by Rob Quicke
Over 360 college radio stations in America, Canada and Jamaica came together and rocked the airways to remind people just how important college radio is. I have been amazed by the brilliant and imaginative ideas and events that college stations put on during the day. Here?s just a small taste of the amazing ways that college stations celebrated CRD:
? WITR 89.7 at Rochester Institute of Technology, raffled off a guitar that had been signed by every band that's come into their station for a live session.
? The WOLF, at the University of West Georgia, partnered with "Atlanta Mission" to have a clothing drive, "Waylin's Robin' the Hood for the Greater Good." The first 200 students to donate received free wrist bands.
? Sting Radio at the University of Texas at Brownsville teamed up with their Student Radio Club and a local Production company to celebrate College Radio Day with BMX Bike Performers, two dance crew performances and a live graffiti art demonstration.
? WCCR FM at the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, KY offered a huge diversity of music programming all day long, from ?The Jazz Stop?, ?The British Hour? and ?Hillbilly Highway? to ?Dance Party!? and ?Strictly The Sixties? ? the station played a wide selection of music you won?t hear on commercial radio.
? WSOU FM at Seton Hall University, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., featured either an interview with a band that WSOU helped to break or with one of the student managers talking why college radio is important to him/her. ?Hearing a student talk about the transformative experience s/he has had working in college radio really struck an emotional chord,? says GM Mark Maben.
? KTAI FM at Texas A & M University, Kingsville, had an 11-hour ?Blow-Out on the Boulevard?- their main University Blvd was closed off for the day. Their celebrations included: a Classic Car Show, 10 Live Bands, Horse and Pony Rides (really), their Mascot ?Porky? and also their Cheerleaders!
This is just a handful of the more than 360 college radio stations who took part to celebrate the medium of college radio. This day truly was a celebration of everything that college radio is. The aim of College Radio Day was to raise a greater, national awareness of the many college and high school radio stations that operate in North America by encouraging people who would not normally listen to college radio to do so on this day. I truly believe that we achieved that goal yesterday. It is hoped that those people who did tune in liked what they heard and become regular listeners.
College radio is the only free live medium brave enough to play unsigned, local, and independent artists on a regular basis. Indeed, many famous and successful bands today, owe their initial break to being played on college radio. Put simply, college radio is an important part of the North American media landscape because of its unique and fearless programming. Here?s to College Radio Day 2012!
Rob Quicke is the founder of College Radio Day and can be reached at QUICKER@wpunj.edu
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