College Radio—A Breed All Its Own
College DJ’s are surrounded by a cloud of mystique. Somewhere an undoubtedly funky college station is pumping music that has just been released or is only sold in some guy’s basement. Gravelly-voiced DJs discuss their philosophy on music and advertise upcoming parties at the same time. A different breed than your standard radio disc-jockey, these masters of the microphone not only march to their own drum, they march to their own drum machine.
To some listeners, college DJs may not seem like a big deal. But the truth is college DJs serve a greater purpose—for them, it isn’t about just having fun doing a university job. College radio DJs are the gatekeepers of college radio, which for indie artists and college bands is an open forum to have their music heard for the very first time. And best of all, college radio is a safe haven where any band can play and get played, without having to worry about ratings.
New Mexico State University DJ, Glory Reichelt says the impact of college radio stations like KRUX-FM, where she works, is often overlooked, “It’s a useful tool for artists [and] I think it’s a really strong medium,” she adds. “It’s a really good starting ground and [college radio DJs] feel they’re overlooked for playing that music first. [That’s] a lot more important than people think it is.”
So why are college DJ’s so important? Since university radio stations are independent and not controlled by university politics or advertising, they’re generally focused on promoting “pure” music. College DJs introduce new music to the masses and give airplay to bands that may never otherwise be heard—they’re like a petri dish for the music industry.
And for college students, college radio is the ideal—a radio station with music they actually like, run by people their own age. For students who ultimately get involved as DJs, it’s a wonderful experience to meet people who share their passion for music. And it’s more than just a job—it gives them an opportunity to express their feelings, thoughts and musical styles.
“The first thing is that [college radio] can be used [as] a voice for students,” KRUX DJ Glory says. “Kids are allowed to play the music they want to play. They feel [they can] express themselves and people are able to hear [music they] may not have been able to hear before.” For other students, it means being around their own kind, “I think what college radio does is important because it creates an environment for people with like-minded interests to get together and do something they all like,” says University of Texas DJ and Station Manger at KVRX-FM, Loren Seeger, “It’s a good way to learn about new music, old music and the history of music. [Also] it’s a good way to really explore the whole genre of College Rock and explore lesser known acts—people who are struggling to get noticed.” For many college students, finding an indie band no one has heard of is like finding buried treasure. And for indie bands hungry for airplay, college radio stations shine like a beacon of hope in the cruel recording world.
Author's biography:
Miranda Koerner is a freelance writer who lives with her husband in San Antonio, Texas. Her fascination for music came from growing up in Austin. She currently writes for several magazines and websites, on everything from peanut butter to garage bands.
