HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PIZZA FM!

 

Today, September 23, marks a special day in hearts of many. Exactly two years ago, the gang at Pizza FM opened the virtual airwaves and began the station's first official semester of streaming!

A trial week, known to many as "the Beta Launch", had occurred during the previous spring semester, allowing the brains at Pizza FM to test out equipment, sound quality, content, and most importantly, THE LAW. After we rebels at Pizza FM got a taste of freeform, non-commercial college radio goodness, there was no stopping the inevitable fall semester launch. Eager DJs prepared savory playlists. Curious listeners turned the metaphorical dial to "pizzafm.org". Parents of DJs sat around the fireplace and waited to hear their children'sgolden voices spew through the mic, "You're listening to Pizza FM, freeform, non-commercial, college radio...."

And a good time was had by all. Except for me. I made every flib, flub, and flop possible and was too anxious to even say, "You just heard Erykah Badu." But that was the essence of the Beta Launch. Never forget. #beta

BUT THEN FIVE MONTHS LATER, IT HAPPENED. Pizza FM unleashed the wrath of college radio upon the University of Illinois and the world.

And we're still streaming!

This is a cause for celebration -- HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY, PIZZA FM!