WZRD (FM)

Last updated

WZRD
WZRD logo-large.gif
Broadcast area Chicago area
Frequency 88.3 MHz
BrandingThe Wizard
Programming
Format Freeform
Affiliations Pacifica Radio Network
Ownership
Owner Northeastern Illinois University
History
First air date
 1974 [1]
Call sign meaning
"Wizard"
Technical information [2]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 49444
Class A
ERP 100 watts
HAAT 22 meters (72 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
 41°58′56.1″N87°43′7.2″W / 41.982250°N 87.718667°W / 41.982250; -87.718667
Links
Public license information
Webcast Listen live
Website www.wzrdchicago.org

WZRD (88.3 MHz) is the student-run FM radio station at Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, Illinois, US, founded in 1974. The station serves the Chicago area. The station is licensed by the FCC to Northeastern Illinois University. [3] WZRD broadcasts on a freeform radio format and is a Pacifica Radio affiliate. [4]

Contents

Live performances

WZRD has hosted live in-studio performances over the years and many artists that played and continue to play in-studio during WZRD's "Thursday Night Live" program—a long running weekly live performance show featuring local, national, and international acts. [5]

Importance in the Chicago Punk scene (1980s)

WZRD was a hotbed for local and touring punk, hardcore, and post-punk groups in the 1980s. Steve Bjorklund, an early figure in Chicago's punk scene writes in the liner notes of The Effigies album "Remains Nonviewable":

It was the early spring of 1980, and the occasion was a free show by a shitty band called A Minimal Graphic in the auditorium at Northeastern Illinois University on the northwest side. Northeastern Illinois University was significant because it housed the only radio station in Chicago that wasn't afraid to play punk rock. [6]

Prominent figure in Chicago music, Steve Albini, states in Naked Raygun's Basement Screams reissue's liner notes that "Sunday Morning Nightmare" on WZRD was the "one radio program" for Chicago punk in the early 1980s. WZRD's role in the Chicago Punk scene was discussed in You Weren't There , a 2007 film that documents the Chicago Punk scene from 1977 through 1984.

2012 temporary closure

On June 29, 2012, Northeastern Illinois University temporarily closed down operations of WZRD due to issues of mismanagement. For instance, WZRD's broadcast license had expired, resulting in NEIU itself paying a $7,000 fine for failure to apply for renewal and for operating while no longer having a broadcast license, and having to ask for special temporary authority from the FCC to keep the station on the air. [7] Northeastern Illinois University Director of Student Leadership Development declared that the future of the radio club—and possibly the re-purposing of the radio station—would be decided following a search for a different programming format. In the meantime, WZRD would continue broadcasting using a "skeleton team", under the strict control of the university. The on-air programming was mostly provided by an automated DJ system.

On Tuesday, November 13, 2012, NEIU's newspaper the Independent headline story was "WZRD 88.3 Back in Business." Based on what the administration handed down to the collective, it did not reflect the Exiler's intentions. "The Participants will be expected to abide by standards of conduct compatible with Northeastern Illinois University standards...Wizard will be overseen by the Office of Student Leadership" and furthermore it said that although the students would retain their autonomy "the organization's bylaws, constitution, and powers of the program manager require revision and the addition of a 'statement of civility and decorum on how the actions of Djs will be treated'"

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WKNC-FM</span> Radio station at North Carolina State University

WKNC-FM is North Carolina State University's student-run, non-commercial college radio station broadcasting from Raleigh, North Carolina in the United States. Broadcasting with an effective radiated power of 25,000 watts, its signal covers much of the Research Triangle and outlying areas. The station is operated as part of the Department of Student Media at N.C. State and students hold all roles from DJ to general manager. The primary weekday format is indie rock, with specialty shows and other music genres featured during the evenings and weekends.

WPGU is a fully commercial, student-run college radio station on the campus of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in Champaign, Illinois. It broadcasts an alternative rock radio format and other programming throughout Champaign-Urbana and surrounding communities. It is owned independently from the university by the Illini Media Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WXPN</span> Public radio station in Philadelphia

WXPN is a non-commercial, public radio station licensed to the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that broadcasts an adult album alternative (AAA) radio format, along with many other format shows. WXPN produces World Cafe, a music program distributed by NPR to many non-commercial stations in the United States. The station's call sign, which is often abbreviated to XPN, stands for "Experimental Pennsylvania Network". The broadcast tower used by WXPN is located at, in the antenna farm complex in the Roxborough section of Philadelphia.

KMBI-FM is a non-profit radio station in Spokane, Washington. It broadcasts a Christian talk and teaching radio format and is owned by the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. KMBI-FM serves as the flagship station of the Moody Radio Northwest network, serving Eastern Washington, Northeastern Oregon, Northern Idaho, Western Montana and Northwestern Wyoming. The network holds periodic fundraisers on the air to support the broadcasts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WRFL</span> Radio station in Lexington, Kentucky

WRFL, Lexington is a 7900-watt college radio station that broadcasts live, 24 hours a day, from the University of Kentucky campus in Lexington, Kentucky. The station has broadcast continuously at 88.1 MHz on the FM radio band since 1988, and prior to COVID-19, without automation.

