November 2, 2010

Last week, WKDU 91.7 FM, Drexel’s student-run radio station, won Best College Radio Station at the annual CMJ awards in New York City. The station was also awarded Champion of the Local Scene for the station’s strong involvement in the Philadelphia music scene.  CMJ is a network of musicians, industry professionals and fans and their annual five-day music marathon and conference, just held in New York City, presented over 1,000 bands and received major media coverage.  CMJ introduces new music to fans via media, events and publications working primarily with younger adults and college-aged audiences through noncommercial and college radio.  WKDU’s individual programs, especially its Local Jamaican Radio show have won awards consistently over the years, but this award marks even greater success and recognition for the entire station. WKDU’s executive staff is jam-packed with Westphal students including General Manager Meghan Palagyi, Treasurer Michael Larkey and Booking Director and former Music and Program Director Fred Knittel, who were all present at the CMJ’s to accept WKDU’s awards. Other Westphal students on WKDU’S executive staff include Program Director Carolyn Haynes, Music Director Paul Brown and Assistant Music Director Sabrina Zeile. Larry Epstein, Entertainment & Arts Management Program Director, is the faculty advisor for all members of the WKDU staff.

In addition to WKDU’s success, Music Industry alumna Karen Moran-Thomas again won CMJ’s Promoter of the Year. Karen works for a full-spectrum music marketing and promotion firm called The Syndicate.  While The Syndicate is involved in a range of music and artist promotion services, Karen’s main responsibility is promoting artists to the college radio format. She is personally responsible for speaking with music directors at more than 250 college radio stations throughout the country.  At any given time Karen will be promoting a number of established and more notable up and coming artists on the Syndicates roster to get the band’s songs placed in rotation at the different stations.  “It’s an educational process at first,” said Karen. “But I enjoy introducing the stations and their music directors to our artists.  Then I follow up and make sure the record has been reviewed, collect feedback, and ultimately secure placement in the station’s rotation.”