WKNC snags CMJ award nominations

For the second year in a row, WKNC 88.1 FM has earned three nominations in College Music Journal’s College Radio Awards. Now in their 10th year, the CMJ college radio awards honor college stations and music industry personnel in such categories as “Best Taste in Music” and “Please Hire Me When I Graduate.”

WKNC is again nominated for Best Community Resource and Biggest Champion of the Local Scene also counts WKNC as a repeat finalist. WKNC is a first-time finalist for Best Use of Limited Resources.

For the second year in a row, WKNC 88.1 FM has earned three nominations in College Music Journal’s College Radio Awards. Now in their 10th year, the CMJ college radio awards honor college stations and music industry personnel in such categories as “Best Taste in Music” and “Please Hire Me When I Graduate.”

WKNC is again nominated for Best Community Resource, up against KXLU at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles, KUOM Radio K at University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, WKDU at Drexel University in Philadelphia and WTBU from Boston University. KUOM and WTBU were also finalists in the category last year. KUOM won Best Community Resource in 2013.

Biggest Champion of the Local Scene also counts WKNC as a repeat finalist, along with KUOM, KXLU and WTBU. WSUM from University of Wisconsin-Madison is the only non-consecutive finalist for Biggest Champion of the Local Scene. KUOM also won this category in 2013.

WKNC is a first-time finalist for Best Use of Limited Resources. The station raises 90% of its $60,000 annual operating budget from underwriting, benefit concerts, Wolfpack Sports broadcasts, merchandise sales and other non-student fee revenue. Fellow finalists for Best Use of Limited Resources are WTBU, KSXC from University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Radio UTD at University of Texas-Dallas, WHSN from the New England School of Communications at Husson University in Bangor, Maine. The 2013 winner of Best Use of Limited Resources was WVYC at York College of Pennsylvania. 

“Our nominations reflect our priorities — being self-sufficient and working to provide the best music and events for our listeners,” Meg Bryson, WKNC’s indie rock music director, said.

WKNC also counts two alumni among the CMJ nominations. Bri Aab, former WKNC general manager who graduated in May 2014, is nominated for three awards including Promoter of the Year for her work at Team Clermont. John Hubbard of Terrorbird Media, who served as WKNC’s indie rock music director from 2009-2011, is also nominated with Aab for Best Taste in Music.

Award nominations come from members of the CMJ music community and voting takes place on site at the CMJ Music Marathon Oct. 21-25 in New York City. The winners will be announced on Thursday, Oct. 23 during College Day.