…ride the air waves with KGSM student radio

KGSM, Gustavus’ student-run radio station, kicked off what it hopes will be another successful year last Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012.

The station plans to forge ahead following the reintroduction of the program last spring. Following the wreckage of the radio tower in the 1998 tornado, the station had been plagued with financial and technical issues before being laid to rest two years ago.

KGSM is back once again, streaming online to the masses for the second semester since its rebirth, all thanks to the staff under the direction of General Manager Amelia Holmes.

“This year, we really want to focus on increasing our on-campus awareness. KGSM is essentially a media outlet. It is made up of a community of peers who spread news and ideas, just in musical form. We’d like to eventually have a presence on the level of GAC TV and The Weekly,”Holmes said.

As of press time, 18 shows have been approved and have begun to stream this week, but there are still a few slots available for anyone who is still interested in channeling their inner disc jockey.

“Any students who want to know more about having a DJ position should definitely get in contact with me. We generally accept people at any time,” Holmes said. “It’s a great way to get involved and it’s really stress-free.”

Shows are two hours long and are recorded live at the studio located in Beck Academic Hall. Among this year’s weekly line-up are shows that range in title from Two Guys and a Mic, Midwest Jumbo and The Gustavus Star, to Western Exposure, Dead Air and Flounder Up My Mustache. What do they sound like? You’ll have to tune in.

“This year is shaping up to be much better than last year. There are a lot of students who deejayed last year, like me, who are coming back. That, paired with all of the interest among the first-year students, is what is going to make this year really work for us,” Senior Cristian Raether, a returning DJ said. He will be broadcasting alongside Holmes with an indie show he likes to call “The Wednesday Night Special,” airing from 10:00 p.m. to midnight.

“Our show is going to be more about the background story of music. We’ll play four songs, and then talk about the history of them and how they came to be. It will be a cross between a music show and a talk show,” Raether said.

Live performances may also be on the horizon for the station, according to Senior Thomas Johnson, the station’s System Administrator.

“I can’t stress enough how KGSM is such an incredible opportunity for students at Gustavus, not only as a way to get their musical tastes out there, but for local musicians. We are even exploring the possibility of recording in-studio sessions and releasing a campus CD sampler,” Johnson said.

While opportunities continue to arise for the KGSM, the necessity for listeners remains a critical issue.

“Listen up. It’s never been more important,” Raether said.

Shows air Sunday through Thursday, and the link to the live stream can be found on the station’s blog at www.kgsm.blog.gustavus.edu.