WXIN (FM)

{{refimprove|date=April 2011}} [[Image:WXIN Logo.jpg|thumb|right|]] For the licensed station with the actual callsign assigned by the F.C.C., see [[WXIN (TV)]]. WXIN (90.7 [[FM broadcasting|FM]]) is the student [[campus radio]] broadcast service of [[Rhode Island College]]. WXIN operates a [[part 15]] FM transmitter on the property of Rhode Island College, in [[Providence, RI]], USA. In addition, "WXIN" rebroadcasts its programming in the form of a webcast over the Internet through streaming service providers [[Live365]] and [[Ustream]]. "WXIN" has garnered a reputation for launching the careers of many prominent Rhode Island radio and television personalities, despite the station's small size, and has been a pioneer in Internet broadcasting. ==Organization and History== [[Image:WXIN Logos.jpg|right|A montage of WXIN logos employed since the 1980s, including 580 AM, 88.1 FM, and 90.7 FM.]] WXIN is a student organization, officially recognized by [http://www2.ric.edu/studentUnion/ Rhode Island College], and funded by Student Community Government, Inc.[http://www.ricscg.org] The organization has been broadcasting as Rhode Island College's sole radio station consistently since 1979. The station began as a carrier-current station on camps, operating as "WRIC" on 580 AM, and began broadcasting on 88.1 FM and later 90.7 FM in the late 1980s. Since the early 1990s, the station's management also cooperated with [[WELH]] FM in Providence, where veteran WXIN DJs were given radio shows on certain nights and weekends. The agreement ended in early 2007, however, when [[Brown University]] Student Radio bought out Rhode Island College Radio's air time. Over the length of the agreement, WELH operated as Rhode Island College Radio's second official station whenever WXIN DJs were given air time. Students make up the entirety of the executive and subsidiary boards. In addition, the station has both a faculty adviser (as required per student government regulations) and a professional adviser. Students make up the majority of the general membership, which include DJ's, talk hosts, promotions staff, and production staff. WXIN occasionally permits alumni members, along with RIC faculty and staff to participate in on-air programming to fill in gaps in the schedule, though air time is given on a priority basis to enrolled students. WXIN also employs a Technology Consultant and Engineer on retainer, for assistance in supporting and maintaining technology and broadcasting equipment in the station. The station additionally employs a webmaster/web designer for the purpose of designing and updating the station's website, which has won multiple awards for its design and content. WXIN's five member executive board is elected annually in April, including the positions of General Manager (President), Program Director (Vice President), Business Director (Treasurer), Sales Manager (Secretary), and Production Director. The executive board then hires a subsidiary board which includes four music directors, two promotions directors, a traffic director, and a news/sports/talk radio director. Although Rhode Island College has a [http://www2.ric.edu/communications/index.php Mass Media Communications] program, WXIN is not associated with or funded by the Communications Department, and no classes are offered in conjunction with the station. Many communications students, however, are members of the organization, and a faculty member from the department, Philip Palombo, serves as professional adviser to the station. In early 2008, WXIN launched NIXM, an Internet-only radio station, to take the place of [[WELH]]. For more than a decade, veteran WXIN DJs were permitted to utilize WELH on weekends through an agreement with the Wheeler School, however [[Brown University]] bought out the agreement and took over the weekend hosting duties of WELH in 2006. In 2010, WXIN brought up-and-coming [[Roc Nation]] artist [[J. Cole]] to RIC as part of a new annual concert series. On May 6, 2011, WXIN brought [[T-Pain]] to the campus. The student-run organization was also named "Organization of the Year" at RIC for an unprecedented third time.[http://www.anchorweb.org/news/the-2011-storgy-awards-were-in-tents-1.2558271] WXIN is located in the Ducey Student Media Center in the Student Union Plaza along with [[The Anchor (newspaper)|The Anchor]], Rhode Island College's weekly newspaper, and Anchor TV, Rhode Island College's on-campus television station. The station currently uses the tagline "Your Station, Your Music." Veteran DJs and popular shows are often simulcast on Anchor TV Channel 3 on campus and the television station's uStream. ==Webcast== Due to a broadcast range limited to the Rhode Island College campus and parts of Providence, North Providence, Johnston, Smithfield, and Cranston, many of WXIN's listeners tune in via the station's Web site, [http://www.ricradio.org]. WXIN was the first college radio station in Rhode Island, and among the first radio stations in [[New England]], to offer free, 24/7 Web casting online, beginning as early as 1998. WXIN was also the first in the Rhode Island region to provide live, streaming video of its studios. The station simulcasts its broadcast signal online via [[Live 365]], [[Ustream]], and via other programs. The webcast