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Summit Radio debuts new streaming channel Internet station for local bands
IF YOU LISTEN
What: The330.net
Where: Online only
When: 24 hours a day
By GUY D’ASTOLFO
An Internet radio station that plays only music by bands that are from the region, or have local connections?
Seems like an idea that is way overdue.
And beginning April 22, it will become a reality.
That’s when Summit Radio will launch the330.net.
The online station will specialize in music by bands from the 330 area code – Youngstown, Warren, Akron, Canton – as well as from Cleveland, Western Pennsylvania and elsewhere, if they have a local following.
The330.net will be the Summit’s third online station, joining rockandrecovery.com (for recovering alcoholics and addicts) and kidjamradio.com (for children). It will stream music 24 hours a day.
“All of us at the Summit are privileged to fully commit to the talented musicians and bands from our past, present and certainly the future in Akron, Canton, Cleveland and Youngstown,” said Tommy Bruno, general manager of the station.
Brad Savage, program director for the Summit (WAPS-91.3 FM, Akron, and WKTL-90.7 FM, Youngstown), which is based in Akron, said the idea for the all-local station came about organically.
“We get this fairly frequently, for the Summit anyway – bands submitting music,” said Savage. “For several years we made room in the regular rotation for local artists. We always hear feedback about it. [Listeners] say it’s amazing that we play local and unsigned artists alongside U2 and Adele. We zeroed in on that idea.”
Savage said the Summit will continue to include local music in its mix, but the330.net will be fully devoted to it.
Bands can submit music via the website, and Savage and Summit Music Director Chad Miller will sift through it.
About two-thirds of the songs played will be current, with the rest being older stuff – including music from local bands that have hit it big, such as the Black Keys, the Pretenders, Joe Walsh and Devo.
Savage said there will be at least a couple hundred songs in the rotation at any time. Interviews with touring bands and even DJ takeover shows by regional artists – in which they play the songs that influenced them – are part of the programming plan.
The330.net was announced at an event at Jilly’s Music Room in Akron on Wednesday evening. Its April 22 launch date will be the day after the Summit’s annual fund drive ends. The radio station will begin promoting the new Internet station today.