WZBC
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article does not cite any references or sources. (May 2007) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. |
WZBC (90.3 FM) is a Boston College student-run and FCC-licensed 1000 watt radio station. While the station is run solely by BC students (with help from a faculty advisor), much of the on-air staff is made up of members of the surrounding Boston community. The station broadcasts alternative and indie rock during the day, and then branches out to more diverse styles (ranging from funk to lounge to Middle Eastern) in the early evening. At night, the station focuses on experimental music, which it calls "No Commercial Potential." WZBC is located in Newton, Massachusetts at the corner of Beacon and Hammond on Boston College's main campus. WZBC also broadcasts sports for the Boston College Eagles, including basketball, football, hockey, baseball, and softball.
Contents |
[edit] History
Originally founded as WVBC, "The Voice of Boston College", the radio station began in 1960 as a carrier-current AM station, broadcasting solely to the university community through the electrical wiring of on-campus buildings and dormitories. After operating in this capacity for 13 years, Trustees of Boston College applied for and was granted a license to operate WZBC (FM), a 17 watt station which aired a wide range of music, from folk to country to rock. With the advent of WZBC (FM), the radio station expanded its listenership and began serving school's neighboring community.
WZBC has seen tremendous growth since its inception in 1974. The station was granted a power increase in 1975, bringing the station's output to 1000 watts, allowing for further expansion of its listenership. Another important change took place in 1979, when the station started broadcasting in stereo. Perhaps the most important change in WZBC history occurred shortly after the switch to stereo, when the station narrowed its rock format to the genre known as modern rock, playing new bands which, for the most part, commercial radio would not touch, often because they were unmarketable. At approximately the same time, WZBC also began broadcasting more experimental music under the moniker No Commercial Potential.
In addition to the FM station, there is also WVBC-AM[1]—staffed solely by students—which operates on a carrier-current, much like the station's predecessor, WVBC. The signal is pumped directly to the Eagle's Nest cafeteria, and is also broadcast over the BC cable television system. It should be noted that the programming on the AM station is much closer to the mainstream compared to the FM programming.
[edit] In-studio performances and interviews
|
|
This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2007) |
Artists who have appeared in the WZBC studios include:
Bright (band), Combustible Edison, Coop, The Dentists, Dump, Einstürzende Neubauten, Gomez, Guided by Voices, Helium, Interpol, Paula Kelley, KMFDM, Ben Lee, The Legendary Pink Dots, Low, Branford Marsalis, Neptune, Nirvana, Pavement, Pixies, The Police, Marky Ramone, REM, Shonen Knife, Sigur Rós, The Sisters of Mercy, Six Finger Satellite, Elliott Smith, Sonic Youth, Spiritualized, Spoon, Sufjan Stevens, Times New Viking, Tipsy, Gillian Welch, The Wolfgang Press.
[edit] Trivia
- WZBC has been named in the top ten college stations in the nation by Rolling Stone magazine.[citation needed]
- During the late 1970s, WZBC's Rich Rapp Show was so popular it was rated by the Arbitron rating service along with commercial stations.
- R.E.M.’s “Radio Free Europe” was mixed in the WZBC studio, and at least one past member has participated in the production of R.E.M. videos.[citation needed]
- The Police came for an interview at WZBC and begged listeners to come to their show at The Rat.[citation needed]
- A former WZBC DJ, Magnus (Monday nights 7-10 p.m.), was allegedly the first DJ in Boston to play hip-hop on the radio, and allegedly the first DJ in the country to have a rap/hip-hop show.[citation needed]
- The indie synthpop band Freezepop is known to be fans of WZBC and has even made references to the station in songs such as "Starlight."
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Official site
- WZBC fan site
- Query the FCC's FM station database for WZBC
- Radio Locator information on WZBC
- Query Arbitron's FM station database for WZBC
|
|||||
