While I’m majoring in English and professional writing, the first thing you need to understand about me is that I love music.

By “love music,” I mean that, without it, I would be debilitated.

To me, music is life and energy. I stand firmly behind the great Hunter Thompson when he said, “On some nights I still believe that a car with the gas needle on empty can run about 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio.”

I could go on, but let’s not write volumes here.

UNA needs a college radio station.

There I said it. And, yes-I’m talking about one of those stereotypical stations that play “those bands you’ve probably never heard of.” That’s exactly the point. It would be about exposing this area to new music that doesn’t get air play. It would be an influx of culture that would be widely broadcast and readily available.

It would also be an opportunity to expose local music on a new level. You may actually hear some, or all, of those albums sitting on that little table in Rivertown. You hear the songs, you like the music, you go to the shows. Those bands make money and tour. Other bands hear and start making their way to the Shoals. More money is made and more bands come. See where I’m going with this? Musical growth. Revitalization.

And talk about educational opportunities. Communications students could have hands-on opportunities with running and cultivating a radio station. Each new class could add new techniques and ideas as they saw fit. Students with entertainment industry, marketing and Integrated mommunications majors would have a new outlet for real-world experience.

I know that we used to have ROAR Radio, but its reach and content was limited. To be honest, I never heard of it. I think a college radio station is an idea worth revisiting.

The Shoals was once called the “Hit Recording Capitol of the World.” We may have fallen from glory in many ways, but, in an area rich with musical history, and still dripping with talent, we owe it to our legacy, our musicians and ourselves to continue cultivating music from the inside and out.