WZRD

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WZRD
City of license Chicago, Illinois
Broadcast area Chicago area
Branding The Wizard
Frequency 88.3 MHz
Format Variety
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, -87.7186111
Owner Northeastern Illinois University

WZRD (88.3 FM) is a student radio station licensed to Chicago, Illinois, USA, the station serves the Chicago area. The station is currently owned by Northeastern Illinois University.[1]

Started in 1974, WZRD, is one of the first and only freeform radio stations out there. Unlike other formats, even the Jack format, there is no restriction on what's playable on air (save FCC regulations). It would not be unheard of to hear Tibetan Buddhist chants, early 80's punk rock, eclectic mixes, a spoken word piece and public service announcements in succession. They also have one of the longest running live band shows on Thursday nights which began around 1987.[citation needed]

WZRD is unlike most college stations in that it does not necessarily play the "flavor of the month" indie bands (although these can occasionally be heard). Its library features some of the most obscure/strange music on the planet. These include: free jazz, imported recordings, trance, spoken word, Experimental/Noise/Industrial, New Wave, No Wave, field recordings, early 20th century Blues recordings, novelty/comedy, homemade recordings, and more.

On July 11, 1996 a dedicated listener named Andre Nosworthy donated his massive collection of rare/imported LP's, cd's and extra rare 'cassette only' releases to the WZRD library. He did this because he was dying of AIDS and didn't want the collection to go to anyone else except the station. A few of the dj's of that time went down to his apartment and collected them all while he was close to the end. This collection has increased the stations uniqueness even more.

Even though WZRD is by and large a freeform station, occasionally throughout its history a few exceptions were made. These included: "Maximum Rock 'n' Roll" (a syndicated Punk/Hardcore/Garage show from the same people who publish Maximum RocknRoll zine) which used to air on Sunday afternoons for an hour and then on Monday nights again) in the 1980s and early '90's, "The Hour of Slack" (an audio collage of weirdness from The Church of the Subgenius) and a production from Pacifica radio network's flagship station, KPFA, called "Over the Edge" which was produced by Don Joyce, of the Experimental band Negativland, and used to air The first Saturday of every month from 1pm-4pm.

WZRD also has a close relationship with the local music scene in that it occasionally gives away tickets to various clubs and throughout the years has produced live events at The Metro, The Abby Pub and The Empty Bottle to name a few venues. The Thursday Night Live show features local acts of all types of music, but live sets can be heard anytime really on such a station.

Unlike most radio stations, the individual DJs are not identified by name, solely as Wizards. WZRD accepts no outside funding. Its operating budget is provided in full by Northeastern Illinois University. The station is also an affiliate of the Pacifica radio network. It broadcasts Democracy Now! and Free Speech Radio News.

[edit] External links

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Radio stations in the Chicago, Illinois market (Arbitron #3) (R&R info)
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See also: List of radio stations in Illinois

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See also: List of radio stations in Indiana
¹ = Clear channel stations with extended nighttime coverage.
v • d • e
Illinois college radio stations

WLRA (Lewis University) •  WCRX (Columbia College) •  WESN (Illinois Wesleyan University) •  WETN (Wheaton College) •  WHPK (University of Chicago) •  WIDB (Southern Illinois University) •  WIIT (Illinois Institute of Technology) •  WIUS (Western Illinois University) •  WLCA (Lewis and Clark Community College) •  WLKL (Lakeland Community College) •  WNUR (Northwestern University) •  WPCD (Parkland College) •  WRSE (Elmhurst College) •  WVJC (Wabash Valley College) •  WVKC (Knox College) •  WXAV (St. Xavier University) •  WZRD (Northeastern Illinois University) •