WZRD (radio station)
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| City | Chicago, Illinois |
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| Broadcast area | |
| Branding | The Wizard |
| Frequency | 88.3 MHz |
| First air date | 1974 |
| Format | Freeform |
| ERP | 100 watts |
| HAAT | 22.0 meters |
| Class | A |
| Facility ID | 49444 |
| Transmitter coordinates | 41°58′56.00″N 87°43′7.00″W / 41.9822222°N 87.7186111°W |
| Callsign meaning | WiZaRD |
| Owner | Northeastern Illinois University |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | wzrdchicago.org |
WZRD (88.3 FM) is the student-run radio station at Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, Illinois, US, founded in 1974. The station serves the Chicago area. The station is licensed by the FCC to Northeastern Illinois University. WZRD broadcasts on a freeform radio format.
Unlike other formats, WZRD's freeform does not have block programming of particular genres, or styles of radio such as a news slot, a rock slot, or talk radio show (save Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations). Instead it compels the DJs to mix all of these genres together in a creative, unique, and often challenging way. It would not be unheard of to hear Tibetan Buddhist chants, early 1980s punk rock, eclectic mixes, a spoken word piece and public service announcements in succession.
"Different genres of music, spoken word, and sound effects are played side-by-side in a way that usually flows rather than jars. With a library of rare recordings that includes 15,000 records and another 17,000 CDs, cassettes, and reel-to-reels, there's no telling what you’ll hear. 'We always say if you don’t like what you hear right now, turn us on again in five minutes and you’ll hear something completely different,' says former Program Director Dan Demchuk." - Cara Jepsen, Illinois Entertainer
Furthermore, one WZRD's missions is to provide a voice to the voiceless, trying to present media that cannot be heard elsewhere, whether it be because it is controversial, unpopular, or local. WZRD's programming is designed to be a reflection of the community, and serve its needs that are not met else where by the homogenized and corporate landscape of radio.Additionally, DJs remain anonymous, Djing affectionately under the title of Wizards. In this way, WZRD's programming is meant to be one long and colorful spectrum of humanity that each Wizard will man for his designated time slot with a deemphasis on ego.WZRD accepts no outside funding. Its operating budget is provided in full by Northeastern Illinois University.
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