Organization in national top 10 among college radio stations
Nominees for the 2014 Woodie Awards include Beyoncé, Kanye West, Lorde … and WUSC-FM.
For the first time ever, USC’s student-run radio station has broken into the top 10 in the running for the nation’s best college radio station.
After getting into the top 25 in 2013, WUSC could win its first mtvU Woodie Award. Kate Appelbaum, WUSC’s station manager, is very excited about this year’s nomination. She said that even though WUSC has a strong presence on social media, the station gets its street cred through word-of-mouth pull.
“I’m pretty sure we’re the only station in the running that does a ‘no top 40’ music policy,” Appelbaum said. “So, if you think about it, we’re the only true college radio station.”
If WUSC wins the college radio Woodie, Appelbaum said she thinks that the station’s reputation with students will grow. In addition, the award would draw more of the school’s attention to the radio.
“It would definitely put us back in the game,” she said. “Our station is really growing. The past few years especially, we’ve been seen as this weird, hipster, untouchable crowd, and now our last few classes of DJs have been so diverse.”
The executive producer of the 2014 mtvU Woodie Awards, Eric Conte, is looking forward to rewarding one college radio station for their hard work with plenty of publicity — and an award.
“College radio is amazing,” he said. “You aren’t going to find a more passionate group of radio DJs across the country.”
Woodie nominations start with a huge list of college radio stations from across the country. Among other things, mtvU talks to industry insiders and observes fan responses to carefully pick which student radio stations deserve to be nominated for the award.
“We’re excited for all nominees, and we can’t wait out to hand out another Woodie,” said Conte.
Started in 2002, mtvU’s goal is to give alternative music a voice on MTV. Outside of college radio, Woodie categories include Woodie of the Year, Did It My Way Woodie, Best Video Woodie and several others.
In 2013, the University of Alaska-Fairbanks won the Woodie that WUSC is up for this year.
Woodie Awards are won through online voting. You can vote for WUSC on MTV’s website at http://www.mtv.com/ontv/woodieawards/2014/college-radio-woodie/.
The 2014 Woodie Awards will be held March 16 at 8 p.m.