Interview with Michael "Mike" E. Agin, May 21, 2009

Partial Transcript: Um, this is a continuation of the, of the--of this WRFL history project.

Segment Synopsis: Agin details his job as a Student Media Adviser at the University of Kentucky. Agin talks of his role in establishing and maintaining WRFL throughout its early days (in the late 1980s, and early 1990s).

Keywords: Communications; FCC regulations; Faculty; Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Fines; Kentucky Kernel (newspaper); Lexington (Ky.); Standards; Student media advisers; Student media advisors; WRFL

Subjects: College radio stations; Education; Organization; Radio stations; Staff; University of Kentucky; Yearbook

Partial Transcript: It was launched in a fairly autonomous way by epic self-starters.

Segment Synopsis: Agin discusses Mark Beaty and Kathleen "Kakie" Urch, the primary founders of WRFL. Additionally, Agin talks of his prior working experience and its relevance to his role as a Student Media Adviser at the university.

Keywords: General managers; Kathleen "Kakie" Urch; Kentucky Kernel (newspaper); Lexington (Ky.); Mark Beaty; Newspapers; Program directors; Student media advisers; Student media advisors; WRFL

Subjects: College radio stations; Founders; Money; Radio stations; University of Cincinnati; University of Kentucky; Work; Yearbook

Partial Transcript: That eventually evolved into the student fee.

Segment Synopsis: Akin describes some of the logistical aspects of WRFL, including how the radio station received its funding and how it determined its listener base.

Keywords: Calls; Commercial radio; Fundraisers; Lexington (Ky.); Listenership; Ratings; Student affairs; Student media advisers; Student media advisors; WRFL

Subjects: College radio stations; Leaders; Logistics; Radio stations; University of Kentucky; Work

Partial Transcript: Most of the people who have been successful or made their marks in the world have done so in a variety of other ways.

Segment Synopsis: Agin considers the various professions that notable WRFL alumni have gone into, and the relevant skills that WRFL provided them in order to be successful in the workforce. Alumni from the NPR station WUKY are also mentioned.

Keywords: Alumni; Conflicts; Lexington (Ky.); Program directors; Radio shows; WRFL; WUKY

Subjects: College radio stations; Leadership; Life; Money; National Public Radio (U.S.); Professions; Radio stations; Responsibility; University of Cincinnati; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: And so I went over, and I remember visiting the, um, the facilities.

Segment Synopsis: Agin reflects upon the challenges and interesting moments of the early days of WRFL. Agin also articulates the role of the general managers, program directors, and Agin himself (as a Student Media Adviser) in guiding the radio station during this time.

Keywords: Concerns; Consistency; Doug Collins; FCC licenses; FCC regulations; Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Freelance; Leadership; Lexington (Ky.); Scoobie Ryan; Student media advisers; Student media advisors; Studio; Support; University of Cincinnati; WRFL

Subjects: College radio stations; Engineers; Radio stations; Radio--Transmitter-receivers; Students; Technology; Understanding; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Um, so I suppose--I'm kind of curious about, uh--you worked with the Kernel and with WRFL.

Segment Synopsis: Agin provides a comparison between the Kentucky Kernel student newspaper, and WRFL, the alternative student-run radio station (from his perspective as a Student Media Adviser to both organizations).

Keywords: Contracts; Decisions; Editors; Entertainment; Kentucky Kernel (newspaper); Lexington (Ky.); Licenses; Listeners; Radio shows; Student center; Student media advisers; Student media advisors; Support; WRFL

Subjects: Censorship; College radio stations; Independent; Music; Non profit; Organization; Radio stations; Responsibility; Space; Students; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: When you, when you deal with a group of self-starters...

Segment Synopsis: Agin characterizes his working relationship with the main founders of WRFL, Mark Beaty and Kakie Urch. Agin also describes his interactions with other radio staff, such as the general manger and program directors.

Keywords: DJs; Donna Jo Thorndale; General managers; Grateful; Kakie Urch; Kathleen "Kakie" Urch; Lexington (Ky.); Mark Beaty; Polite; Program directors; Student media advisers; Student media advisors; WRFL

Subjects: College radio stations; Professional; Radio stations; University of Kentucky; Work

Partial Transcript: I'd gotta tell you that I had a hard time understanding, uh, the music in a lot of ways, uh, but it expanded my, uh, repertoire.

Segment Synopsis: Agin describes his involvement and interest in the music that WRFL played while he was working as a Student Media Adviser to the radio station. The issue of non-student DJs working at WRFL and the resolution to this problem are both examined.

Keywords: Bosses; DJs; Lexington (Ky.); Non-students; Phone calls; Student affairs; Student media advisers; Student media advisors; Vice presidents; WRFL

Subjects: College radio stations; Music; Radio stations; Songs; Staff; Students; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: That's kind of what I was going to ask you was, what did the administration think of WRFL, in your, in your estimation?

Segment Synopsis: Agin recalls the impression that the administration of the University of Kentucky had of WRFL during its early days.

Keywords: Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Jack Blanton; Legal office; Legality; Lexington (Ky.); Paperwork; Student media advisers; Student media advisors; WRFL

Subjects: College radio stations; Radio stations; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: What's your fondest, your fondest memory of having been involved in, in the very early days of the station?

Segment Synopsis: Agin shares his favorite memories of working with WRFL and its students and staff.

Keywords: Challenging; Different; Entertainment; Fun; Interesting; Kentuckian (yearbook); Kentucky Kernel (newspaper); Lexington (Ky.); Problems; Radio shows; Student fees; Student media advisers; Student media advisors; Styles; WRFL

Subjects: College radio stations; Culture; Diverse; Experience; Freedom; Memories; Music; Pressure; Radio stations; Students; Unique; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: The similarities started to grow bigger between those two groups.

Segment Synopsis: Agin assesses the changes that WRFL has gone through during his tenure as a Student Media Adviser. Overall changes to musical tastes in the mainstream in the 1990s are also mentioned. The impact of these changes upon WRFL are then considered. Lastly, Agin talks of the conservative nature of another radio station in Kentucky with the same call sign as WRFL (88.1).

Keywords: Alternative music; Brother Jed; Call signs (Radio stations); Community; Concerns; Kentucky; Kentucky Kernel (newspaper); Lexington (Ky.); Mainstream music; Preachers; Record companies; WRFL; WUKY

Subjects: Change; College radio stations; Conservative; Culture; Freedom; Music; National Public Radio (U.S.); Popular music; Radio frequency; Radio stations; University of Kentucky