Radio Station Field Trip #106 - Met Radio at MSU Denver

KMET Radio sticker at college radio station Met Radio. Photo: J. Waits

I'm doing my best to visit radio stations all over the country and was happy to have my first Colorado field trip earlier this month. Met Radio, at Metropolitan State University of Denver, is an online-only student-run college radio station. Part of a bigger student media group on campus, the station has passionate volunteers who host a variety of programs, including a marathon show last year that raised money for charity.

See my full report 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 #102 - WGTB at Georgetown University

Door to WGTB office. Photo: J. Waits

During my flurry of station visits in February, I stopped by Georgetown University's student-run college radio station WGTB. Now a streaming radio station, WGTB has an interesting history, including a more radical past, when it broadcast left-leaning ideas and music to the entire Washington, D.C. community over a powerful FM signal.

Although the station mainly serves the campus community today, it's an active part of Georgetown and has a large staff hosting shows, running events, blogging, and covering campus sports.

See my full report on Radio Survivor.

Radio Station Field Trip #101 - WCUA at Catholic University of America

Door at WCUA at Catholic University of America. Photo: J. Waits

College radio has a long history at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., with the first station launching in the 1920s. Today, streaming radio station WCUA operates out of the basement of the music building, sharing space with the percussion department. The dimly-lit station home houses gems from WCUA's past and also is the hub for its current operations.

See my full written report on Radio Survivor. I also discuss my visit to WCUA on the Radio Survivor Podcast, episode #50.

Radio Station Field Trip #100 - WPRB at Princeton University

Leo Blais sign at WPRB. Photo: J. Waits

It's hard to believe that I've now written up 100 radio station tours and I can't think of a more fitting station for that milestone visit than Princeton University's WPRB. My February, 2016 tour also included a stop at the station's history exhibit, which was held in honor of the 75th anniversary of student radio at Princeton.

Read my full report on Radio Survivor and don't miss our special podcast episode devoted to this visit as well.