The Edge: a radio station for alternative listeners

This archived article was written by: Kelsie Knudsen

Kelsie Jo Knudsen
staff writer
[email protected]
Most students at the College of Eastern Utah agree that Price needs greater variety in the available radio station formats. Many come from throughout the state and some from out of state. Many of these students are accustomed to variety on the FM dial. In Price the choices are country, FM 100 and if parked in just the right spot in town maybe, depending on how good the weather is, you can pick up a few Salt Lake City stations. So unless you have a lot of free time to sit in the Wal-Mart parking lot on a sunny day to listen to X-96, then this article is for you.
At CEU there is an on-campus radio station operated by students. 107.9 The Edge has an alternative music format playing such artists as Green Day, The Used, and Blink 182. The Edge follows the top-50 alternative play lists in the nation, only straying if they do not have the music or if it is inappropriate. The station subscribes to a weekly music service provided by Dallas, Texas based TM Century. Each week the radio station receives the hottest new songs by established and up-and-coming artists. This keeps the radio station as up-to-date as any commercial station in any market in the US.
If you are looking for an all-talk station then 107.9 is not for you. The station has an all-music format with the exception of Big Mic in the Morning, better known as Micah Iverson. Big Mic, currently acting as one of the voices of Eagle basketball on 98.3 Kickin’ Country, presents a weekly review of sports events on Wednesday mornings at 8 a.m.
The reason there are no all talk shows on The Edge is because the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) requires each station doing live talk shows to have a digital delay system. This enables content to be edited to maintain decency standards as defined by the FCC and the courts. Such equipment is expensive and the station has yet to invest the capital necessary for the purchase of it.
The music is randomly scheduled each day, but the D.J.s can take requests. Students wishing to request music can call the station’s request line at 613-5669.
Some students are given the opportunity to produce a specialty program that deviates from the station’s regular format. Students during their second semester on-air can pitch a specialty show idea to Troy Hunt, the faculty advisor for the station, if music selected meets the criteria for decency, he said.
Being involved in the radio club is a great opportunity for anybody interested in pursuing a career in the radio industry or communications field, or anyone who loves music and wants a say in what the station plays. As a member of The Edge staff you will be able to learn how to cut and splice, record commercials, and learn about basic radio skills and much more.
If this article has sparked your interest in the school’s radio club talk to Hunt about how to join. If you want a say in what music is played you can call the request line at 613-5669, e-mail [email protected] or talk to a member of The Edge staff. You can also check out the station’s top 20 each week at theedge.ceu.edu.