Student-run and student-funded radio station, WRIU, will continue to share music and DJ personalities amongst the University of Rhode Island this year.
With only three members of the executive board continuing from last year, new plans and changes are to come for the 2023-2024 academic year.
There are two stations run by students, according to fourth-year student and General Manager Jacob Iacobucci. The FM radio station, which began airing in the 1960’s, is on channel 90.3 FM and is known as WRIU. Their other station, which you can stream online, is called RIU2 and can be found on RIU2.org. RIU2, beginning in the early 2000s, consists of students while WRIU features local DJ’s as well as students.
Both Iacobucci and the FM program director, Freya Badger, work diligently to lead a smooth and appropriate airing schedule and encourage any student to join.
Members of WRIU can implement their love for music or general creativity into a set on FM or online. This can involve using their own voice. Students who first join begin their sets on RIU2, according to Iacobucci. Subsequently, they can be moved up to FM once experienced.
Once students make the decision to join, they’re given the opportunity to air their own show. This can vary from sharing a playlist to creating a podcast.
“Radio is a very deeply personal thing,” said Badger. “You get to share a piece of yourself with other people.”
When tuning into WRIU or RIU2 every few hours, listeners will get a different DJ and dose of music each time. The airing schedules are compact and filled with dozens of DJs with their own unique voices, according to Iacobucci and Badger.
Badger’s show, titled Golden Hour, airs “niche, feel-good music” on Friday’s from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m..
“[Golden hour] is a state of mind,” said Badger. “It’s just a warm and fuzzy feeling.”
Iacobucci’s show is titled “Long Live Rock and Roll” and features rock music across the decades. It airs on Tuesdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m..
Students are also invited to join bi-weekly meetings with board members to keep all members up-to-date on the station’s goings-on. Iacobucci hopes to implement fun and helpful activities during this time. This could include learning how to edit songs or how to burn a CD.
“The more inclusive the environment feels, the more at home they feel,” said Iacobucci.
The first few months of the year entails outreach and preparing for the upcoming semesters, according to Iacobucci.
Some outreach efforts included attending RhodyFest on September 3. Iacobucci performed a 2-hour live DJ set using a microphone on the quad. This was to help attract students to join WRIU. He said they received over nine sign-up pages filled with potential new members.
Radiothon, which takes place in the Spring semester, is also a helpful outreach event. It’s an annual event that brings in funding to WRIU from listeners.
The station also gives back to their listeners by giving out free merchandise during the event. Radiothon takes place on air and for over the span of a few days. Amounts of money raised vary year to year.
“We have some just incredible loyalty from our listeners and our alumni,” said Iacobucci. “The station has been going on for decades.”
“Beats and Eats,” an event that occurred on September 20 at the Memorial Union, was put on by URI Involved and advertised WRIU DJs’ talents. WRIU is asked often, Iacobucci said, to provide music for events put on by different entities on campus.
Holidays will be properly celebrated by DJ’s on air and various events put on for students on campus.
“What’s really great about the radio is that it’s very diverse,” said Badger. “There’s a lot of people coming from different backgrounds and religions, so everyone has their own way of celebrating on their show.”
According to Iacobucci, WRIU’s “Live Room” is making a return after a few years. This entails airing live music over the FM station. They plan to set up a co-event with the URI’s Musician’s Guild.
Iacobucci also emphasized the underrated music scene in the Rhode Island area. According to him, hardcore music flourishes in Providence, and pop punk thrives in East Greenwich and Warwick. WRIU’s Live Room can give local artists an opportunity to perform on the radio.
“It’s going to be a really exciting next ten years for the station with all the incredible things that are happening right now,” said Iacobucci.
With their new executive board settling into their positions this Fall, the year is full of active plans and aspirations. If students want more information on how to join, they can reach the RIU2 program director at [email protected].