HYPERLOCAL NEWS HUB BY THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS DEPARTMENT OF JOURNALISM
Former Corporate DJ Living Indie Dream in Cooper-Young
February 21, 2012
By Manon Priebe/MicroMemphis Reporter
Who says you can't smoke, curse, and have an informal chat with your friends while you're on air? There are no rules at Radio Memphis, an Internet station.
Founder Ric Chetter wanted work for himself after years at commercial broadcasters. Fearing of a diminished love in radio, he left the airwaves.
Chetter thinks radio is heading into the wrong direction. Thus, he started Pirate Radio Studios.
Radio Memphis is right in the heart of Cooper-Young. It may be hard to find, but it is transmitting rock music all over the world. The station is located at the back of a house on Felix Ave. If someone looks beyond the heartedly decorated porch and vivid front yard, it is hidden behind a wooden fence.
By Manon Priebe/MicroMemphis Reporter
Who says you can't smoke, curse, and have an informal chat with your friends while you're on air? There are no rules at Radio Memphis, an Internet station.
Founder Ric Chetter wanted work for himself after years at commercial broadcasters. Fearing of a diminished love in radio, he left the airwaves.
Chetter thinks radio is heading into the wrong direction. Thus, he started Pirate Radio Studios.
Radio Memphis is right in the heart of Cooper-Young. It may be hard to find, but it is transmitting rock music all over the world. The station is located at the back of a house on Felix Ave. If someone looks beyond the heartedly decorated porch and vivid front yard, it is hidden behind a wooden fence.
|
The world is tuned to Radio Memphis. Chetter says, “We have about 20,000 listeners worldwide.”
People in Europe, Russia, South America, and Asia are listening to Memphis musicians. Local music and honest radio is an affair of the heart. “I was born into the radio field,” Chetter said. His passion began early as at the age of 16 as an intern in San Antonio. The disc jockey worked his way up to his famous morning show on Rock 103 (WEGR-FM) with his partner and friend “Bad Dog”. Their show was number one among its target audience. Chetter worked at Clear Channel Communications for 14 years, which owns a large percentage of radio stations across the US. One can say he made it and wanted to get out. “All these soulless radio companies have turned a decent industry into selling out for money and not taking care of their staff,” Chetter said. |
Afternoons with Ric Chetter Video
|
The assessment of the current state of corporate radio is crushing. The broadcaster says that media conglomerates are run by accountants and lawyers who only care about making money and not about the actual radio program.
“You only hear the same songs played by pre-recorded DJ´s. Who wants that? We here at Radio Memphis are fighting what corporate greed has turned radio into nowadays.”
Despite his frustration, the business did not ruin his passion for radio.
Chetter, who has a long ponytail and wears rock´n´roll shirts and jeans, is the on-air personality. His sonorous, deep voice makes you stop and want to listen forever. There is no hint of disillusionment about the true soul of radio when he talks.
Since its launch in late June 2011, Radio Memphis only plays local artists from Memphis and the Mid-South. Artists are welcome to send in their songs, in-person or e-mail.
“We only have three rules,” says Justin Jaggers, host of the Morning Show, “Don´t suck, no covers and we want studio-quality.”
“You only hear the same songs played by pre-recorded DJ´s. Who wants that? We here at Radio Memphis are fighting what corporate greed has turned radio into nowadays.”
Despite his frustration, the business did not ruin his passion for radio.
Chetter, who has a long ponytail and wears rock´n´roll shirts and jeans, is the on-air personality. His sonorous, deep voice makes you stop and want to listen forever. There is no hint of disillusionment about the true soul of radio when he talks.
Since its launch in late June 2011, Radio Memphis only plays local artists from Memphis and the Mid-South. Artists are welcome to send in their songs, in-person or e-mail.
“We only have three rules,” says Justin Jaggers, host of the Morning Show, “Don´t suck, no covers and we want studio-quality.”
Photographs by Chris Freitas
|
Chetter says that Cooper-Young is a nice area to be. “The community is artistic and loves our radio and for us it is a good place to be as many bands are just around the corner.”
Besides Chetter and Jaggers, four other radio personalities are on air. Rae Williams is Jagger´s co-host in the morning. “Brother Doug” has the “Nighttime Groove.” On Saturdays, Gerard Jones and “VexarDave” Thorn give you an extraordinary radio-experience. The crew also includes four or five positions in promotion and sales. Listeners can take part in the program. They can request a song or join the discussion by calling directly to the studio (901-922-5407) or watching the hosts on streaming video. To launch an internet radio station, Chetter says you need money for a website, server fees, and the software. “It is not very expensive, but too much to do it only for the faint of heart.” Radio Memphis’s funding comes from advertising. The DJ says that it is a tough but growing business, as industries don´t understand internet radio’s worth. Ric Chetter said that an aspiring internet radio host should have passion and true commitment. He was offered his job back at Clear Channel. Unfortunately for Rock 103, the Radio Memphis jock is committed to Radio Memphis and refuses to go back. “I never wanna go back, it´s an integrity thing”. |
To have the final word, Chetter feels that radio is about to have a reality check. “Internet radio like we are doing here at Radio Memphis will be the death of terrestrial radio as we know it,” he said.
Relevant Articles:
Saving Memphis Radio
July 2011 Lamplighter
Ric Chetter's Profile on the Memphis Flyer
Relevant Articles:
Saving Memphis Radio
July 2011 Lamplighter
Ric Chetter's Profile on the Memphis Flyer
|
|
Manon Priebe/ MicroMemphis reporter
Manon Priebe covers A & E for MicroMemphis. You can send her story ideas here. Follow her on Twitter ( @manonpriebe ). Chris Freitas/MicroMemphis reporter
_ Chris Freitas covers Arts and Entertainment for MicroMemphis. You can send him story ideas here. You can follow him on Twitter (@chrisfreitas23). |