By John Lynds
Zumix’s Madeleine Steczynski and Jeeyoon Kim promoting ‘Boston DJs for Zumix’ event that will kickoff Friday at 8 p.m. at Zumix.
Twenty local disc jockeys from Boston’s past and present will help Zumix, East Boston’s popular music and performing arts program for youth, raise money for the local non-profit’s 94.9FM Zumix Radio and teen programs this Friday.
All last year, Zumix celebrated its 25th anniversary in the neighborhood. The celebrations and events culminated in the launch of Zumix Radio last summer.
On Friday at the Zumix Firehouse on Sumner Street the ‘Boston DJs for Zumix’ event will bring together Boston radio DJs past and present, radio junkies, and music lovers to celebrate 94.9FM Zumix Radio.
The event will feature twenty guest DJs, special guest sets, live performances, and a silent auction. The event will kickoff Friday at 8 p.m. General admission tickets are $25 and VIP tickets are $40 and include a private reception at 7 p.m.
All proceeds directly support Zumix free teen programs in songwriting, performance, community radio, instrument instruction, and creative technology.
Boston DJs that will be featured at Friday’s event include Adam 12; Akrobatik Baltazar; DJ Bean Jim Braude; Julie Devereaux; Fast Freddy; Mike Gioscia; Lori Grande; Merilee Kelly; George Knight; Carolyn Kruse; John Laurenti; Dana Marshall; Jess Phaneuf; Matt Phipps; Morning Guy Tai; Nancy Quill; Neal Robert; and Nomadik.
Zumix Radio is a community radio station broadcasting the voices and culture of Boston’s youth through music, stories, and bilingual conversation. After streaming online for the past 10 years, Zumix Radio began broadcasting as a low power FM station 24 hours daily in 2016.
Currently 25 youth and 20 adults produce and host weekly shows featuring a variety of programming including talk radio and music.
“Since launching the FM station last year our radio shows are able to reach more folks,” said Zumix Director Madeleine Steczynski. “As more people become aware of Zumix, the more positive effect we can have on the community. We’re thrilled to have twenty professional DJs supporting us for this special event – it’s an opportunity for our youth to meet real DJs and for music and radio supporters to spread the word about ZUMIX’s important work both through youth radio and our other programs.”
In 2015 Zumix was granted one of two construction permits by the Federal Communications Corporation (FCC) for a Low Power FM radio station.
The station, which is shared with Winthrop Art Association, broadcasts on 94.9 FM. Its signal reaches a radius of approximately 3.5 miles from a transmission site atop East Boston High School. In addition to its new broadcast station, Zumix Radio continues to stream online at http://www.Zumix.org.
Zumix Radio is a youth and community station that serves Zumix’s mission of empowering youth to make strong positive change in their lives, their communities, and the world. Zumix radio produces and host weekly shows featuring a variety of music styles and topics such as teen life, local news, and labor rights.
Zumix Radio began in 2005 and initially broadcast on 1630 AM. When Zumix moved to the Firehouse at 260 Sumner Street in 2010, the radio station was only available online. With the new broadcast station, Zumix Radio has been reaching a broader and more diverse group of listeners.
Zumix’s LPFM license is the result of a ten-year effort by media justice advocates to win passage of the Local Community Radio Act that mandates the FCC to issue new non-commercial FM radio licenses to community groups across the country. The Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by former President Obama in January 2011.
Since fall 2013 there have been 1,506 LPFM licenses granted across the country. Only two LPFM frequencies were available in Boston, and Zumix was chosen for one.
For more information, visit http://zumix.orgickets may be purchased online at www.zumix.org or by calling (617) 568-9777.