Today, I’m going to do less writing, and let others do the talking.
The reason? I’ve got three college radio students I want you to hear from. In an environment where fewer young people even listen to radio, these kids want to work in the business. In fact, they want it just as much as we did.
In the 4 minute video below, you’ll hear from Natty, Jonathan, and Holly. They, and thousands of other students learning the art and craft of radio, need our help – to pay bills, tuition, and all the other costs facing college students trying to stay afloat. The remarkable thing about them is that they love radio, and want to make their careers in the same business you and I have.
When you hear them tell their stories, I have a feeling you just might hear your high school or college self talking.
The College Radio Foundation is a nonprofit raising funds for scholarships for students like these. Their event is “Vinylthon 2022,” this coming Saturday, April 23rd.
The day is about playing vinyl that Saturday, however a station decides to do it: all day, at the top of the hour, or album sides throughout the day. Whether you play music or you talk, it makes no difference. The event is about raising funds to help these kids make it.
So, even if you can’t get hold of a turntable or two, or no one on the staff has a vinyl collection, that’s OK, too. But take the time to make a contribution. Hopefully, $99. But if you can’t swing that, any amount will do.
Go to www.vinylthon.com and help a college kid make their way into radio. You’ll be investing in them…and investing in the future of radio.
One last ask: forward this post to everyone in radio you know. With five days left to make a statement, I’m hoping we can raise some serious money.
Thanks for letting me use this space today for “the ask.”
Jacobs Media has consistently walked the walk in the digital space, providing insights and guidance through its well-read national Techsurveys.
In 2008, jacapps was launched - a mobile apps company that has designed and built more than 1,300 apps for both the Apple and Android platforms. In 2013, the DASH Conference was created - a mashup of radio and automotive, designed to foster better understanding of the "connected car" and its impact.
Along with providing the creative and intellectual direction for the company, Fred consults many of Jacobs Media's commercial and public radio clients, in addition to media brands looking to thrive in the rapidly changing tech environment.
Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
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Learning Radio & Broadcast in College is one of the greatest life skills available. Thank you, Fred. And, thank you University of Hartford for WWUH-FM, Stereo, on air July 13, 1968 West Hartford, CT.
Thanks, Clark. Please share with all your contacts!
It’s so important to build a farm team for the future of this business. We have an amazing college radio alumni on our staff and we’re doing our best to turn him into an OM for our future.
I’m hearing from the future of broadcasting that it’s the pay that keeps them out of the business. We can’t expect to build a future in this business if we don’t value them enough to pay them for their talent and time. Sure, they’re getting training, but if we want them for ourselves, we MUST PAY these new radio people to work for us.
I had 2 and sometimes 3 jobs in my early days of broadcasting, just to keep my radio shift. It’s paid off in MY career. However, I don’t think that starving and homelessness should be a right of passage for broadcasters. I don’t mean $20 an hour, I’m talking $12 or $15. If they’re giving us their all, why can’t we give them a wage that’s livable? If we don’t, I really feel we’re killing ourselves.
Came here to say this. I work with some seriously bright, passionate young people who work incredibly hard at all hours to do the unglamourous work. I’d like to see them be able to have a decent future in this business and not burn themselves out. We need to be paying them liveable salaries.
I’m all about this Matt. When Burger King is paying the same thing radio is (or MORE!), we’re doing ourselves and young people a terrible disservice.
We’re reading out of the same hymnal, Tammie. See my comment to Matt Butler. It’s an issue when young people can make a better living with better benefits as a barista. Radio doesn’t have the career magnetism it used to back in the 70’s and 80’s. We’re going to have to devise ways to compensate them more competitively if we have any hope of retaining them. Thanks for weighing in on this one.
Read the blog when it came out but didn’t get a chance to watch the video til just now, Sunday. Wow, I’m on that same hymnal page with you, Fred. How do you not LOVE these kids and their passion and stories and heart and dreams? How do you watch this and NOT have renewed hope for the future of radio?
My sentiment exactly, David. I really enjoyed chatting with those kids because it (distanatly) reminded me of myself and the other radio aspirants I went to school with. Thanks for the comment.