KCOU included in Woodie final five

The winning station will be announced Dec. 4.

By Megan Donohue

Published Oct. 27, 2009

KCOU/88.1 FM made the top five list of competitors for the mtvU College Radio Woodie Awards.

The top five college radio stations in the country according to mtvU were announced Monday on its Web site, and will compete for the top slot until the winners are announced on-air Dec. 4 at the Woodie Award Ceremony.

Ball State University (WCRD/91.3 FM), California State University, San Bernardino (Coyote Radio), MU (KCOU), University of Pittsburg (WTPS/92.1 FM) and the University of Puget Sound (KUPS/90.1/FM) will now enter the final round of online voting for the title of top radio station.

"It's pretty awesome that we are in the top five," Co-promotions Director Hannah Hayes said.

General Manager Jonathan Hutcheson said the station has come as far as it has in the competition due to its large fan base.

"Ultimately the award is for the best college radio station, but I think part of it also goes to having the best listeners and best student support, and I think Mizzou has definitely got that in the bag," Hutcheson said. "So hopefully that will come through and those other schools can take note of what the whole M-I-Z, Z-O-U thing's all about."

Program Director Greg Winegar said the biggest contributor to KCOU's success is its increased staff size.

"Our biggest one definitely is our huge staff, which is kind of a KCOU fist, having a staff this large," Winegar said. "So that was huge, we have a lot of support outside of our staff, outside of the university as well."

Hayes said its success has a lot to do with developing a promotions department this semester as well.

"We've pretty much gone from zero to 60 in getting the word out about our station and stuff, and I really think that helped a lot," Hayes said. "We really did a whole bunch of promotions trying to get people to vote for us, and our own staff was really instrumental in that too I think."

Hutcheson said he is confident KCOU will win the College Radio Woodie Award in part because of the booming support the station has garnished this semester, stretching from staff to students to faculty and other supporters off campus.

"Obviously votes, we've had a lot of people be ardent supporters throughout this process," Hutcheson said. "As far as I'm aware it goes back to zero every time that we make another stage."

Hutcheson said he couldn't think of a better feeling than the strong support shown throughout the voting process.

Hutcheson, Winegar and Hayes are very confident in KCOU's chances at taking the whole competition.

"I wouldn't be surprised if we won," Hayes said.

Hayes said she is grateful for the large numbers supporting the station in the competition so far.

"Thank you so much for listening to us and I promise that we will keep giving you good stuff and good music and great sports and news to listen to," she said.