Chicago Independent Radio Project

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.

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.

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. The organization plans to launch its broadcast at 107.1FM with call letters WCXP-LP.

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.

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