The fourth floor of 333 East Campus Mall is home to UW-Madison’s student-run community radio station. With sports play-by-plays, talk shows, up and coming artists and more, WSUM brings together students interested in a variety of broadcasting and media fields. Through their collective effort WSUM has grown from a student proposal to a nationally recognized organization.
In February, WSUM traveled to New York City to accept the award for Best College Station in the Nation by the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS), the program’s highest honor. In addition to this award, WSUM received four other awards for their work in sports and news and their mobile app. John Raider, WSUM’s Production Director, was among the student representatives in attendance to accept the award.
With over 3,000 entries submitted by more than 100 schools nationwide, competition for each IBS media award is extremely intense. Raider said hearing the title of Best College Station in the Nation go to WSUM felt surreal.
“For me, it wasn’t just about accepting the award. It was about representing the thousands of students who have put their time, creativity, and passion into WSUM over the years. I honestly wish we could have all been up there together so everyone in the room could see just how much passion our members have for this place,” Raider said.
As a member of WSUM for two years, Raider said the station’s sound evolves with each new wave of students.
“Our DJs, producers, sports broadcasters, and news team members all work together and learn from each other, so people are constantly improving their skills while experimenting with new ideas on air,” Raider said, “That mix of creativity, mentorship, and independence allows WSUM to produce programming that’s authentic to the students and different from traditional commercial radio.”
While the students work to produce the highest quality of content, Director of Radio Kelsey Brannan helps to oversee their work. Brannan has worked at WSUM since 2021, but her involvement in WSUM dates to 2010, when she was an undergraduate student at UW-Madison.
“Every generation at WSUM stands on the shoulders of the generation that came before it,” Brannan said, “And the heart and soul of WSUM has remained the same.”
With over 200 student members, WSUM has grown into more than just a radio station; it’s a community and a place for students to thrive in fields they’re interested in.
“[The students] know that they’re putting out the best content and they’re serving our listeners and community with something they’re not hearing anywhere else. And it feels really special to finally be recognized for that,” Brannan said.