Bringing Back Indie Radio

UR Chicago is a pretty sweet magazine. It “takes the sights and sounds of tomorrow and delivers them to Chicago today,” according to their about section. It is independent and Chicago-based and always has awesome cover art. And in their April 2008 issue they covered CHIRP, the Chicago Independent Radio Project. (article here) CHIRP was founded by Shawn Cambell and is working to bring back independent radio stations in the wake of Loyola’s decision to reclaim WLUM (88.7FM), one of the last of the local stations in Chicago. How?

 ”To do so, we need to get a bill, the Local Community Radio Act, through Congress,” Campbell says. LPFM, or low power FM broadcasting, is the goal. It’s low-power, low-cost broadcasting for smaller communities and offers a chance for different, local voices to be heard.     

 If anyone else is tired of listening to Rihanna 24/7, Buddha knows I am, this is a great thing to hear! Clear Channel is slowly destroying a casual music fan’s chance of ever hearing something that hasn’t been created by a marketing campaign backed by millions of dollars. Chicago’s a really cool place and I’m tired of it being treated like just another fly-over city. Bringing back indie radio is just one way we can keep our unique vibe. So fight for it! And check out Music Evangelism too!