Episode 036: Campus Frequency – Why College Radio Still Matters

In this episode of Why Make Music…, DJ Warm Cookies (aka Willa May) takes the lead in exploring a topic that deserves a loud and proud revival—the power of college radio for independent musicians. Think streaming is the only game in town? Think again.

We dig deep into the human-curated, genre-bending, community-rooted world of college radio and how it’s quietly been the launchpad for legendary artists—from Ani DiFranco to R.E.M., Fugazi to Japanese Breakfast. If you’ve ever wondered whether your music has a better shot on a college station than fighting the Spotify algorithm, this episode’s for you.

We cover:

• The unique programming styles of stations like WXPN, WKDU, WHIP, and WRTI in Philadelphia
• Historical success stories of indie acts who made it through college airplay
• Step-by-step advice for getting your music on college radio (email, mail, etiquette, follow-ups)
• Royalty breakdowns: What pays more—radio, streaming, or sync?
• Why college radio still builds culture and fanbases in a world obsessed with instant plays

Plus, you know we close it out right—ThinkTimm delivers a signature rant that’s part motivation, part manifesto. “Do you want a million forgettable streams—or 50 real fans who ride for you for life?” We answer that and more.

Shoutouts:

• https://www.thinktimm.com" target="_blank">www.thinktimm.com – The hub for everything ThinkTimm
• Follow on Instagram: @thinktimm">https://instagram.com/thinktimm">@thinktimm | @djwarmcookies">https://instagram.com/djwarmcookies">@djwarmcookies | @whymakemusic
• ">https://instagram.com/whymakemusic">@whymakemusic

• Also on: BlueSky (@thinktimm.bsky.social), Facebook, SoundCloud, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube

Support Independent Media: College radio matters. Tune in to WXPN, WKDU, WHIP, and WRTI. Donate. Engage. Discover something new.

Listen. Share. Repeat. And always ask yourself: Why Make Music…?

#ThinkTimm #WhyMakeMusic #DJWarmCookies #CollegeRadio #WXPN #WKDU #WHIPRadio #WRTI #IndieArtist #SyncLicensing #StreamingVsRadio #PodcastForMusicians