November 7th marks the 10-year anniversary of WXYC’s internet simulcast. WXYC was the first radio station in the world to stream its radio signal over the internet 24 hours a day, and we plan on celebrating!

Bandwidth Compilation:

We have many events planned to commemorate our webcasting anniversary in grand style, but perhaps the most exciting part of the festivities is the release of a completely free, local music compilation called Bandwidth: Celebrating 10 Years of Internet Radio on WXYC-Chapel Hill. Containing exclusive songs donated by 23 of our favorite North Carolina artists, the compilation will be posted on this website for free download, complete with cover art. We’re also pressing a small number of CDs to be sold through our website, in stores in Chapel Hill, at WXYC events, and directly from the participating artists. The music on the CD is truly excellent, and we invite you and all your friends to download a copy. We won’t dissuade you from buying the CD, but you can download it (100% legally) for free. Local artist Casey Burns did the cover art, and the compilation is available here.

Webcasting Anniversary Concert/Party:

November 6th at the Local 506 in Chapel Hill is our big webcasting anniversary party. 4 bands and 1 emcee (all appearing on Bandwidth) will help us celebrate a decade of broadcasting on the web and ring in the official anniversary date at midnight. The performers will be eNtet (an outgrowth of Micro-East Collective), the Moaners, Spectac, and Jett Rink. Billy Sugarfix will be your master of ceremonies for the night. We’ll also officially unveil Bandwidth at the show, so if you want to be the first kid on your block to own a copy, then you’ll definitely want to attend the concert, where you'll be able to purchase the CD for only $6.00! Additionally, there will be brand new WXYC schwag for sale (shirts, mugs, and coozies all with a new design), and there will be anniversary cake!

Please note that the Local 506 is a private club, and you’ll need to purchase a membership from www.local506.com at least 3 days in advance of the concert if you plan to attend. Members can bring up to 3 guests, and all attendees must be 18 or over. The Local 506 is located at 506 West Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, and the telephone number there is (919) 942-5506. Tickets for the webcasting anniversary event will cost $6 for students and $7 for the working class. The regular price of the Bandwidth CD will be $8, but as mentioned above, you can get a copy for just $6 at the time you buy your concert ticket.

In the Pit:

Friday, November 5th stop by the Pit on the UNC campus. From 10am until 2pm WXYC will be set up with an eye-catching display, food, and free stuff. We’ll have a computer set up and streaming WXYC, and the on-air DJs will be giving special priority to Instant Messenger requests made from our table in the Pit.

Webcasting Panel Discussion:

Sunday, November 7th, from 3pm until 5pm, WXYC’s Bret Dougherty will facilitate a panel discussion on the history and future of internet radio in room 3203 of the Frank Porter Graham Student Union on the UNC campus. Panelists will include Mike Shoffner and David McConville (who set up WXYC’s original webstream in 1994), Paul Jones of ibiblio.org, and John Streck from NC-ITEC (who will provide insight into the new Internet2). This event will be broadcast live on 89.3 FM (in the Chapel Hill area) and, naturally, over the internet via our streams at wxyc.org. The panel discussion is free and open to the public. Oh, and there will be free food, too. An audio recording of the panel discussion is available here.

CD Alley In-Store Event:

Friday, November 12th at CD Alley (405-C West Franklin Street in Chapel Hill) we'll have one final webcasting anniversary celebratory event. Join us from 4pm to 7pm for live music with 3 bands featured on our Bandwidth compilation. Bringerer will play at 4pm, David Nahm of Audubon Park takes the floor at 5pm, followed by the inimitable Torch Marauder at 6pm. As mentioned above, Bandwidth is available for free download from wxyc.org, but we've also got some pretty hot limited edition retail copies of the disc, and you'll be able to purchase one at this CD Alley event. Also: pizza is on the menu this night.

Website Revamping:

Finally, throughout our 10th anniversary year, WXYC will be making improvements to the wxyc.org website. Ready for unveiling on November 7th will be live, online playlists that will allow listeners to see what the DJ is playing at any given moment. You’ll also be able to browse through past playlists. We will continue to offer 16k and G2 RealPlayer streams, but we’re now also offering a 128k MP3 stream and a 56k OGG stream. Links to these streams are available from wxyc.org. We’ve also started webcasting on Internet2, although probably as many of you have access to that stream as had access to our stream in 1994! Internet2 is the next generation of the internet, and we’ll be there to welcome you when you get there. Other things to look for on the website in the coming year: a complete site redesign, searchable playlists, a frequently updated calendar of WXYC and local events, home pages for our specialty shows, and a discussion board.

Webcasting Anniversary Contact Information:

If you have any questions or comments about our 10-year anniversary, please call or write to us. We'd love to hear from you! Contact PJ Disclafani at 919-962-7768 or wxyc10year@wxyc.org.

As you can see, we’ve got a lot planned, and it should be pretty exciting. Keep checking this website for webcasting anniversary updates and to download Bandwidth on November 7th! Click here for more information about WXYC’s pioneering webcast and the history of webcasting. And of course stay tuned to WXYC!