About this project
The Chicago Independent Radio Project was formed in the summer of 2007 with the intent of starting a brand new music and arts focused community radio station for Chicago. From the start, we've had an amazing group of more than 100 volunteers working on everything from building technical infrastructure to eventually physically building walls! You can see photos of our work here.
We've made great progress in finding and building out the CHIRP space, and in talking to people around Chicago about what we want to do. We've built relationships with great independent record labels, record stores, non-profits, and other local businesses. We've purchased our equipment and are in the process of auditioning and training DJs. We've built the site that will be the station's home, ChirpRadio.org
Through special events, grants, and the generosity of many supporters, we've been able to raise the money to get us to this point. But there's still a big expense to cover -- streaming, archiving, and music licensing fees.
Next to rent, our streaming fees are our largest annual cost. That's why we're asking for your help. Initially, our Kickstarter campaign was designed to raise $4800 -- the amount we anticipate spending for our first year's streaming fees alone. We actually set our goal somewhat conservatively to make sure we succeeded (you only pay your Kickstarter pledge if a project is successful). But because you've come through even beyond our hopes, we'd like to expand our campaign to cover our first year of archiving and music licensing fees as well. This would mean we'd need to raise another $1000, for a total of $5800.
You can literally help us get the station on the air (well, web) by pledging your support here. And to show our thanks, we have a bunch of really cool gifts you can choose from at different levels. Check out the tote bag, water bottle, fitted red shirt, standard red shirt, and standard blue shirt.
We're grateful for all the support the community (in all senses -- our physical home, Chicago, but also the larger community of independent music fans, media activists, and anyone else who still believes in radio being live and local) has shown CHIRP. We're in the home stretch in getting the station up. Your gift will help make CHIRP Radio a reality! Thanks for your gift, and please help us spread the word.
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
173
Backers
$6,151
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on November 12, 2009.
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Window cling, button, and invitation to CHIRP station open house
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Suicide Squeeze tote bag, courtesy of Suicide Squeeze Records
Pledge $15 or more
Silk-screened, signed & numbered KTL / Németh tour poster courtesy of Thrill Jockey Records. Check it here: http://www.gigposters.com/poster/97601_Ktl.html
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Silk screened Mountains 'Choral' album promotional poster, courtesy of Thrill Jockey Records.
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Chris Connelly "Pentland Firth Howl" LP (limite edition of 300) courtesy of Addenda Records
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Black Wyrm Seed - self-titled cassette tape (limited edition of 200) courtesy of Plustapes
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Red River School of Taxidermy - self-titled cassette tape (limited edition of 100) courtesy of Plustapes
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Three posters (Eccentric Soul Revue, Trading Card uncut sheet, Brotherman Movie) courtesy of the Numero Group.
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The Vaselines' 'Enter the Vaselines' CD, courtesy of Sub Pop Records.
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Sunny Day Real Estate - "Diary" reissue with bonus tracks, courtesy of Sub Pop Records
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Obits' 'I Blame You' CD courtesy of Sub Pop Records
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Fruit Bats' 'The Ruminant Band' CD courtesy of Sub Pop Records
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Vetiver's 'Tight Knit' CD, courtesy of Sub Pop Records
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The Coathangers "Scramble" CD, courtesy of Suicide Squeeze Records
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Blitzen Trapper's 'Furr' CD, courtesy of Sub Pop Records
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Past Lives "Strange Symmetry" CD, courtesy of Suicide Squeeze Records
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'Bits' CD from Oxford Collapse, courtesy of Sub Pop Records
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sBACH "BACH" CD, courtesy of Suicide Squeeze Records
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Pissed Jeans' 'King of Jeans' CD, courtesy of Sub Pop Records
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Fleet Foxes self-titled CD, courtesy of Sub Pop Records
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Iron and Wine's 'Around the Well' 2-CD set, courtesy of Sub Pop Records
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Girl Talk's "Feed the Animals" CD, courtesy of Carrot Top Distribution
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Deastro's "Moondagger" CD courtesy of Carrot Top Distribution
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The Darling Downs' "From One to Another" CD courtesy of Carrot Top Distribution
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Dance Disaster Movement's "Kill Me Tomorrow" CD, courtesy of Carrot Top Distribution
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Harry Pussy "You'll Never Play in This Town Again" CD, courtesy of Carrot Top Distribution
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Black Flag's "Family Man" LP, courtesy of Carrot Top Distribution
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Black Flag's "The First Four Years" LP, courtesy of Carrot Top Distribution
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Ovo's "Crocevia" CD, courtesy of Carrot Top Distribution
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Grab bag courtesy of Carrot Top Distribution - CDs, stickers, posters...who knows what you'll find?
