Hey music fans,
This is it. This is not a drill. The permits are in, the space is secured, and the tower is going up.
After 10 years of hard work, music, and a little Congressional lobbying, CHIRP Radio will make its terrestrial-radio debut on 107.1FM on Saturday, October 21 at noon.
This is the moment that CHIRP's 250+ volunteers have spent the last decade working towards. And trust me, dear reader, when I say that we'll all be partying harder than just about anyone else when the day arrives (you can even join us; check back for details).
However, between all of the celebrating and back-patting and fretting over which record to spin first comes a little reality check: running this radio station just got a lot more expensive.
CHIRP already has plenty of bills, from streaming costs to rent to maintenance. Now, on top of those, our new broadcast signal adds another $10,000-$15,000 per year, for everything from rooftop rent to insurance. It's manageable, but it's not nothing.
That's why we're asking for your help.
As a non-commercial, volunteer-run organization, CHIRP exists solely through the generosity of people like you. For the last 10 years, you've helped us stream tens of thousands of hours of commercial-free music (including plenty local and overlooked releases), plan rad events (including the CHIRP Record Fair and Other Delights, CHIRP Night at the Whistler, and our bi-monthly storytelling series, The First Time), and bring a sense of community to every corner of Chicago's music scene.
Your contributions add up to serious money. As a nonprofit organization, CHIRP derives nearly half of its annual operating budget from the monetary support from listeners and supporters like you. That's the only way this station can exist.
At a time when a lot of the good things in the world seem to be disappearing, it's more important than ever to support things you believe in, even if it's just your favorite radio station.
As a DJ and blog editor for CHIRP, I try to help in my own way. This month, that means raising $500 during our semi-yearly fundraising campaign. Your money will help us keep the lights on, the music playing, and station strong.
Thanks for taking part of your day to read this, and to think about community radio. I speak for all of CHIRP's 250 volunteers when I say: I appreciate it.
Cheers,
Tyler
MAKE A GIFT TO CHIRP TODAY!
CHIRP is a listener-supported, community-powered radio station—your gift makes everything we do possible!
Please make a gift supporting our fall fund drive so we can continue to bring you great music and events! Your gift will also help us launch our broadcast at 107.1FM in October 2017!
If you would like to become a sustaining member by making a recurring donation (monthy or quarterly), or select a fall campaign thank you gift, please visit CHIRP’s main donation page to make your contribution (and don’t forget to enter the name of the CHIRP Volunteer or DJ in the “How did you hear about CHIRP” section so they can receive credit for your gift!)
| Supporters | |||
| Name | Date | Amount | Comments |
| Scott Davis | 10/18/2017 | $25.00 | Annette Lee | 09/26/2017 | $10.00 | Emma Doud | 09/25/2017 | $15.00 | Dan Caffrey | 09/23/2017 | $5.00 | Good luck, good sir! | Kyle Carmichael | 09/23/2017 | $20.00 | Andrew Maxson | 09/23/2017 | $20.00 | Cody Plepel | 09/22/2017 | $15.00 | Nething 4 my guy ty | Anonymous Friend | 09/22/2017 | $7.00 | Joshua Reilly | 09/22/2017 | $15.00 | Nothing gets me hot like a rivalry! I don't know Bobby Evers, but I hope you beat him and strip him of his honor. | Mike Hannemann | 09/22/2017 | $50.00 | Good on ya, old friend. | Sam Pettyjohn | 09/22/2017 | $10.00 | Anna Skorczeski | 09/21/2017 | $15.00 | Yay music! | Anonymous Friend | 09/21/2017 | $5.00 | YES! | David Ruckman | 09/21/2017 | $20.00 | Tyler Clark is half man, half raptor, all lover. | Drew Johnson | 09/21/2017 | $5.00 | Lindsey Coley | 09/21/2017 | $20.00 | Ian Hicks | 09/20/2017 | $10.00 | Please write a lede for this: https://vitaminvape.co/ Thanks, and good luck. | Dan McDonald | 09/20/2017 | $50.00 | Danielle Thomas | 09/20/2017 | $15.00 | Tyler Clark is a Midwestern American Legend. | Collin Brennan | 09/20/2017 | $15.00 | Pamela Davis | 09/19/2017 | $25.00 | Lisa Farver | 09/19/2017 | $20.00 | You guys are a miracle. Keep being a miracle. | Edward Abramson | 09/19/2017 | $10.00 | Crush it. | Drew DeBoy | 09/19/2017 | $20.00 | For real this time. | John Simpson | 09/19/2017 | $10.00 | Get it | Mike Hannemann | 09/18/2017 | $25.00 | For John T. Becker | Brooke Bolton | 09/18/2017 | $10.00 | :) | Katie Lee | 09/18/2017 | $10.00 | Kelly MacDowell | 09/16/2017 | $20.00 | Courey Gruszauskas | 09/15/2017 | $25.00 | SHE'S A CRAMP. | Emily Gallt | 09/15/2017 | $5.00 | i hate you | Patricia Fancher | 09/15/2017 | $20.00 | Good luck. I'll be listening in. | Sarah Gorr | 09/14/2017 | $5.00 | Willy Landon | 09/14/2017 | $10.00 | Andy Seifert | 09/14/2017 | $10.00 | Here is some money. | Lara Unnerstall | 09/14/2017 | $5.00 | Direct marketing works! | Amelia Buzzell | 09/14/2017 | $15.00 | Tyler Clark is a damn fine fundraisier (and DJ). | Alison Hamm | 09/14/2017 | $25.00 | Matthew Schmidt | 09/14/2017 | $50.00 | Anonymous Friend | 09/13/2017 | $25.00 | Janelle Greene | 09/12/2017 | $33.33 | Erin Homburger | 09/11/2017 | $20.00 | Go Tyler, Go! More Japanese Joni Mitchell, please. | Paul Kim | 09/11/2017 | $20.00 |
| Total | $765.33 | ||