Aggie Radio: Journey to FM

With the upcoming transition from webcasting to FM, Aggie Radio has changed its policies regarding programming. 

In previous years, students could create a talk or music show that would be broadcast on the station. However, with the upcoming conversion to FM broadcasting, the decision was made to limit the programming to a sports and news show in the morning, and alternative music during the day. 

“When you listen to an FM station, they have a genre and organized programming,” said the station manager Cody Scott. “We want to be as professional as they are.”

To ensure that the creativity of the students will not be taken away, Aggie Radio has started a digital podcast recording studio and podcast channel that allows any student in Aggie Radio to produce shows to be posted.

“Our slogan is ‘For the Students, By the Students,’ and we didn’t want to lose touch with our roots, so the podcast channel allows for student created content to still be available,” Scott said.

“I’m really glad that Aggie Radio decided to start a podcast channel, I was really bummed out when I thought I couldn’t have a show this semester, but now I know I still can.” said junior Morgan Casey. 

During the spring semester of 2015, Aggie Radio announced that it would be converting from webcasting to FM broadcasting beginning Sept. 23, 2015, after receiving approval from the Federal Communications Committee in the fall of 2014. 

Come September, Aggie Radio was not where it had hoped to be when the organization’s officers made the announcement. 

“September came around, and we just didn't have the funding. It’s looking like it will be closer to December 31,” Scott said. 

Aggie Radio recently received a $20,000 loan from USU and is actively working to fundraise the balance of the money for the conversion.

“We’ve hit multiple roadblocks with finances and adjusting policy, but we’re chugging along,” Scott said. “We will still begin shows this fall, and will continue to broadcast from our website. We’ll go FM when we’re ready.” 

Any USU student is welcome to join Aggie Radio. There is an interview application that can be filled out on the website at http://www.usu.edu/radio/.