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Miami University's student radio station, WMSR, has grown by 40 members and increased its number of listeners this semester, according to Mike Cohen, the station's general manager.
Cohen, a senior studying environmental science and zoology, said he and the rest of the radio station's board have been working very hard to let students know about the station and to get people involved.
That hard work may have paid off with more than 12,000 hits to the station's Web site, http://www.redhawkradio.com, during the first week of broadcast during the fall 2009 semester.
WMSR recently added a promotions staff and increased the number of information sessions for interested students, Cohen said.
Additionally, the station has been working to increase its partnership with other student organizations and trying to get first-years involved as listeners or staff.
"Having a radio station on campus is a great tool," Cohen said.
Cohen said the station offers a unique forum for discussion, an outlet for advertisement and promotion and a mix of music and information that's relevant to Miami students.
The station has grown its news staff from two members during the 2008-09 academic year to 18 members, said WMSR News Director Lizzie Bourque.
"We tried to make a program out of it instead of just one show," said Bourque, a senior mass communication major.
This year, the station airs three news shows.
The news programs cover general campus, local, national, and world news Mondays and Wednesdays.
The station airs a new Miami Student news show at 7 p.m. Tuesdays that discusses stories from the newspaper and features interviews with The Miami Student's staff.
Bourque said she and the news staff are trying to expand to cover more community news, adding that the station covers a unique niche.
Bourque said in addition to increasing the staff and news coverage, the station has "done a good job of promoting and getting more listeners this year, and getting more first-years involved."
Danny Capaccio, co-host of the Mapel Cappuccino Show, said he's noticed greater diversity at the station this year.
"It seems to me that people involved with WMSR have a broader interest in music," Capaccio said. "It's not just 'indie' kids who want to play the same songs that are on the rotation, but people who have more of an interest in different styles."
Capaccio said he and co-host Spencer Mapes, both musicians, "play mostly independent artists in varying styles from metal to folk. However, we only have one rule on the show: No Nickelback - ever."
Capaccio said he thinks student radio is incredibly unique.
"People on student radio are generally inexperienced and enthusiastic about everything," Capaccio said. "There's ambition that hasn't been crushed by an industry that gives its rules to the people involved."
Capaccio said he loves being able to play music he likes and hopes that others will tune in as well.
