Patrick Masterson writesCHIRP Radio Music Director Patrick Masterson Talks Music and CHIRP Radio

Though CHIRP Radio is a creative outlet for many people in many ways, our programming day to day depends on music. Amid the clutter of the modern radio landscape, we try hard as a station to cultivate a unique musical middle ground that unites the unpredictable adventurousness of a college station with the studied familiarity of what's left of mainstream radio.

As a listener, you get to hear the results. As a DJ, you get to play them. And as one of three Music Directors in charge of the Music Department, it's my responsibility to ensure that keeps happening.

Some background: I consider myself fortunate to have been working toward that ideal balance for so long. Even with the Internet, I don't think I would have been adequately prepared for joining CHIRP without first observing (and contributing to) an idea of how good radio could be at my university station back in South Carolina. When I moved to Chicago in 2007, CHIRP felt like a natural fit, a logical extension of that experience.

Well, almost – we didn't have anything except an enthusiastic group of volunteers and places around town willing to put us up for a few hours every third Thursday of the month.

But I kept coming. From 2007 to 2009, we pooled resources for a rough idea of how our music library would start out. We wrote letters to Congress. We tabled at festivals and shows to explain who we were. We created a digital infrastructure to support our limitless musical dreams. We built a physical station in a factory from the ground up. Then we went on the air. I remember. I was the fifth DJ on the schedule.

Since then, my ambition as a member of CHIRP hasn't gone further than being Music Director. I've only ever wanted to be what I am, a guiding hand for DJs and listeners alike to show you music's limitless possibilities: If you loved Björk, you may have a taste for FKA Twigs; if you enjoy Cave, you can find a direct link to Basic Channel; if the message of pre-war blues resonates with you, maybe drill's visceral desperation will hit you the same way.

This is only part of what it's about. One of our volunteers, Dave Toropov, has said that his show is about getting his songs to speak to each other; I love that description but it's not just songs talking to each other, or a DJ in a booth talking to themselves – this is about all of us interacting with one another, live on the air, everyday. It's about building a Chicago community from an idea that we could be educating and entertaining ourselves better.

If you're like me and you think a network of spiritually aligned radio supporters in your city is something worth believing in, consider a donation during this fall campaign fundraiser. If you think the idea of a better future for radio excites you, consider a donation. If the idea of repurposing an old medium for presenting art in a new millennium is worthwhile, consider a donation. And if you're my mom, I'll call you on Sunday since you already know what to do. Thanks for listening.

Radio has returned. Make a tax-deductible contribution supporting CHIRP Radio’s Fall Fundraising Campaign today!

Jason Dempsey writesCHIRP Radio Partnerships Director Jason Dempsey on His CHIRP Experience

Chicago radio has always been a huge part of my life. Living in an area with such provocative hosts and a wide variety of station formats contributed to my love of Chicago radio –both on the FM and AM dials. Even today, I need to listen to the radio as I fall asleep.

While I love listening to Chicago radio, sometimes commercial radio and I have different ideas as to what constitutes good music. Discovering new bands, checking out different music venues and finding the next great album often came from talking to my friends, the internet, record store clerks and other people in my community. Over the years as my music tastes evolved, I wished there was a local station I could consistently listen to that played great music and provided compelling commentary.

Then I found CHIRP. I first learned of CHIRP when I attended a concert sponsored by the station. Not only does CHIRP play an incredible variety of music, the on-air personalities are all unique, and I love listening to their perspectives on various artists, albums, and Chicago in general. To me, CHIRP now serves as another place besides my friends and my local record store where I can discover new bands and learn about what’s on the horizon in the Chicago music scene.

Additionally, CHIRP’s commitment to being an active part of the community really appealed to me. As a proud Chicagoan, I love exploring new neighborhoods and learning about all the distinctive activities and events going on at any given time. When I learned that CHIRP was run mainly by volunteers, I knew I had to get involved.

It was my strong interest in discovering Chicago that inspired me to become the Partnerships Director at CHIRP. The Partnerships Department works closely with other like-minded organizations, community groups and local companies to help spread the word about their projects, events and products. We look to work with and support other groups whose members and fans may find an interest in CHIRP and vice versa. The Partnerships Department accomplishes this by promoting our various partners through live on air reads, social media, web ads and blog posts. In return, CHIRP is allowed a presence at neighborhood street festivals, corporate events, restaurant openings, book readings, etc.

Some of my personal favorite experiences since assuming the role of Partnerships Director include working with Dark Matter Coffee to create a CHIRP Morning Mix coffee blend; supporting West Town Bikes to bring awareness to their mission of supporting and educating youth in the Humboldt Park neighborhood through biking; and providing DJs for many really cool events such as Renegade Handmade, the Active Transportation Alliance Awards Reception and the Arts & Business Council fundraiser. Other groups we have collaborated with are The Chicago Fire, the Chiditarod to support the Greater Chicago Food Depository, the Midwest Film Festival, Switchback Books, and LP Marketplace, among others.

CHIRP allows me to be an active member of my community and a part of the Chicago radio culture of which I have been a loyal and lifelong fan. As CHIRP gets closer to establishing a spot on the FM dial, I know we will be able to improve our foothold in the community and help others even more through strategic and mutually beneficial partnerships. In the meantime, I encourage you to visit chirpradio.org as much as possible, support the CHIRP fall fundraiser, and get involved with CHIRP!

Join the CHIRP community now by making a donation during the Fall Fundraising Campaign and show your support to our hardworking and amazing volunteers! A gift at any level will help us conquer the airwaves in this next chapter in our history!