Chip In For CHIRP

By Tankboy in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 16, 2009 7:20PM

CHIRP -- The Chicago Radio Independent Project -- is just about ready to launch, but need a little help covering their streaming costs. Y'see CHIRP is the exact opposite of what we usually hear polluting Chicago's airwaves. We're sick of corporate behemoths shoving the same ol' same ol' playlist consisting of an insanely limited range of music down our collective gullet. And while we love us our WBEZ, more community voices talking about local issues is never a bad thing.

CHIRP looks to offer a truly independent music selection, and while that doesn't mean Lady GaGa is barred from their airwaves* it does mean you'll have a chance to hear a wide variety of music. We imagine it'll sound like an awesome college station, only with DJs that aren't saying, "um, uhhhhhh, yeah [insert 10 seconds of dead air] that was some, I think it was Belgian, math rock, but, um, I'm not sure who it was, because I can't find the sleeve right now." And yes, we imagine it'll be a little bit NPR too, and again, we're cool with that.

CHIRP is launching online for now, until the law restricting low power FM radio stations is amended so they can launch over the airwaves. And to do that they need a little bit of help from the community. CHIRP makes no money and is run by volunteers and in order to get online and on the air they need to cover the initial costs streaming their content will incur. So they're running a Kickstarter campaign to raise that first $4,800 for the first year of their streaming. Kickstarter campaigns ask you to pledge a selected amount of money, but you don't actually donate until they reach their goal, so you're certain the money will be used for what it's intended for.

So help CHIRP out, support some community radio, make a bid for diversity on the airwaves and donate today.

*Although we'd probably do a spit take if they actually ever played "Pokerface." And then, we're man enough to admit it, we'd start dancing.