Internet-based station to feature ex-KRCL volunteers

With KRCL ready to change its programming and replace many of its daytime volunteer programmers, a new Internet-based community radio station —Utah Free Media — is ready to pick up the slack.

Starting in mid-April, this nonprofit group hopes to offer the former KRCL (FM-90.9) volunteers a chance to continue doing what they do best.

Utah Free Media is a collaboration of former staff, volunteers and listeners of KRCL.

What's surprising is how quickly the station has come together. No lamenting lost opportunities here — the former KRCL volunteers are forging their own new destiny.

"Utah Free Media was founded by, and will rely, on a talented bunch of folks who know community radio inside and out and are dedicated to quality on-air programming," Troy Mumm, UFM co-founder, said.

Utah Free Media has secured studio space in downtown Salt Lake City.

Any interested member of the community is invited to participate and to apply for board positions with Utah Free Media.

Its specific programming schedule is still being formed, but its programming will be available by podcasts and multiple streams.

Funding for the station will be primarily through listener donations, but grant and other funding is also being explored.

For more information go to: utahfm.org, or call 809-8676.

• WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Remember Michael Castner, formerly of KSL's "Nightside Project"? While sitting out a non-compete agreement with the station, he was a media consultant for the Utah Senate during the last session.

Just days after the session ended, he hit the road for New Orleans where he is now doing a morning political talk show, "Castner and Walensky" on WRNO Radio.

"I am pleased to say I have heard from, and taken calls from, many of my Utah listeners who listen to the live stream (www.995fm.com/main.html)," Castner commented in an e-mail.

• CLARIFICATION — KWDZ, "Radio Disney," is now at AM-910 on the dial. AM-860 (mentioned last week) is its former frequency.

• RADIO HAPPENINGS — This election year, KBYU (FM-89.1) is inviting the public to vote for their favorite pieces of classical music with the pride of a convention delegate in the Classical 89 Top 40 "Battle of the Mascots  Contest."

When you vote for your top five classical pieces, you'll also have a chance to indicate your favorite political mascot: a donkey, elephant or other such animal. Write-in mascots are welcome, too, from cuddly Koalas to Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers!

The winner of the contest will be announced April 30 at 8:15 a.m.

To enter go to: www.classical89.org.

—KUUU ("U-92") sold 4,700 tickets to its May 3 Cinco de Mayo Custom Car Show and Concert during just the first weekend of sales because of their discounted price. That was far more than the station expected.