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Students from nearly 600 college radio stations in 38 countries are celebrating World College Radio Day today, October 2, 2020 – an initiative co-founded 10 years ago by William Paterson University Professor of Communication Rob Quicke. It was on the University campus, at WPSC-FM Brave New Radio, that the very first College Radio Day was celebrated.
The mission of World College Radio Day is to harness the combined listenership of hundreds of thousands of college radio listeners internationally and celebrate the important contribution of college radio by uniting for one day. To listen to a documentary recently published by The College Radio News Network about the birth and history of this celebration, click here.
Though William Paterson’s Brave New Radio resumed operations in September, many college radio stations still affected by COVID-19 closures and restrictions have vowed to find a way to unite with others for this milestone worldwide celebration. “Obviously, we never could have imagined these challenging circumstances for our tenth anniversary. However, the students are eager to celebrate and will be participating in any way they can because they want to remind everyone that now, more than ever, college radio is still such a vitally important medium,” says Quicke. “Students have embraced technologies that allow them to broadcast from their homes to connect with an audience around the world.”
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“College Radio Day is important to me because it's the day students have the capability to express themselves like none other, during a time where our voices need to be heard like never before,,” says WP student Davontae "Vont" Leak '23, Program Director at WPSC-FM Brave New Radio.
Multi-platinum music icon Bret Michaels is the official 2020 Ambassador for this year’s event.
"In this difficult time, there has never been a more important year, or a better year, for the hope that college radio brings. It is the future of communications and, in a year like this, communication is key. Music itself is the soundtrack to life and helps drive us through these unprecedented times. When dorms and campuses may be quiet, this should be the time for college radio to be going strong,” says Bret Michaels.
His Life Rocks Foundation will be donating $10,000 to participating college radio stations around the world, matching the funds raised by the College Radio Foundation, which organizes the College Radio Day event. This year’s theme is “Global Solidarity Rocks”, taking into account the global collaborations that happen each year, but also reflecting on current needs worldwide, from the streets of Beirut to the race to find a cure for COVID-19, to all the teachers and students returning to schools with much uncertainty.
The theme also pays homage to campus radio stations historically standing in solidarity with new artists, providing a platform for voices that otherwise may not be heard.
