blossoms on trees in the spring
News and Announcements

WMSC Named Finalist as Best Student-Run Radio Station by NJBA

Posted in: School of Communication and Media News

Feature image for WMSC Named Finalist as Best Student-Run Radio Station by NJBA

WMSC, the “Voice of Montclair State University,” has just been named a “Best of the Best” finalist for best student run radio station by the New Jersey Broadcasters Association.   The winners in a variety of categories will be announced at the 69th annual NJBA Conference and Gala, which will be held at Caesar’s Atlantic City in Atlantic City on June 22 and 23.

Five student-run radio stations are among the finalists in the Student Division category.  Along with WMSC-FM (90.3), the nominees are: Seton Hall’s WSOU-FM(89.5), WGLS-FM(89.7), from Rowan University; Fairleigh Dickenson University’s WFDU (89.1), and “The Bronc,”(107.7), from Rider University. 

In addition to the Student Division, ten radio stations will be competing for top prizes in the following categories — Best commercial, Best News, Best Public Affairs Program, and Best Promotion.

The keynote speaker for the conference will be five time Heavyweight Champion of the World, Evander Holyfield.

The NJBA describes the “Best of the Best” as the most coveted award in New Jersey broadcasting and it is fiercely competed for each year at the association’s annual conference.

In addition to the announcement of the “Best of the Best” winners, the conference will offer feature sales, management, and programming sessions to attendees.  A Wednesday evening reception will open the two day event.

The NJBA is the trade association for the radio and television stations in New Jersey. Its mission is to conduct educational seminars, conferences, and broadcast training activities about federal rules and compliance procedures.  The association is the New Jersey broadcasters voice both in Trenton and Washington. The organization was founded in 1946 by several major New Jersey radio stations and has since grown to Radio and TV stations in the state and many radio and TV stations in neighboring New York City and Philadelphia.

It’s been quite a year for WMSC.  Under the guidance of first year general manager, Anabella Poland, the station became a much more professionally run operation winning some prestigious awards along the way, such as the 2015 Spirit Radio Award and 3 finalist awards from the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Conference and Award for Best Station in the Nation, Best Station Manager and Best Spot News. WMSC’s January deal with iheartRadio gave the station the potential to reach 80 million listeners.  This next academic year, WMSC will be celebrating its 50th anniversary.