57 Candles on WMSC’s Cake

Montclair State University’s award-winning college radio station, WMSC 90.3-FM, is celebrating its 57th anniversary of broadcasting with a 168-hour live broadcast marathon. The week-long celebration will feature special editions of favorite shows, collaborative public affairs programming, and culminates with 48 hours of vinyl-only music to honor Record Store Day and Vinylthon. WMSC’s ribbon cutting ceremony along with a 27-hour live broadcast marathon took place on April 17, 1967.

Throughout this week, the DJs of WMSC will be hosting extended versions of their shows. The live in-studio weekly music performance show, WMSC Unplugged will have an extended slot on Thursday from 5-8 p.m. Six artists will be performing, including Jack Flowers and the Petal Tones, and Aidan Jack Finnecy.

Notable programming includes a Battle of the Buzz where each edition of the Morning Buzz competes for “top cast” and this semester’s collaborative public affairs program “FOCUS: Democracy. Our Election.” Additionally, an extended episode of Tunes on Tuesday will feature select music curated by the music team and centered around the theme of alternative rock music throughout the decades, starting in the 1960s when the station had its first broadcast.

The promotions team will be celebrating the week with concert giveaways, such as The Driver Era and Good Kid.

The production team of WMSC will be putting on the radio drama, The Mysteries of Ratthorne, a group of college students working on a film thesis where they try to debunk mysteries and rumors of their small town; the five part series airs.

“This remarkable endeavor speaks volumes of students’ commitment to broadcast radio and their enduring desire to keep the spirit of college radio alive and thriving in our ever-evolving media landscape,” said General Manager and adviser, Anabella Poland. “Their passion not only reflects a deep appreciation for the medium but also underscores Montclair’s role as a launchpad for their future success in the media industry. With the support of exceptional staff and state-of-the-art facilities, these students embody the next generation of media professionals, poised to make their mark on the airwaves and beyond.”

Starting Saturday, April 20th at 12 a.m. the station switches modes and goes vinyl for 48 hour to celebrate Record Store Day and Vinylthon. These special 48 hours are a way to disconnect from the digital world and listen to music the old fashioned way under the needle. Listeners and followers will have a chance to win In Utero by Nirvana, The Black Parade by My Chemical Romance, and more on vinyl.

“I’m very excited for Vinylthon, I’ve been collecting records since my grandparents got me my first record player when I was 12,” said DJ and host of The Wayback Machine and senior, Mia Watson. “I’m looking forward to spinning some of my favorites on air with some awesome people at the station!”

When asked why go a full 168 hours at a time so close to the end of the semesters and finals, Associate Director JT Bethea expresses the need to highlight our anniversary above all, since it is by us, for us, and spans 57 years.

“Every year our anniversary falls around the same time as the Vinylthon weekend marathon. This year, I wanted to see the station concentrate all its firepower on bringing out the best of the best content to celebrate almost six decades of students broadcasting from our campus, which prompted me to bring the idea of the week-long broadcast to the team,” explained Associate Program Director, JT Bethea. “I was surprised at how excited the idea made everyone and the entire management team along with the entire general body. We have been working hard to make this week happen.”

Tune in for the week-long celebration via iHeartRadio, wmscradio.com, and 90.3 on the FM dial within the Montclair area. To stay up to date on all the latest anniversary, Vinylthon, and WMSC, visit our socials @wmscradio.