Radio DePaul to host Rock-the-Clock on-air marathon

Forget the keg parties, the concerts, the procrastination of homework—next weekend is time to “Rock-the-Clock.” Starting at 3 p.m. this Friday Radio DePaul will be delivering a constant stream of music, interviews and prizes, dominating a modern-day definition of the “airwaves.”

Streaming the broadcast through its website (radio.depaul.edu) and the iHeartRadio iPhone/Android app, Radio DePaul aims to unite its staff, raise money for station upgrades, and showcase local businesses that support the station.

Amidst accusations of imminent antiquity, radio has shown incredible resilience in the digital era. Among the first college stations to pioneer Internet broadcasting, Radio DePaul has maintained a reverence and enthusiasm for the medium of radio. This passion is directly tied with the marathon-fundraiser.

“A live radio marathon really harkens back to the golden days of radio—a time that all of us here at Radio DePaul may not have lived through, but one we have a huge appreciation for,” said Blythe Meyer, student general manager of the station.

Aside from raising money for station upgrades, the marathon effectively combats the assertion that radio is a dying field. Those at Radio DePaul believe that the medium is far from ailing; it is, rather, another medium to manipulate and strive to understand, a way to benefit the community.

Radio DePaul staff has a firsthand understanding that radio is not a dying field, but an evolving one. The marathon combines old-school fundraising tactics with a fresh, modern environment and technology.

Coupling social media promotion with word-of-mouth is a testament to Radio DePaul’s utilization of new technology while still respecting its parent medium. And with accolades including 2012 Best Online College Station and a 2012 MTV “Woodie” Award Finalist for Most Popular College Station, it’s difficult not to feel anxious to begin “rocking the clock.”

“Rock-the-Clock” came to fruition as a combined effort between students and General Manager Professor Scott Vyverman, who drew from his professional experience in radio with stations including WLS and 93.9 WLIT when preparing for the marathon.

Vyverman’s sales background gained at his first radio job was invaluable when creating the sponsorship plans that the station offered to local businesses. Each sponsorship package was part of a four-tiered system that included special advertising opportunities with the station.

“This might be something where we can catch them [local businesses] at just the right moment and they’ll see the real value in not only supporting us but us promoting them, which is the point of all this,” Vyverman said.

The marathon will serve a much grander purpose than funding new equipment for the studio; it also unites a team of more than 100 college students sharing a passion for radio. Vyverman calls the marathon “a team-building exercise, a unity-building exercise, a way to bring our staff together for a united kind of purpose…This is sort of a stage, a spotlight for our staff.”

The 48-hour event will include concert ticket giveaways, free items from local businesses and exclusive interviews. Many show hosts are joining forces to deliver exciting programming that wouldn’t otherwise have been possible.

Hosting a wide range of musical genres and show formats was an important component of the marathon. With 48 straight hours of programming, it was important for staff members to collaborate and be innovative.

Rock-the-Clock will begin Friday, May 25, at 3 p.m. with a journey through time featuring a culmination of songs that changed radio forever on Joe Lanzerotti’s “The Best-Of-Show.”

The choice to begin with Lanzerotti’s show was a simple one, according to Program Director Nathan Brue. “It is a pivotal point where we can all gather under a shared unity, bringing with us all of the past and all of the future and presenting it in the present,” he said.

Other notable shows occurring Friday include an ensemble show combining popular metal programs “Brutalitopia” and “Rock Tarts and Thrash Browns,” airing from 8-10 p.m. Following the two power hours of metal will be The Beating Art with Devin Leigh and will include a live acoustic performance by folk guitarist Morgan Haner.

For R&B and soul fans, tune into “1Heart1Love1Soul” Saturday from 10 p.m.-midnight. Dylan Grassl’s eclectic mix of jams featured on “Grassl’s Got Grooves” will be scoring the home stretch of the marathon from midnight-2 a.m. Sunday. “The Mustached Crusader,” a lighthearted hour of nerd culture commentary, will air Sunday from noon-1 p.m., and the marathon will commence with a roundup of the graduating station managers at 3 p.m.