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The Rosebuds' "Life Like" CD, courtesy of Merge Records
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Volcano Suns' "The Bright Orange Years," courtesy of Merge Records
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Volcano Suns' "All Night Lotus Party," courtesy of Merge Records
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Hip CHIRP tote bag in red or black
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Bundle of three CDs: (Propinquity self-titled release, Johnny Lunchbreak self-titled release, Caroline Peyton: Intuition, courtesy of the Numero Group's Asterisk imprint.
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Thieves Like Us "Really Like to See You Again" EP, courtesy of Carrot Top Distribution
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Silk-screened, signed & numbered Califone / Iron & Wine tour poster courtesy of Thrill Jockey Records. Check it here: http://www.gigposters.com/poster/95558_Iron_And_Wine.html
Pledge $30 or more
Silk-screened, signed & numbered Exploding Star Orchestra tour poster courtesy of Thrill Jockey Records. Check it here: http://www.gigposters.com/poster/77451_Exploding_Star_Orchestra.html
Pledge $30 or more
Mystery grab bag from Matador Records: CDs, posters, buttons, etc. -- who knows what you'll get, but it all comes from the great Matador record label!
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Hollows - self-titled LP courtesy of Addenda Records
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Bundle of three CDs: Don't Stop: Recording Tap, Brotherman: OST by the Final Solution, Soul Messages From Dimona courtesy of the Numero Group.
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Lovely and practical red CHIRP Stainless Steel Water Bottle
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Nirvana - "Bleach" expanded CD deluxe edition (includes never-before-released February 1990 Portland, OR show), courtesy of Sub Pop Records
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Flight of the Conchords eagerly-awaited new CD, "I Told You I Was Freaky," courtesy of Sub Pop Records
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Human Highway "Moody Motorcycle" CD, courtesy of Suicide Squeeze Records
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Jim O'Rourke's new CD, "The Visitor," courtesy of Drag City Records.
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Comet Gain's "Broken Record Prayers" CD, courtesy of Carrot Top Distribution
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Sharkula's "The Diagnosis of Sharkula" LP, courtesy of Carrot Top Distribution
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M. Ward's "Post War" LP, courtesy of Carrot Top Distribution
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Portishead's self-titled LP, courtesy of Carrot Top Distribution
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Black Box hand-held sound machine, courtesy of Flingco Sound System. More info here: http://www.flingcosound.com/theblackbox.html
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A Sunny Day in Glasgow's "Ashes Grammar" courtesy of Carrot Top Distribution
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Highly fashionable CHIRP T-Shirt, Standard Fit (Blue or Red - see photo link in the 'about this project' section to the left)
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Super stylish CHIRP T-Shirt, Girly Fit (Red - see photo link in the 'about this project' section to the left)
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4 Song Request Set On-Air with Dedication - customize your own set when CHIRP Radio goes live this fall (must abide by FCC rules)
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Jeffrey Brown limited edition CHIRP Record Fair Poster, signed by artist
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$50 gift certificate towards the services of famed Chicago artist and prankster Derek Erdman http://www.derekerdman.com/gift_certificates.htm
Pledge $100 or more
Cool and comfortable CHIRP Hoodie, perfect for fall
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Selection #1 from our extremely limited edition CHIRP DJ mix CD series: Pop Nexus: Selections from the intersection of punk, disco, hip hop and electro, 1977-1983, curated by CHIRP Music Director Billy Kalb
Pledge $100 or more
Selection #2 from our extremely limited edition CHIRP DJ mix CD series: That Takes Ovaries: Brazen broads with guitars! Gutsy girl vocals! Cheeky chick drummers! Women who will wow you! curated by Jennifer Lizak, who blogs about women in music at wowmusicchicago.com.
Pledge $100 or more
Selection #3 from our extremely limited edition CHIRP DJ mix CD series: Need an eclectic dose of world and folk music? This mix features tunes you've likely heard but may not really know and introduce you to some artists, old and new, who have made their mark on the folk and world music scenes. Curated by Jenna Murfin, CHIRP's Volunteer Coordinator (and employee of Chicago's legendary Old Town School of Folk Music).
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Selection #4 from our extremely limited edition CHIRP DJ mix CD series: DJ and cartoonist Tony Breed curates a broad selection of music from five decades in a mix designed to be the perfect accompaniment to a crisp autumn day, with an illustrated cover to match.
