Beach Afternoons: Radio Day

The airwaves and cyberspace are abuzz today for “National Radio Day.”
When I was in elementary school, I had a Fisher-Price cassette tape recorder.  My friend Daryl and I would record ourselves “hosting” a radio show.  Years later, with a double cassette deck stereo, I would record music off the radio, and then switch the microphone on and pretend like we had our own station, K-A-T-O Radio (I don’t know where Daryl came up with those call letters. In broadcast school, I learned that Canadian broadcasters call letters begin with C, like CKQQ-FM 103.1 Beach Radio).  By then, our show had grown to include our pal Jon, and we’d attempt to share “news” we found in that morning’s Calgary newspaper!  It was improvised, nasally, and foundation-building for me.

In our household, the radio sat atop the microwave in the kitchen, generally tuned to the rock station.  My mom’s car was always on country.  My dad liked talk.  It’s funny how that sticks in one’s mind.  Radio has such a power to connect to each individual, to create a lasting memory.  I remember staying up late in bed, listening to the new alt-rock station on my alarm clock.

I am reminded of those childhood feelings whenever a youngster tells me how much they love Beach Radio.  The delivery of radio has evolved, every station streams from their website; you can listen to any radio station in the world, all from that device in your pocket, or your computer.  Radio has grown to become more than just a medium, it’s a media.  We use digital audio, video, social platforms, streaming services and applications, and of course, good old radio waves.  It took me a while to figure out what I wanted to do for a career.  I dabbled in film and video production for a while, until one day it just hit me; broadcasting! Of course! Radio was my first hobby!

Now it’s my passion.  And I like sharing that with other dedicated professionals in this building, and with you, the listeners!
<Corey>