The Chicago Independent Radio Project (CHIRP) is a non-profit organization that operates a community radio station (CHIRP Radio) currently accessible via its web site and also on 107.1 FM, via a new low-powered transmitter located in the Uptown neighborhood.
CHIRP Radio is a volunteer-driven, online community station that focuses on music, arts, and culture. It is live and local every day of the year from 6am-midnight from studios in Chicago's North Center neighborhood. CHIRP Radio plays a wide mix of local, independent, lesser-heard, and otherwise good music from a variety of genres and eras. The CHIRP DJ corps is made up of passionate music fans who share their discoveries, new and old, with listeners. The station also features conversations with artists, activists, and others, and the features department produces pieces highlighting Chicago's diverse voices and stories.
CHIRP is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization funded primarily through individual giving, special event revenues, and grant support.
Maps, Directions, and Place Reviews
History
From 2007-2010, CHIRP partnered with organizations across the country to help convince Congress and the Federal Communications Commission to remove existing barriers to the granting of low power FM radio licenses in urban areas. In 2009, CHIRP's President and Vice President, Shawn Campbell and Jenny Lizak, were invited to lead a White House meeting on the issue with President Obama's technology team. The bill CHIRP worked on to expand low power FM was the Local Community Radio Act, which was signed into law in early 2011.
On January 17, 2010, CHIRP began as an online radio station. The first song played was "Thank You Friends" by the band Big Star.
In June 2011, CHIRP Radio was named "Best Overall Radio Station" by the Chicago Reader in its annual Best of Chicago issue.
In late 2014, CHIRP received a construction permit from the FCC to build a Low-Power FM broadcast outlet on Chicago's north side.
In October 2017, the organization launched its broadcast at 107.1 FM with call letters WCXP-LP.
Online Radio Chicago Video
Programming
CHIRP Factory Sessions
The station began its CHIRP Factory Sessions series in January, 2015. These recordings consist of live sets recorded by local and touring bands in CHIRP's non-traditional space, a former factory building. Artists are encouraged to debut new material, stretch out, or experiment with older songs in these sessions, which are broadcast on the station. Once a Factory Session airs on CHIRP, full video of the session is posted on the station's website.
Person of Interest
Person of Interest is a first-person storytelling feature that airs monthly on CHIRP Radio. The concept of the feature is that "everyone is a person of interest"--in other words, everyone has a story that is worth sharing. The short segments feature Chicagoans telling a personal story with no outside narration. After airing on the station, they are hosted in the podcast section of the CHIRP website.
Events
Record Fairs
CHIRP is well known for its two annual Record Fairs, a freestanding fair each April (known as The CHIRP Record Fair & Other Delights) and another fair as part of the Pitchfork Music Festival in July. The April fair draws many independent vinyl dealers from around the Midwest, while the Pitchfork fair features independent labels and distributors from around the country.
The First Time
CHIRP produces and hosts The First Time, a quarterly live storytelling and music series. It features local luminaries reading true stories about a "first time" experience based on a theme ("First Lie," "First Trip," etc.). Following each reading, the house band, called The First Time Three (made up of members of Chicago power pop band Frisbie) plays a song that the reader has chosen that relates in some way to the piece. The band has the song in advance, and often works up surprising arrangements of familiar favorites. The series began in 2009 and takes place at Martyrs' on Chicago's north side.
CHIRP Night at The Whistler
CHIRP organizes a monthly concert series featuring local Chicago artists and bands at The Whistler, a Chicago bar. In 2015, this event was named Best Ongoing Local Music Showcase by NewCity.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
EmoticonEmoticon