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Selection #5 from our extremely limited edition CHIRP DJ mix CD series: Cool Summer: Despite a cool summer in Chicago this year, I wanted to share with you some hot new tracks that came out. On a more somber note, I added several beautiful songs in memory of two special people who passed away this summer. The rest is just there to make your day extra special. Curated by DJ Bylamplight.
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Selection #6 from our extremely limited edition CHIRP DJ mix CD series: Aural Abecedarium: A musical romp through those 26 symbols that make up the written word, from A to Z, curated by CHIRP Director of Online Media Mike Gibson.
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Selection #7 from our extremely limited edition CHIRP DJ mix CD series: Not One More Note of Winter: Chicago winters last far too long, and it's always nice to have a piece of our best season to take with you everywhere. Lively pop songs bring summer's radiant tones and bright lyrics to warm up the chilliest of fall nights and coldest of winter days, curated by CHIRP Events Director Jocelyn Geboy.
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Selection #8 from our extremely limited edition CHIRP DJ mix CD series: An indie pop mix tape! Mind the gap, or rather fill in the gaps before and after Belle & Sebastian--from indie pop's English heritage to the latest Slumberland releases--music to make you swoon, curated by CHIRP board member Elizabeth Ramborger.
Pledge $100 or more
Selection #9 from our extremely limited edition CHIRP DJ mix CD series: Listen and Love It...LOVE IT!: A wide-ranging mix that meanders from the fascinating female singers of the 1920s through the 1960s Tropicalia movement and keeps on going from the 80s underground to the catchiest unheard pop songs of the past few years. You never know what will pop up next! Curated by CHIRP founder Shawn Campbell.
Pledge $100 or more
Selection #10 from our extremely limited edition CHIRP DJ mix CD series: Looking for mix of mondo rare A-Go-Go, surf, garage and soul music from the far reaches of Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Indonesia? This mix is the result of years spent researching the fertile scenes of 60s and 70s music that produced bands like Dara Puspita, The Travellers, Brothers Hawk, The Reynettes, Koes Bersaudara, and more. Curated by Dustin Drase, CHIRP's Operations Manager and owner of Plustapes/Addenda records.
Pledge $200 or more
An 8-week adult or teen group class, or an 8 or 16 week kids’ group class (depending on the time of year) + one year Household membership to the Old Town School of Folk Music, good for discounts on classes, concerts, and merchandise, an OTS t-shirt or hat, early notification and purchase opportunities for shows, and more! Courtesy of the Old Town School of Folk Music.
Pledge $365 or more
1 Hour Guest DJ Slot on CHIRP Radio: Ever dreamed of being a DJ? Spend an hour on CHIRP Radio, selecting music and co-hosting with a regular CHIRP host.
Pledge $500 or more
Dr. Drase DJs your house party! Well-known DJ Dustin "Dr." Drase, of Toast & Jam, TTTTotally Dudes, and owner of Plustapes/Addenda records will provide you with three hours of professional musical entertainment for your personal event (subject to certain date, size, location, and time restrictions, please contact shawn@chirpradio.org for details and limitations).
Pledge $500 or more
Mary Nisi DJs your house party! Acclaimed Chicago DJ Mary Nisi, founder of Toast and Jam DJs, will offer up three hours of professional musical entertainment for your personal event (subject to certain date, size, location, and time restrictions, please contact shawn@chirpradio.org for details and limitations).
Pledge $500 or more
Kristin Marks DJs your house party! Popular DJ Kristin Marks of Toast and Jam DJs provides three hours of professional musical entertainment for your personal event (subject to certain date, size, location, and time restrictions, please contact shawn@chirpradio.org for details and limitations).
Pledge $500 or more
Erik Roldan, aka DJ Stinky Pinky of www.thinkpinkradio.com, DJs your house party! Top DJ Stinky Pinky provides three hours of professional musical entertainment for your personal event (subject to certain date, size, location, and time restrictions, please contact shawn@chirpradio.org for details and limitations).
Pledge $500 or more
Personal kids' party with Jeremy Babcock ! Jeremy Babcock, lead singer/songwriter for The Dreamtree Shakers will come and perform a 30-45 minute set of mostly original music for kids of all ages at your party! He will play guitar and sing and get the kids singing along on occasion and moving around. www.dreamtreeshakers.com. (recommended for kids between ages 1-8, Chicago area only, subject to certain restrictions. Please contact shawn@chirpradio.org for details)
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The Chicago Independent Radio Project (CHIRP) is a non-profit group of more than 120 volunteers working to start a brand new music- and culture-focused radio station. The online version of the station will launch in the fall of 2009, and the group continues to work to reform low-power FM law so that it can eventually apply for a broadcast license as well.