is also picked up and played over speakers at various locations throughout the campus. WXIN's second station, the Internet-only NIXM, is currently off the air while a $15,000 renovation and upgrade of WXIN's studios and equipment is underway. Rhode Island College Radio's website has won numerous awards since its inception in 1997. ==90.7 WXIN Rock Hunt== Since the mid 1980s, WXIN has featured a Rock Hunt battle of the bands competition during March and April to determine the best local acts. Formerly held at Providence's iconic The Living Room on Rathbone Street, four preliminary shows fielding 12 total local bands yield three finalists, who compete for cash prizes in Week 5. Past winners have included Vega in 2006, the [[Boston Jolly Pirates]] in 2007, Saturday at Nine in 2008, [[For the Love Of Sloane in 2009]], and Vulgarity in 2010 The WXIN Rock Hunt gained sponsorship from [[Motif Magazine]] in 2009, and was moved to Firehouse 13 due to The Living Room's closing. Motif's sponsorship of the WXIN Rock Hunt comes after the magazine ended a four year relationship with radio station [[WBRU]].[http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:_OKtVkBBOfgJ:motifmagazine.net/%3Fq%3Dnode/528+Motif+Rock+Hunt+WXIN+WBRU&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us] The winner of the 2009 Rock Hunt was [[For the Love of Sloane]], who also appeared in the finals for the 95.5 [[WBRU]] Rock Hunt the same year. In 2010, Rhode Island band Vulgarrity won the WXIN Rock Hunt, and went on to win the WBRU Rock Hunt the following year. Boo City won the WXIN hunt in 2011. ==Station Personnel== WXIN is run entirely by a student board of directors, including a five member executive board that is elected by the general membership annually. The executive board consists of a general manager, program director, and business, sales, and production directors. That board hires fifteen other student subsidiary board members and music directors, including a technology consultant, chief engineer, street team coordinator, and webmaster. The station also has a faculty and professional adviser, selected by the board, who participate in limited capacities. The current board includes: * General Manager: [[Nick Lima]] * Program Director: Andrew Augustus * Business Director: Thomas Lima * Sales Director: Brian McKenna * Production Director: Jillian Butler * Alternative Rock Music Director: Jack Woelfel * Country Music Director: Anna Stankiewicz * Urban Music Director: Lisa Bradley * World Music Director: Everton Carter * Metal Music Director: Rich Marques * News/Sports/Talk Radio Director: Dan Paquet * Traffic Director: Rob Santurri * Promotions Director: David Valerio * Promotions Director: James Harritos II * Street Team Coordinator: Maeghan McGuirk * Sports Director: David Cruso * Deputy News Director: Kerrin Arzoomanian * Assistant to the General Manager: Adrianna Fargnoli * Faculty/Staff Adviser: Vincent Flemming * Professional Adviser: [http://www.ric.edu/ppalombo/ Philip Palombo] * Technology Director: Steve Rys * Webmaster: Alex Tirrell ==Notable alumni== Many former members of WXIN have moved onto successful professional careers in the radio, TV, and entertainment industries. Despite the existence of radio programs at many area colleges, WXIN has more alumni working in the Rhode Island media industry than any other college radio station. This list of people includes: * [[Al Gomes]] Record Producer/Promoter/Song Writer * Matt Allen: [[WPRO (AM)|WPRO]] Producer/Talk Show Host * Nick Blair: WPRO Executive Producer/Asst. Program Director * [[John DePetro]]: WPRO mornings (formerly of WHJJ and [[WRKO]]) * Ted Edwards: Formerly WPRO-FM * Shawn Stewart: Formerly WPRO-FM * Bill George: Program Director/News Director, [[WHJJ]], Providence * Mike Gonsalves (Dr. Metal/The Doctor):[[WHJY]], On-Air Personality (died in [[The Station nightclub fire]]) * [http://www.q105.fm/showdj.asp?DJID=31968 Nancy Hall]: Q105 [[New London, CT]], Morning Co-host * Tony Mascaro: Music Director, [[WPLJ]], [[New York, New York]] * Mike Montecalvo: Anchor, [[WPRI-TV]], and formerly of [[WWRX]], [[WWBB]], WHJY, WHJJ, [[WLKW|WKRI]], [[WOON|WWON]] and [[WNRI]].[http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/news_team/Mike_Montecalvo_974905] * [[Davey Morris]]: Assistant Program Director/Music Director, [[WPRO-FM]], Providence * TJ Napp: now Tony Banks-(formerly Pro-FM Providence, WPLJ New York, Y100 Miami and Mega 103.5 Miami). Currently a voiceover talent at http://www.TonyBanksVoiceovers.com. * Steve Pascale: WPRI-TV * Jim Vickers: Editor, Motif Magazine [http://www.motifmagazine.net/?q=node/335] * Mike Roberts: Program Director, [[WCRN]] [[Worcester, MA]] * Tim Staskiewicz: Formerly of [[WPRO (AM)|WPRO]] and [[WHJJ]]. Currently online content director for [[Clear Channel Radio]] in DC and Washington Correspondent for the [http://www.iheartradio.com/pages/whitehousebrief.html White House Brief] * James "Heartless Jim" Braboy: Producer, [[Citadel Broadcasting]] * Chris Tyler: APD/MD [[WXKS-FM]] Boston * [http://volumeproductions.com/venom.htm DJ Venom]: Club DJ/producer/artist, of Volume Productions ==External links== * [http://www.ricradio.org/wxin/ WXIN official website] * [http://www.myspace.com/wxin WXIN MySpace page] {{coord missing|Rhode Island}}