In the commercial takeover and mass mergers of mainstream radio over the last decade much of the musical freedom was lost. Playlists are structured by the large corporations and syndicated nationally to please the lowest common denominator of radio listener. It is kind of depressing to a true music lover like myself. On the opposite end of the spectrum is one of the purest things in the music industry today, College Radio.
Independent college radio stations are one of the last remaining bastions of creative radio programming. They remain free of the constrictions of having to be commercially viable and stay constant as a place where those involved in its programming are truly passionate about the music and in its mission. College radio is the only free live medium brave enough to play unsigned, local, and independent artists on a regular basis. Indeed, many successful bands today owe their initial break to being played on a college radio station. Put simply, college radio is an important part of the media landscape because of its unique and fearless programming.
This past Tuesday was the second annual College Radio Day. In the same vein as record store day, College Radio Day is set to create greater awareness of all the great available music that is out there on the airwaves. It is hoped that on this day more people will give a listen to their local college radio station to see what they have to offer. Any real music fan will come back often to find the true gems in music before the commercial giants have their way with them.
This year in association with the day a College Radio Day Album has been released. It features Grammy Award winning artists The Civil Wars and Blues Traveler, along with indie rock favorites We Are Scientists, The Maine, Delta Spirit, Umphrey’s McGee, Soul Khan and The Front Bottoms. The album has a distinct concept with Disc 1 College Radio Sessions featuring mostly unsigned artists performing in college radio stations across the country. Disc 2 Artists Stand with College Radio features signed artists who have donated rare or unreleased tracks to help the cause of college radio. The album was released everywhere digitally on October 2nd. There will also be a limited edition double CD (only 1,500 copies), individually numbered for sale from www.collegeradioday.com while stocks last.
All the proceeds will go into a fund administered by CRD. Financial grants to varying college radio stations will be doled out to help buy new (needed) equipment, repair existing equipment, support promotional events and provide help in other ways.
Go support this worthy cause immediately and give the music a listen at:
