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Above and Below: The KMHD studio has been empty since the station’s departure Aug. 10. The timeline for the new station to begin operation is January.Photo by Brett Stanley/The Advocate
Keeping the music alive
In-the-works station hopes to represent the campus
Though the jazz radio station KMHD has left the campus, MHCC will still have a campus radio station, according to J.D. Kiggins, radio and audio production instructor.
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Essentially formed from the broadcasting program’s station The Quarry, the station will broadcast on KMHD’s auxiliary station on the High Definition (HD) frequency, 89.1 and, according to Kiggins, will serve as a “full fledged college station” for MHCC.
Taking over the HD station was part of the agreement made between OPB and MHCC regarding the transfer of KMHD. “This was the very first thing that was on the table,” Kiggins said.
HD radio allows AM and FM stations to broadcast digitally and, according to Kiggins, “The dynamic range is better (and) there’s no static.”
In order to listen, people must purchase an HD radio receiver. However, broadcasting student Tom Ely adds, “we’ll be online as well.”
Aside from broadcasting from the auxiliary station, the station will be using the equipment left by KMHD, which according to Ely, can be a big benefit.
“From the student standpoint, it’s an asset that they (KMHD) left,” Ely said. “I think we’re going to have more lab space to operate in. We’ll actually be broadcasting on a platform besides the Internet.”
Another exciting thing, according to Ely, is “the fact that the potential listenership can be drastically increased.”
Broadcasting student Larry Morgan added, “I think we’re elevating the equipment (and) elevating the talent.”
Another change will be the type of shows offered by the station.
“We’ll be sticking to the new rock (and) indie rock format. We’re in the process of incorporating hip-hop into the schedule,” Ely said.
Aside from hip-hop, broadcasting student Larry Morgan said other varieties are to come.
“We’ll be able to integrate our different personalities (and) genres,” Morgan said. “I don’t think we’ll just be limited to The Quarry.”
Because of this variety, the demographic the station hopes to reach is also expanding.
“There hasn’t been a specific age group that has been pinpointed,” Morgan said. “Everybody’s going to be represented.”
Whatever the genre, Ely thinks the station will keep the new music aspect started by The Quarry.
“We’re getting it (the music) in and we’re throwing it on,” Ely said.
According to Ely, the station will provide a niche in the college radio genre.
“There’s no real consistent college station in the area,” Ely said.
He added that a goal for the station is “giving the Portland area and beyond a place to experience new music.”
Though plans for the station have been made, the name is still up in the air.
Despite being run by OPB, KMHD will still be called KMHD. Though MHCC still maintains the license for KMHD, the new HD station may not be called as such.
“It’s up to the FCC,” Kiggins said. “It’s probably not going to be branded as it is now.”
Two names for the station that have been floating around, but are unofficial, are The Quarry and KMHD2.
Regardless of the name, Kiggins said, “We will brand it as this college’s radio station.”
With this station, being the college’s radio station will include integrating listeners in new ways. According to Kiggins, the broadcasting students will operate the station, but they will not be the only ones on the air.
“In theory, anyone can have a show on there,” Kiggins said. “(But) the shows themselves should be unique.” This will also mean “a more eclectic line up of shows.”
Though Ely said there’s “a pretty long road ahead of us right now,”
Kiggins said the timeline for broadcasting is January. This means having “the physical capability to do broadcast.”
When it comes to filling the void left by KMHD’s departure, Ely is hopeful that the new station will do more than suffice.
“I think it can and I think it will,” Ely said.
With the shift in stations, Morgan said, “I think, in life, (it’s) out with the old, in with the new. Change is something that happens. You have to make the most out of your opportunity.
“I want everybody to be connected to it (the station), to be attached to it,” Morgan said.
Kiggins said, “The college is going to be our number one priority.”
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