William Paterson University’s radio station, 88.7 WPSC-FM/ Brave New Radio, has been named “College Radio Station of the Year” for 2024 in the National Association of Broadcasters’ (NAB) annual Marconi Radio Awards—considered the highest honor in radio.
This marks the third Marconi Award and seventh Top 5 finish for WPSC-FM, which took home the title of Best College Radio Station in 2021 and Non-Commercial Station of the Year in 2018.
“Our students’ dedication to quality on-air programming and their achievements in serving the local community have been recognized through winning the highest honor in radio,” says Rob Taylor, general manager of WPSC. “It was a very proud moment to see Bella Rocha and Daniel Karp represent William Paterson during their well-presented acceptance speeches. It was equally exciting to witness the positive responses that they received from the biggest and best in the radio industry who were in attendance at the event.
Launched in 1988, WPSC-FM is the founding station of World College Radio Day, created in 2010 to bring awareness to the importance of college radio stations, and annually celebrated by more than 600 stations across the globe who partner and share content for 24 hours of continuous live programming.
WPSC is also the first radio station to produce a live broadcast from the Marconi Museum in Bologna, Italy—the home where wireless radio was invented by Guglielmo Marconi, the Nobel Prize winner for whom the Marconi Radio Awards are named.
The student-produced WPSC-FM champions local and lesser-known alternative hip hop artists, with designated airtimes for classic and alternative rock music as well. Students also produce news and sports reports, a morning and afternoon talk/music show, and a Music Biz 101 show—featuring the guest speakers who visit classes in our nationally-recognized degree program in music and entertainment industries.
“Winning a Marconi Award is an achievement that would not have been possible without the amazing directors at Brave New Radio. I am incredibly blessed to have a team of strong leaders and a family I will cherish forever,” says Rocha, a junior, who serves as co-program director at WPSC.
The University’s “Best College Radio Station” win was announced during the NAB’s annual celebration in New York City. Established in 1989, the NAB Marconi Radio Awards are given to radio stations and outstanding on-air personalities to recognize excellence in radio.
Marconi finalists were selected by a committee of broadcasters, and the winners were voted on by the NAB Marconi Radio Awards Selection Academy.
“Winning the prestigious Marconi award signifies the hard work, dedication, and family at our radio station,” says Karp, a sophomore and co-program director at WPSC. “I’m so proud of everyone at our radio station for bringing this award home.”
