The Ground…Up Named Best Music Show at Owl Radio

By: Krishona Ford

A Solid Start

New Owl Radio show the Ground…Up was presented with the Best Music Show Award at the Kennesaw State University Student Media Awards last Saturday.  The show was nominated in the category along with Space Station and Jazz with Mr. C and was presented by Owl Radio general manager Bryttney Murphy.

Guests Galore

The late-night, underground hip-hop show made its debut on Owl Radio’s Ustream channel in October 2012 with hosts Kyle Smith and Krishona Ford.  Over time, the hosts had numerous special guests, including drop-in guests Ike Duru and Brittany Aguilla, underground hip-hop artist Chief Wren, “Stand Alone” freestyle contest winner Penny Dreadful, as well as guests turned co-hosts ShaVisia Parham and Eugene Crump. 

From left to right: Krishona Ford, Eugene Crump,
Kyle Smith, & ShaVisia Parham pose with Owl Radio's
Best Music Show award following the
KSU Student Media Awards.
Photo Credit: Carl DeBeer

“It’s an honor for me to be a part of this,” said Parham. “Some people have the misconception that the production is less authentic next to an FM radio station, but a lot of work goes into a two-hour show.  It’s exciting to see the recognition come from that hard work.” 

Hip-Hop ... And then Some

 The show’s emphasis on mixtape reviews, current events, and varying relationship topics has made it one of the most popular shows broadcast at Owl Radio of the spring ’13 semester. With content updates to Facebook and Twitter, the hosts encourage interaction and incorporate the viewers’ thoughts into the topics discussed on the show. 

“The feedback we get from the viewers is the most important,” said Smith.  “We always try to get their views on topics before the show airs because it makes them feel included.  Then, when they listen, it’s like they’re a part of a conversation instead of just hearing us talk.”

Kyle Smith poses with the golden record
presented to him and his co-hosts for
Best Music Show at Owl Radio
at the KSU Student Media Awards.
Photo Credit: Krishona Ford

Keeping It Going

The show is broadcast every Wednesday from 10 p.m. to midnight.  The show’s last airing of the semester will be on May 1 and resume again at the start of the fall ’13 semester.

“To come in as a brand new show and immediately stand out like that says a lot,” said Crump.  “The Ground…Up is like the perfect name for it, not only because of the underground music, but because that’s exactly where this show came from and where it’s gone.”

For more information or to watch previously recorded shows from the Ground…Up and other shows broadcast on Owl Radio, visit www.ksuradio.com.

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The Ground…Up Presents: The Vent

By: Krishona Ford

The hosts of Owl Radio’s the Ground…Up held “The Vent”, a multi-genre open mic event, at Arena Tavern in Kennesaw on Thursday evening.  The event was a more inclusive follow-up to their hip-hop comprised “Stand Alone” open mic event held in February.

Local band Ye Flask plays in The Vent.
The event was hosted by ShaVisia Parham
and sponsored by Red Bull. 
Photo Credit: Krishona Ford

The Red Bull-sponsored event was emceed by Owl Radio’s the Big Show host Jeff Benedict and hosted by the Ground…Up co-host ShaVisia Parham.  The soundtrack for the night was provided by DJ Trouble.   

The festivities took place on the venue’s outdoor patio and boasted sounds from talented artists including Owl Radio’s 90’s Show host Emily Jacobson, local band Highbeams, and local hip-hop artist Butta.  
Each artist had a 15-minute set to share their talents with an audience of approximately 70 people. 

“I can’t even pick a favorite because every single one of the artists was good,” said Kyle Smith, Coordinator of “The Vent” and Host of the Ground…Up.  “You have events where some performances are just way better than others, but they were all really good.”

Local hip-hop duo and winners of
The Vent open mic contest, Arlo,
posing with prizes.
Photo Credit: Krishona Ford

The audience selected Arlo, a local hip-hop duo, as the winner of the contest.  The group was presented with free cases of Red Bull’s new Red, Blue, and Silver Edition energy drinks as well as Red Bull T-shirts, BULLetin magazine issues, and a $30 cash prize generated from all of the contestant entries.

Check out a related story HERE

KSU Owl Radio Preparing for Transition to AM Radio

By: Krishona Ford

Kennesaw State University’s own Owl Radio is working on transitioning to an AM platform for its listeners.

Various media outlets on campus as well as outside sources have gathered since 2009 to create a plan for the implementation of the change, which may finally come to fruition during the fall 2013 semester.

Switching to AM radio will allow students to listen to Owl Radio broadcasts daily from their vehicles, eliminating the need to utilize a computer or smart phone to view the shows as they have thus far. While the thought almost sounds complicated, according to Carl DeBeer, tech director of Owl Radio, making the switch to “low-powered AM” will not be very difficult at all. 

“These stations are not regulated by the FCC so anyone with the equipment may set one up,” he said. “Since we won’t have to fight the FCC to get a license like we would for AM or FM at high-power, low-power AM will be out first step in growing the reach of the station.”

So far, the equipment is in Owl Radio’s possession, but the right engineer is the only piece of the puzzle that is missing.  Once an engineer installs the equipment properly, the new AM station will be ready to broadcast. But do not expect to listen beyond KSU boundaries just yet.

“Legal says we can only broadcast on campus so we will have to lower the strength of our tower so we do not bleed off campus,” said DeBeer.

Student Media Adviser Ed Bonza, overseer of the conversion process, reached out to the Owl Radio staff last month, informing the staff that what he projected was the last meeting on the matter was complete, and that he determined that the roof of the student center was the best fit for an antenna.  He confirmed that plans are moving forward and even requested help locating the engineer, highlighting a strong desire for “a Georgia-based engineer or specialist with experience in AM or LPAM.”

Currently, Owl Radio broadcasts solely via U-stream, an online video cast that allows listeners to actually view the radio shows during their broadcast.  While the method has definitely been popular, the switch to AM has many at Owl Radio very excited about the changes to come.

“I’m sure the change won’t take place until after I’ve graduated,” said Kyle Smith, music director of Owl Radio and host of his own late-night show. “I still think it’s going to be pretty cool going AM because of the new exposure, and exposure is always good when it comes to media.”

Use of the new AM radio in conjunction with the U-stream, has yet to be confirmed.  However, given the popularity of simultaneous radio and Internet broadcast utilized by larger FM stations, it is a quite an exciting possibility to have the two.

“I hope they do keep both,” said Colette Thompson, part-time student at KSU.  “That would sure show an increase in listeners, because they’ve got more than one way to tune in.”