KGRG Radio Show Brings Music to Students

By: Macie Jean Walker
Staff Writer

KGRG is Green River College’s radio station run by staff employees as well as students taking the courses offered by the station.

The courses seek to teach students everything they need to know to run a radio. They also teach life skills and benefits to students and spotlight local artists.

Luke Seerden, music director at KGRG FM, said KGRG is modeled after a professional radio station which makes the knowledge students can gain who wish to go into this field invaluable. The equipment used can also be worthwhile to students.

Students at KGRG develop many valuable skills that transfer to both a traditional radio career as well as several other fields. In the broadcasting business, one’s experience is valued above all else so taking classes and working with the station is valuable when pursuing a career as a broadcasting presence. KGRG definitely is a benefical experience for many, many students.

Through hands-on experience, students can learn how to operate a control board, microphones, learn the ins and outs of recording, editing software, music scheduling, automation software, and more.

“KGRG has become a respected name in the local radio market because of how many Green River students have gone on to do work in the industry,” Seerden said.

Students who get involved with KGRG can apply the skills they gain in the studio to many other professional radio stations and broadcasting services.

Autumn Reeves is in charge of running KGRG’s social media accounts and connecting with the artists and bands that frequent the KGRG radio show.

“We’re present for a lot of things on campus,” Reeves said. The radio station has several events at which KGRG is present, such as advising/welcome day, as well as their Christmas event.

As far as music, the station’s most popular bands currently are Bring Me the Horizon,  Pierce the Veil, and Sleeping with Sirens. Pop-punk might be the most popular, but it’s far from all the genres the radio station plays.

“We try to play music that isn’t commonly heard on commercial radio, and there’s plenty to choose from because the number of new rock bands that get any kind of airplay these days is tragically few,” said Seerden.

KGRG is available on iHeart Radio, with its own app. This allows many more people all over the U.S to gain access to KGRG.

For artists to get their music playing on the station, they need to submit two or three of what they consider to be their best songs that represent them well as a musician KGRG.

“It helps also to establish some kind of relationship with the station,” Seerden said. “You can offer to be part of the lineup for a benefit concert. We usually put on at least one of those a year to raise money for the station and spotlight local artists.”

Unfortunately, KGRG is low staffed and welcomes anyone interested in the classes.

“Students have a lot of freedom to direct their own learning. The station provides many opportunities to dive deeper into whatever aspect of it you’re most interested in,” Seerden said.