WGBK 88.5 FM is a non commercial radio station operated by the students and faculty advisers of Glenbrook South High School in Glenview, Cook County, Illinois and Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook, Illinois.

WGVU-FM is an NPR member station serving Grand Rapids, Michigan. Owned by Grand Valley State University, it is simulcast in West Michigan. The main broadcast frequency is 88.5 MHz, which is licensed to Allendale, the Grand Rapids suburb that is home to Grand Valley State's main campus. It is simulcast on WGVS-FM 95.3 MHz, which is licensed to Whitehall and serves Muskegon. The format is talk radio from NPR, along with jazz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WILL-FM</span> Radio station in Urbana, Illinois

WILL-FM is a public, listener-supported radio station owned by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and licensed to Urbana, Illinois, United States. It is operated by Illinois Public Media, with studios located at Campbell Hall for Public Telecommunication on the university campus. Most of WILL-FM's schedule is classical music with NPR news programs heard in weekday morning and afternoon drive times. Weekends feature classical and other genres of music, including jazz and opera.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WRSE</span> Radio station at Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, Illinois

WRSE is a college radio station in Elmhurst, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago.

WLNX is a radio station licensed to Lincoln, Illinois, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WZLY</span> Radio station in Massachusetts, United States

WZLY is a non-commercial radio station broadcasting a college radio format. Licensed to Wellesley, Massachusetts, United States, the station is staffed by students of and is owned by Wellesley College. The student organization that hosts radio shows and maintains the broadcast is also known as WZLY.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WMBI-FM</span> Moody Radio flagship station in Chicago

WMBI-FM is a radio station broadcasting in Chicago, Illinois. WMBI-FM is owned and operated by the Moody Bible Institute and broadcasts from their campus in downtown Chicago, and transmitter facilities are located in Addison.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KCWU</span> Radio station in Ellensburg, Washington

KCWU, also known as 88.1 The 'Burg, is the college radio station for Central Washington University based out of Ellensburg, Washington. The history of The 'Burg starts back in 1958 when small broadcast facility, KCAT, started broadcasting on 880 AM. The 'Burg, now KCWU, has expanded its broadcast facility. It now broadcasts 430 watts effective radiated power at a frequency of 88.1 MHz.

WHFH 88.5 FM is an American FM non-profit non-commercial educational high school radio station licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to serve the community of and areas surrounding Flossmoor, Illinois. The station is owned and operated by Homewood-Flossmoor High School.

WCRX is an FM radio station based in Chicago, Illinois. WCRX is a non-commercial campus radio station owned and operated by Columbia College Chicago. The station is located at 33 East Congress in Chicago and operated by students in the school's radio department. WCRX provides music, news, sports, and community affairs programming.

WKPX is the non-commercial, educational radio station owned and operated by the Broward County Public Schools (BCPS), broadcasting at 3,000 watts and reaching all of Broward County. In mid-2020, production studios were relocated from Piper High School, where the station had operated for many years, to BECON's production facility in Davie. This move is a first step in a plan to create internship opportunities for students throughout BCPS to get training and practical experience in radio as well as television and video production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WXAV</span> Radio station at St. Xavier University in Chicago

WXAV is the college radio station of Saint Xavier University in Chicago. WXAV serves the south and southwest side of Chicago, Illinois and its surrounding suburbs. WXAV has its studios located inside the radio station building. The building is nearby the Mercy Meeting Place.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WLRA</span> Radio station broadcast by Lewis University, Lockport, Illinois

WLRA or sometimes called WLRA Radio, or WLRA-FM, is a college radio station broadcasting a variety format. Licensed to Lockport, Illinois, USA, the station serves the Chicago/greater Joliet region. The station is licensed to and owned by Lewis University. Lewis University is a private Roman Catholic and Lasallian university with an enrollment of around 6,800 students. The station is a member of the National Association of Broadcasters, Illinois Broadcasters Association, and Broadcast Education Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northeastern Illinois University</span> Public university in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) is a public university in Chicago, Illinois. NEIU serves approximately 9,000 students in the region and is a Hispanic-serving institution. The main campus is located in the community area of North Park with three additional campuses in the metropolitan area. NEIU has one of the longest running free-form community radio stations, WZRD Chicago 88.3 FM.

WEPS is a radio station licensed to serve Elgin, Illinois, United States. The station is owned by the Elgin Area School District U46 and licensed to Board of Education School District U-46. Founded in 1950, WEPS is the oldest non-commercial educational radio station in the state of Illinois.

References

  1. ↑ History Cards for WZRD, fcc.gov. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for WZRD". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ↑ "WZRD Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  4. ↑ "FreeForm Radio: WZRD Chicago 88.3". WZRD. 2020. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  5. ↑ "WZRD Official Website". WZRD.
  6. ↑ "Effigies' Remains Liner Notes".
  7. ↑ "University to pay $7,000 fine to FCC".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.