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 #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 #147: KAKX-FM at Mendocino High School

View from KAKX-FM studio. Photo: J. Waits

I LOVE visiting high school radio stations and for my latest, I toured KAKX-FM at Mendocino High School in Mendocino, California. Part of a broader production arts department, station participants also have their hands in video and music production, as well as running sound and lights for school events. Located in a small town, the station and its students have benefited from a range of collaborations with the local radio community.

See my full report on Radio Survivor.

Also, take a look at my new radio station tours page on Radio Survivor to view tours by category (college radio, high school radio, community radio, etc.)

Radio Station Visit #146: WGXC's Hudson Studio

WGXC banner in front of station's Hudson location. Photo: J. Waits

Wave Farm operates community radio station WGXC-FM out of studios in both Acra and Hudson, New York. While my previous field trip report on my visit to the Acra location delves into the transmissions arts aspects of the station; my trip to the Hudson studio reveals more about WGXC's overall programming. Located in a church basement, WGXC Hudson has an active roster of show hosts from the area and a community-oriented approach to news programming. Its app even facilitates live broadcasts generated by a wide group of contributors; ranging from arts venues to civic-minded individuals.

See my full report on Radio Survivor and hear more about my tour on Radio Survivor Show #151.

Radio Station Visit #145: Wave Farm and WGXC Hudson

Sound effects toys in the studio at Wave Farm's WGXC Acra. Photo: J. Waits

I was pretty blown away by my visit last month to the arts-focused Wave Farm in Acra, New York. Home to community radio station WGXC-FM, it's also a hot bed for transmission arts and radio-oriented artists-in-residence. Hidden radios dot a trail through the woods, with transmission art pieces throughout the property, including a pond radio station and Quintron's Weather Warlock. With another main studio in Hudson, New York (the topic of my next tour post), WGXC not only airs experimental programming, but also news, music shows, and youth programming.

Read my full report on Radio Survivor. Also, hear more about my visit on Radio Survivor Show/Podcast #151.

Radio Station Visit #144 - KVCB-LP at Vacaville Christian Schools

VCS Radio Conservatory truck. Photo: J. Waits

Vacaville Christian Schools' VCS Radio (aka KVCB-LP) is not your average high school radio station. Under the umbrella of VCS Radio Conservatory, the station is an extension of the adventurous music program, offering 3rd graders through high schoolers the opportunity to participate in the presentation of radio programming over the station's multiple channels.

A low power FM/HD station, KVCB has channels airing old time radio, student-created music works and sound art, live radio shows, and more. There's even a secret Morse code message embedded in the signal and a Tesla Coil at the station's HQ in Vacaville, California.

Read my full report about my February, 2018 visit 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 #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 #139 - WFUV at Fordham University

Keating Hall - home to WFUV at Fordham University. Photo: J. Waits

When my sister-in-law became the Dean of Fordham College at Rose Hill, I knew that it was just a matter of time before I took a trip to the Bronx to not only see her, but to also tour the school's public radio station WFUV. The time finally arrived over spring break and it was great getting a VIP tour of the long-time station (it dates back to 1947).

Little did I know that WFUV is an atypical public radio station in that it employees a large number of students to help out with many tasks, including video production, engineering, news, and sports. 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 #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.