Radio station, ABA sponsor documentary film about impact of college radio

QUEENSBURY, New York (April 15, 2024) — SUNY Adirondack’s radio station, WGFR The Revolution, and Adirondack Broadcasting Association (ABA) sponsor a screening of “35,000 Watts: The Story of College Radio” at 6 p.m. April 18 in the Multipurpose Room of the campus Residence Hall.

The film is a groundbreaking documentary featuring the visionaries and rebels at American college radio stations who changed the course of music history and made an indelible imprint on our culture. The story is brought to life by the students behind the mic and the bands they made famous.

“From the late 1970s to the early ’90s, college radio helped launch a lot of major acts into the mainstream. Bands like DEVO, The Pixies, The B-52's, R.E.M., The Cure, Nirvana and Jane's Addiction were embraced by college radio DJs who discovered the music at their local independent record stores,” said Kevin Ankeny, SUNY Adirondack distinguished professor of Broadcasting and advisor of ABA. “This was happening at a time when commercial radio was tightening and homogenizing their formats and playlists.” 

“35,000 Watts” isn’t available on streaming platforms or the web. The public is invited to this free screening.

To learn more about the film, visit https://www.35000watts.com/about-35000-watts-the-story-of-college-radio/

Learn more about WGFR and ABA, please visit http://www.wgfr.org/. Learn about SUNY Adirondack’s Broadcast Media Production major at https://www.sunyacc.edu/degree-programs/broadcast-media-production