WMSC-FM to Serve as NJ Headquarters for College Radio Day Around the World

On Friday, October 3, 2014, 90.3 WMSC-FM, Montclair State University’s “underground” radio station, will take part in College Radio Day, a global event to raise awareness of the impact college and high school radio stations have on campuses and local communities.

This is the fourth consecutive year the University-based station will join more than 700 college and high school radio stations around the world and the first year it has been asked to serve as New Jersey headquarters. In that role, WMSC will coordinate statewide coverage and facilitate communication between event organizers and the 10 to 15 New Jersey stations that are expected to participate.  

“This is a day of consciousness-raising for college radio,” says School of Communication and Media professor Dick Hinchliffe who as General Manager/Radio is responsible for all campus radio services. “We’re a student-run, free-form college version of NPR that offers an exciting mix of campus news, music, events and live performances. We hope that people will tune in on Friday and discover what makes our station unique and important.”

More than 100 Montclair State students will be involved in live 24-hour, wall-to-wall coverage that kicks off on Friday, October 3, at 12 a.m. and concludes at 12 a.m. the next day. “This is our first live 24-hour broadcast in years,” notes Hinchliffe. This year, WMSC has planned 24-hours of interviews with industry professionals, student leaders and University faculty and staff, CD and ticket giveaways, live performances and surprises. The station will also carry College Radio Day’s inaugural simulcast.

“College Radio Day for us just gets bigger and better each year. Our lineup is huge and I’m excited for people to feel the incredible impact and pure joy that is college radio,” says Montclair State junior and WMSC Programming Director Silas Kezengwa. “We’re incredibly proud to not only participate again, but also to be selected as this year’s state headquarters.”

Hinchliffe notes that student interest and participation in the station has grown in the past few years. “WMSC is our students’ station. It’s all about the great things that go on at Montclair State. College Radio Day showcases this. It’s a great day that’s a lot of fun for everyone involved.”

WMSC has been “The Voice of Montclair State” for 48 years. Listeners can tune into WMSC at 90.3 FM, online at wmscradio.com or with the Live 365 application on their smart phones and tablets. WMSC invites them to join the conversation by using the hash tag #WMSCCRD and to follow WMSC on Twitter @WMSC (twitter.com/wmsc) for the latest updates and giveaways. People can view exclusive images of the day’s events will be posted on WMSC’s Instagram @WMSCRadio (instagram.com/wmscradio) and post their own visuals using the hash tag #WMSCCRD. For more information, visit wmscradio.com.