Campus radio station earns national praise for amplifying Kingston’s local music scene.
Voicing local talent from the corners of Queen’s campus since ‘22, CFRC 101.9 FM—tucked behind lecture halls at 62 Fifth Field Company Lane—was awarded the Local Talent Development Award by the National Campus and Community Radio Association (NCRA) on June 20.
The award was presented during the NCRA’s annual gala in Nanaimo, B.C. CFRC was selected from more than 100 campus and community stations in Canada, recognized for its 2024 programming that featured daily broadcasts of new local music, live performances, artist interviews, and paid opportunities for local musicians.
For Dinah Jansen, the executive director of CFRC 101.9, national recognition positions the station as a leader in amplifying emerging artists, reflecting CFRC’s long-standing commitment to supporting the local music scene.
“This [the national recognition] win is huge for the station but also Queen’s and Kingston musicians. National recognition places us as a leader in local talent development by setting an example that other radio stations country-wide can follow,” Jansen wrote in a statement to The Journal.
Jansen pointed to CFRC’s Airwave YGK DJ and Musicians-in-Residence programs, the weekly airing of Release Radars in partnership with the Kingston Music Office, live sessions, and daily local concert promotions as key factors in the station’s win. She expressed that these initiatives are designed to foster direct, community-driven connections between artists and listeners.
“We’re constantly creating opportunities for student and community musicians to share their music on air, perform live in our studio, and talk about their work,” she wrote. “It’s a way to connect with audiences in a more personal, meaningful way than streaming platforms can offer.”
According to Jansen, CFRC submitted a video acceptance speech for the NCRA’s national gala in Nanaimo, B.C., choosing not to attend in person in order to allocate funds towards the station’s ongoing programming.
In a media release, CFRC thanked all the volunteers who have contributed to and continue to support the station through volunteer work.
“We are so very proud,” they wrote. “Thank you to our staff, volunteers and interns whose work made our projects and this significant national recognition possible. We are also incredibly grateful to the many musicians, artists and facilitators who have joined us at CFRC to bring our community creative learning opportunities, informative and uplifting discussion, and of course, outstanding live, local music.”
Among those volunteers was Madison Taylor, ArtSci ’25, who graduated this past summer and co-hosted two CFRC programs: ‘Between Friends’ and the ‘Indie Wake-Up Call’. In an interview with The Journal, Taylor explained the award was both a personal and collective validation.
“It just reflects all the hard work that the volunteers put in and how involved the station is with the local music community,” she said. “Even though I’m not part of it anymore, it was such a special part of my university experience.”
Taylor also reflected on the broader meaning of the award, noting that it isn’t just a win for Queen’s students but for the Kingston community at large.
“It’s not just Queen’s, it’s campus and community radio. It shows the hard work of students, volunteers, and local musicians, but also highlights the Kingston community that’s such a big part of the station as well.”
Looking to the year ahead, Jansen touched on how CFRC is launching Club Takeovers, a new initiative allowing student groups to host an hour of radio featuring music, event promotion, and club information. The program is open to all Queen’s clubs, including those not formally ratified, and includes curated playlists and social media promotion.
Tags
Award, CFRC, First Year in Focus, Kingston Music
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