GENEVA — Jason Longwell’s dream to bring a community radio station to Geneva is becoming a reality — finally.
This Sunday, Longwell, in tandem with Geneva Community Projects, will usher in WGCC 104.1 FM, a new low-power, commercial-free community radio station. It’s an all-volunteer effort, with Longwell serving as the unpaid program director.
Longwell had hoped to have the radio station transmitting by now, but it needed a location for its low-power antenna. They had hoped to place it on the north shore of Seneca Lake, but that effort fell through.
Longwell said the station will now broadcast from a spot at the Seneca Yacht Club in Fayette. Installation is taking place over the next few days, Longwell said. The radio station will broadcast from a 10-foot antenna attached to a 60-foot utility pole at the yacht club. Community Broadband Network of Geneva is providing the internet connection to the tower.
With the technical end in the works, Longwell, who at one time worked in commercial radio, is in the midst of filling the many shifts he is planning as part of a 24/7 broadcast schedule.
He reached out on Facebook this week to encourage people to consider hosting their own show. Genres could range from ethnic music to classical, oldies, indie and more, Longwell said.
He has already scored a couple of volunteers to join the station.
One DJ has Puerto Rican roots and wants to do a salsa show, Longwell said, while another who is joining the effort is a young woman who had posted on a Geneva Facebook page saying that she was looking to get some experience in media. That’s exactly what Longwell is looking for, he said. She’ll do a pop-oriented show focusing on live performances.
Many more volunteers are needed, Longwell stressed.
“We’re looking for members of the community who have a passion for music,” he said, adding that the shows on the low-power station won’t sound anything like the highly formatted commercial radio stations that fill the FM airwaves these days. “The more imaginative and creative the concepts the better.”
Longwell, who said he hopes to tap even more into the ethnic diversity of Geneva for programming, added that the station will consider talk-show slots too.
There’s no studio where volunteers will work as yet.
“Right now, all the shows are going to have to be pre-recorded,” he said. “You’ll produce shows from the comfort of your own home.”
He said there is free software available that volunteers can download that will allow them to produce their shows. A host of music sources can be used — anything from turntables to compact discs to streamed material.
“(The software) is very intuitive and easy to learn,” Longwell said, noting that he will help volunteers get set up.
To fill the 24/7 broadcast schedule as he builds a local radio lineup, Longwell will rely heavily on high-quality syndicated programming that is provided free to nonprofit radio stations. The programming runs the span of music genres.
Longwell likely will always need some of that material, but the goal is as much local programming as possible.
“I don’t want the station to be an automated jukebox,” Longwell confirmed.
Longwell won’t have a slot himself. Instead, he’ll focus on programming.
“I don’t want it to be ‘Longwell’s Station,’” he said. “I want it to be the community’s station.”
Longwell said steep royalty fees will prevent WGCC from livestreaming at this time. Music publishers figure the greater potential reach of livestream means they should get a bigger cut. However, Longwell said the station will be paying broadcast royalties, which are more reasonable.
He is confident WGCC’s signal will reach all of Geneva, and if your phone has an FM receiver chip, you can listen that way as well.
Longwell noted that all local shows will be available as podcasts for on-demand listening.
He expressed appreciation for Geneva Community Projects, a nonprofit that on its webpage says it is “dedicated to building and renewing the strengths of the Geneva Community through projects designed to promote the public good and uplift the human spirit. Projects must support GCP’s goals, have a direct and tangible impact on the community, be open to the public, and be supported by primarily area volunteers and/or funding.”
Geneva Community Projects board Chair Belinda Venuti is excited for what this fledgling radio station can provide.
“We believe this new station is an important initiative to help build community,” she said. “It has taken three years to reach this point, and we have many people to thank for their support along the way. We are excited to have Jason on board; his expertise will be instrumental in running this entity.”
Venuti said Geneva Community Project’s “goal is for the station to create opportunities for both the young and old while sharing the diversity of our local community and beyond.”
Longwell said the radio station has received some generous donations and that consistent contributions will be needed to pay the expenses of operating a radio station, even if all the labor is volunteer. They also will be looking at underwriters, just like larger public radio stations, he noted.
He emphasized that he won’t make a dime from WGCC; visually impaired, Longwell said he lives on a fixed disability income.