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Broadcasting online via UStream also helps keep costs down. Michel says it costs less than $10,000 a year right now. Online radio also eliminates the hassle of FCC censorship. "The only thing I don't want is hate speech or anything that is negative about the oppressed in society," Michel says. "You can talk shit about the oppressors though."
Having lived in Charlotte since the late 1980s, Michel watched the adventurous DIY era give way to today's soulless corporate management of music. But he and Slagle say they hope Plaza Midwood Community Radio isn't just a relic for a generation who misses old-school college radio — they want their station to be a true sounding board for the community. So far, the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
"I started up PMCR and shared it with some friends and the reaction has been great," Michel says. "It spread really quickly, as far as people wanting to hear it. People want to produce content and be a part of it in any way they can be. We're just trying to see it through."