Legendary Radio Convention Celebrates 68th Year
Norm Prusslin, IBS President, and author Wayne Robbins
pictured at IBS 2008 All photos on this page by Robert Barry Francos/Ffanzeen
(C)2008 Robert Barry Francos (except Len Mailloux photo)
The success of the regional Intercollegiate Broadcasting System events in Chicago and Boston in 2007 helped make the 68th annual radio event one of the best in modern times. The star power of Planet Enemy's Chuck D was only one reason why some of the rooms were packed to capacity, many in attendance kicking themselves for missing Chuck D's engaging speech.
As the event changes with the times so too the attendees appear more proactive in recent years, D.L. Chandell of DLC Industry Watch holding down the fort at
WIBS radio, the broadcast from the sixth floor of the NY Pennsylvania Hotel which airs all year on the Backbone network. A variety of disc jockeys from around the country signed in and ran thirty and sixty minute shows giving WIBS a solid cross section of college radio from around the U.S.A. broadcasting while the convention was in motion.
Indy Music Panel
This year saw the Public Access Television / College TV panel bringing some excellent ideas to the conference: broadcasting college radio on the bulletin boards of access TV stations, integrating video footage of DJs live on college radio and audio to feeds of both college television and public access. The record label panel also went smoothly with both artists and label representatives speaking to a variety of college programmers and on-air jocks. One of the big surprises came on Saturday afternoon when the conference merged two artist panels into one. The ability for recording artists to meet radio people, interact with them, connect, and give CDs to the djs on the spot was great. Our attendees get discs, the artists displayed their personalities and, at one point, when . What was interesting was when the artists on the panel were asking questions of the djs (it is supposed to be the other way around) and the room became the "panel" and the panel became the audience.
Keri Fico, co-moderator of Artists panel Photo by Robert Barry Francos/Ffanzeen
This made our DJs very proactive and really part of the convention - more
so than being an attendee in a sea of faces, they had a voice. We intend to expand this interaction at the Autumn 2008 events and at the 2009 IBS in New York.
Having new artists and established personalities like Chuck D meeting the jocks and programmers face to face is truly as essential as the informative panels on Carrier Current and FCC law.
Allen Meyers, formerly of the FCC, gave an excellent talk to a room in an almost one-on-one fashion, giving each college radio rep an opportunity to speak to him personally about FCC issues.
Chairman of the Board and IBS Executive Vice President Len Mailloux stated:
“Regardless of what we may hear and read about media content becoming more controversial, unprofessional and lacking in serious content, events such as this year’s IBS National Conference offer an encouraging reassurance that there is a whole group of young college and high school students dedicated to creating informative, substantive and ethical broadcast product.”
“This year’s participants seemed more eager than ever to learn. They want to know how to get better at their craft and how to make their product more appealing to their audience. It is clear to me that we have a fine group of up and coming young professionals who take the responsibilities of media very seriously and want to become positive contributors in the broadcast industry.
Photo of Len Mailloux
It’s exciting to see students and educators from around the country sharing ideas, information and advice. Our members were able to take part in some fantastic sessions on new technologies, programming trends, news and information, the music industry, FCC law, ethical issues and many more subjects that are so very important to the broadcasters of today and tomorrow. We had some of the top people in their respective industries as guest speakers. As one student commented to me, “I learned more in a one-hour session than I have from many of my textbooks.” But just as exciting were the conversations in the hallways. It was student helping student, educator helping educator. Students and teachers from many participating schools and radio stations have now come together and will be sharing ideas and resources in the weeks and months ahead. It was the kind of event that will pay off in many ways over a long period of time.”
We're going to ask Michael Nevradakis to give us his thoughts on the convention as well so stay tuned for updates.
Joe Viglione,
Administrator of Marketing, Public Relations
Intercollegiate Broadcasting System
Additional blogs on Intercollegiate Broadcasting System
Official IBS Blog http://ibsradio.blogspot.com/
2006 IBS Recap
http://ibs2006review.blogspot.com/
http://spinningindie.blogspot.com/2008/03/ibs-conference-for-college-radio-in-nyc.html
http://waynerobins.blogspot.com/2008/03/ibs-convention-special-edition.html
A veteran rock critic tries cutting out the middle man, offering opinions on pop music, culture, media and society.
http://wrajradio.com/wraj_blog/128/detail.html
Artist Ramona Pickett and co-moderator Anthony "Dob" Dobrini at the Musician's Panel
