If you haven’t heard of WFMU, then you really have been missing out on pioneering, gold standard radio.  I started listening to WFMU in 2002 while living in China as it was one of the few webradio stations that would stream reliably for me inside the PRC … that and the programs were exactly my kind of radio – diverse, sometimes zany, always entertaining, and infused with personality.  The video above is WFMU station manager Ken Freedman‘s keynote address at the OpenEd2009 conference in Vancouver.  In this address Ken refers to how the station branched into webradio and how added elements like the online, social components presented growing pains as DJs feared loss of control over their programs.  There are parallels between WFMU’s experience and bringing innovation to institutional teaching and learning, as noted at the UBC CTLT site outlining this talk:

Like the DJs at WFMU, it only takes experience and understanding for educators to grasp that changes to their traditional methods can and will enhance the learning and teaching process.

Many people have DM’d and/or emailed me to offer micropayments for #ds106radio.  I am absolutely thrilled that folks love #ds106radio such that they are willing donate to keep it on the air.  Turning on #ds106radio and hearing folks broadcast their music, readings, stories, and sonic experiments is all the support I need to keep the station pushing signal.

However if you think live, freeform webradio is pretty great and want to show your love with a small donation – how about considering a small donation via DS106Radio in support of WFMU or ponying up $10 or more directly over the next 2 weeks?  They are in the midst of their annual fund raising efforts and could use a hand.