since 2007, WHIP began was first conceptualized in 1997 and originally broadcast over very low power FM on campus.

Read my full report on Radio Survivor.

Radio Station Visit #133 - WDCE at University of Richmond

College radio station WDCE at University of Richmond. Photo: J. Waits

On my first day in Virginia last month, I toured a few college radio stations in Richmond, including University of Richmond's student-run radio station WDCE. The FM station has a funky basement home and is made up of both student and non-student DJs and hosts. The descendant of a carrier current radio station that launched in 1960, WDCE still has some participants who've been at the college radio station for decades.

See 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 #131 - WUVA at University of Virginia

Old WUVA promotion spotted at the station. Photo: J. Waits

The descendant of a carrier current radio station that launched at University of Virginia in 1947, WUVA celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2017. Now in the final moments as a commercial FM station operated by WUVA, Inc., the station is being sold, with proceeds being used to fund WUVA's online news operation.

See my full report from my March, 2017 tour 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 #129 - WTJU at University of Virginia

Steve Keene painting at WTJU. Photo: J. Waits

I spent my St. Patrick's Day immersed in college radio culture at the WTJU-hosted "College Radio: Then, Now and Next" symposium at University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Following the event, I popped by the station for an evening tour. Celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, WTJU operates as a community radio-college radio hybrid, with a small percentage of students, particularly in recent years, after the founding of student-run sister station WXTJ.

See my full report on Radio Survivor.

Radio Station Visit #128 - WHCL at Lehman College

LCR sticker at Lehman College Radio. Photo: J. Waits

While in the Bronx over spring break two weeks ago, I took some time to visit a few radio stations, including Lehman College Underground Radio. Located at City University of New York (CUNY)'s Lehman College, the station is full of artifacts from its more traditional radio past; although it's more focused on DJ mixes and live events today.

Read my full report on Radio Survivor.

Radio Station Visit #127 - WCWM at The College of William & Mary

Poster at WCWM. Photo: J. Waits

Even though it was my first visit to Colonial Williamsburg, my focus was entirely on college radio station WCWM at the College of William & Mary. Part of a historic town and college, the station itself embraces history, lovingly archiving vintage vinyl and station ephemera. The lobby walls are covered with vinyl LPs and DJs draw from the extensive CD collection as well.

See my full report on my March, 2017 visit on Radio Survivor.

Radio Station Visit #126 - WXJM at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA

Leo Blais sign in WXJM studio. Photo: J. Waits

College radio station WXJM was a must-visit station for me, as I'd long been aware of the DIY festival, MACROCK, that the station launched 20 years ago. Although the music event is now run by a separate organization, WXJM staffers are still quite involved with MACROCK every year, including the 2017 edition, which is coming up in a few days.

Today, WXJM is housed in the back of James Madison University's public radio station, although its operations are worlds apart. Run by students, WXJM embraces under-represented artists and is a champion of the Harrisonsburg, Virginia music scene.

See my full report on Radio Survivor from my March, 16, 2017 visit.

Radio Station Visit #125 - WMWC at University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA

Card at WMWC. Photo: J. Waits

During my Virginia travels, I took a road trip to University of Mary Washington's college radio station WMWC. Located in Fredericksburg, the streaming radio station is the descendant of a carrier current campus station that launched 71 years ago in 1946. Today, WMWC is still full of fascinating artifacts from the past, including old boards, cart machines, and an instant replay machine.

Visit Radio Survivor for my full report from my March 16, 2017 visit.

Radio Station Visit #123 - WVCW at Virginia Commonwealth University

Frisbee at WVCW. Photo: J. Waits

I'm just back from a trip to Virginia for a college radio symposium. Along the way, I visited nine college radio stations, including WVCW in Richmond, Virginia. The student-run college radio station at Virginia Commonwealth University has a fascinating history and is the descendant of an earlier campus radio station that launched 50 years ago.

Read my full report on Radio Survivor.

Radio Station Visit #122 - WYBF at Cabrini University

WYBF sign at Cabrini University station. Photo: J. Waits

I squeezed in a bunch of visits to Philadelphia-area radio stations during my trip to the College Broadcasters Inc. (CBI) conference last October. My first stop, WYBF at Cabrini University (aka Cavalier Radio), is an interesting station, as it's been sharing its FM channel with Villanova University station WXVU (see my tour here) for 25 years. Although it streams online 24/7, Cavalier Radio broadcasts over FM on Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays and on part of the day on Sundays.

See my complete report on Radio Survivor.