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Radio at Nathan Hale: C89.5
Visit the C89.5
Website
C89.5 FM has been broadcasting for over 30 years.
Owned
by the Seattle Schools and operated by students of Nathan Hale High
School,
C89.5 is the largest and most influential educational radio station in
the
country. C89.5 is in the top six of those reported in
Billboard
Magazine's national dance charts for radio stations nationwide. Our 50
student DJs and technicians reach 110,000 listeners weekly. That's
approximately a quarter as many as Seattle's top FM station, and as
many as
some Seattle AM commercial stations.
With our new broadcast
facility on Cougar Mountain, our extended coverage ensures that
more people in the Puget Sound Region can hear us loud and clear, and
thanks to Internet streaming media, our station has fans around the
globe. Streaming media is how C89.5 was able to be named
best high-school radio station in New York by Village Voice Magazine.
A
few of the past students involved in C89.5
But for us, it's all about
the students. C89.5 operates because of the efforts of
many
talented, well-trained students. These students benefit greatly by the
opportunities offered by work at a major big-city radio station. Over
the past 15 years, eleven participants in C89.5's radio station have
received WAVE (Washington Award for Vocational Excellence)
scholarships.
One
of two studios at C89.5 Click for larger image
Read some of the comments by
professionals quoted in Rolling Stone Magazine:
“I think [C-89 is] the
most influential station in the country for this kind of music,”
says Harry Towers, vice president of promotions at the dance label
Popular Records. “They’re always first. Look at their playlist from one
year ago, and you’ll see records that are just now getting airplay all
around the country. ROLLING
STONE
MAGAZINE
“These students understand
music,” adds station consultant Jack Cyphers. “When they go nuts
about a record, they’re usually right on the money.” ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE
“It was one hell of an
experience,” says Eric powers, the class of ’91 student program
director who parlayed his experience into a high-profile on-air job at
KUBE. “I was there 24-7. They had to kick me out a few times.
Higgins isn’t the only one who got more than class credits out of C-89.
“I came into the program as a shy freshman,” says Troy, who’s still
soft-spoken, except when he gets behind the C-89 studio doors. “To be
on
the radio, you have to be confident,” adds Green, “and it’s definitely
given me confidence.” ROLLING
STONE MAGAZINE
Seattle Times Spotlight
Bet you didn't know: Nathan Hale students have operated C89.5, one of
Seattle's most popular radio stations, for 30 years. The station
features music from house to gospel, and was one reason Nathan Hale was
featured as the "Cool School of the Month" in the December 1998/January
1999 issue of Teen People.
Seattle Times
Asset Too Valuable to Sell
"The kids have built this place into a powerhouse," says Gregg Neilson,
the station's teacher-manager since 1983. "They aren't fiddling with
radio in a classroom. They're doing it on a par with the biggest radio
stations in the city."
That's not just pride talking. The 50 student DJs and technicians reach
110,000 listeners weekly. That's about one-fourth as many as Seattle's
top FM station, KMPS (94.1) country, and as many as some AM commercial
stations.
Seattle PI
Survival of KNHC-FM is still up in the air
Like many students in the program he [Mike West] handled multiple jobs
-- news
director, disc jockey, color commentary for baseball games, production.
KNHC "not only started my radio career but it was a lifesaver
for me," he says. "Everyone who has gone through that program had such
a head start on the rest of the industry." It certainly boosted his
career; the day after graduation in 1975, West headed off to Ocean
Shores for a job at a station there.
Mike West, an alum of C89.5's program, is now the morning
co-host on KMTT-FM (103.7).
Nathan Hale Sentinel
Newspaper
Now, C89.5 is a nationally ranked radio station, considered
the number one most influential dance station in the nation, as well as
the number one high school station. Its place on the chart is one
surrounded by corporate stations owned by multi-millionaires.
Seattle PI
Hale's radio station rules the
airwaves -- even in New York
Josh Goldfein, a Brooklyn lawyer and writer who nominated C89.5, first
heard the station while visiting a friend in Seattle a year and a half
ago. He's been a fan ever since, regularly tuning in via the Web. "They
play records you're just not going to hear anywhere else, and sometimes
they're way, way ahead of the curve," Goldfein said. "There's nothing
comparable in New York."
Read
more about C89.5 in the press
Seattle Times
Village Voice Award
Students at Seattle's Nathan Hale High School have a right to walk a
little taller and feel a bit smug about their radio station, C89.5-FM,
just named best high-school radio station in New York. Really.
The award comes, amazingly, from New York's Village Voice newspaper.
That's an important point. Radio, especially alternative radio, is no
longer the province of a tightly confined, local broadcast area
best
high school radio station - C89.5
So
what if C89.5 is staffed by students at Seattle's Nathan
Hale High School? A station that broadcasts hi-NRG disco all day,
punctuated by the occasional goth specialty show, is automatically the
best in New York, especially if it webcasts. Set your browser to
c895fm.com, crank up the tinny speakers, and send them a few bucks;
they're nonprofit. -Josh Goldfein
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