Students at BGSU should take comfort; there will be a large concert this fall semester. 88.1 WBGU-FM, the longest running college radio station at BGSU, will be hosting its 60th anniversary bash in November at the Clazel Theater. “We have been planning this concert since late May” said Stephen Merrill, faculty advisor for WBGU-FM, “the students started planning this show anticipating that UAO would be producing a homecoming show at the Stroh Center. When the students learned the homecoming show was canceled, they got really energized to make this concert something a lot of the BGSU community could enjoy.” WBGU-FM started as WRSM in 1947, but got an FCC license on November 29, 1951. “60 is a sexy number,” said Craig Sullivan, Promotions Director for WBGU-FM. “We wanted to celebrate this milestone in big way, and we thought a concert with a band that really represents college radio would be a great way to do it.”
WBGU-FM conducted several online polls and surveys with station listeners over several months to get a feel for the type of concert they wanted to see; suggestions were made for all kinds of bands from indie rock, to hip-hop, jazz and folk. “This just represents the diversity of our listening audience,” said Rebecca Priebe, WBGU Program Director, “it was certainly a taxing process, but I think we landed the right band for the date and the venue.” WBGU-FM receives some operating funds from SBC, however none of the funds for this concert come from an SBC line item. “The funds for this show were raised through station programming and listener donations,” said Brad Woznicki, General Manager for WBGU-FM. “It’s a credit to our listeners and the business community that they have embraced WBGU so much over the past 60 years.”
Details about the WBGU-FM anniversary show will be revealed live on-air Thursday October 13th on the Afternoon Rush at 4:30 pm. Students and community members are invited to join WBGU at 11 pm Thursday at the Clazel for the initial ticket release party, DJ Shownuff will spin a blend of underground hip-hop and other staples of college radio music.