Beginnings
BLUE MOON RADIO is a community resource meant to foster new means of connection within the city of Detroit through music and meaning.
BLUE MOON RADIO is a community radio station that features emerging and established Detroit DJs, storytellers, talk show hosts, producers, and other communications-oriented sonic lovers- especially highlighting Detroit’s legacy of experimental and genre-bending Black music and spirit. BLUE MOON RADIO will have the capabilities to play Vinyl, Digital files, CDs, Cassettes, live audio, and other methods of sharing information during broadcasts. We want a call in line for community participation, and we are committed to collaborative, fun, and equitable projects around music and sound.
BLUE MOON RADIO is to be an accessible sonic resource for Detroiters: for those just starting out and for those dedicated to the craft. Having experienced the lack of entry level spaces to experiment and have fun with sound, we want to provide a space to aid in shifting local music culture towards collaboration and generosity.
WE are inspired and mentored by the Oakland-Based community radio station LOWER GRAND RADIO (LGR). LGR has supported hundreds of Bay Area locals in building a robust network of Djs, Producers, Show Hosts, Poets, and has even lead to the creation of new music labels, supported record stores, the formation of several musical collaborations, and the formation of strong careers in music as well as a community outreach program for Bay area teens to learn about Radio and Local music. We look to LGR and other modern community-based internet radio stations as a model for what BLUE MOON RADIO wants to be for our communities in Detroit.
WE are committed to Detroit, and we will have Detroiters be the core of our programming in perpetuity- we have committed to have a minimum of 60% of our programming to be produced by Detroit homegrown and current residents.
WE are also committed to providing teaching tools for our community (Each one, Teach one!) We aim to hold beginning, intermediate, and masterclasses for our community regarding DJing, music production, musical collaborations, artist sustainability, event curation, archival/experimental writing, orating and more. We want our community to be equipped to support themselves beyond us, and we believe that workshops and masterclasses- to share and prioritize information- is a good start.
A critical goal of the radio is to provide healthy experiences- along with a solid foundation- within the local music community, and to disseminate necessary knowledge to all who need it.
We believe in growing at the rate of sustainability, and we are committed to sharing our plan to grow our capacity with the community on our website and social media. When the radio establishes a physical space, consistent weekend programming will start on Saturdays and Sundays, with plans to expand into the week as our volunteer and core team can support everyone. We intend for BLUE MOON RADIO to become a communally controlled and operated resource, with full week programming.
BLUE MOON RADIO launched on August 30th, 2023. We held a five hour gathering at The Gathering Coffee Co. with music from Sabetye, Lady Vibrator, Na Bonsai, Goldsmith, Miguel Cisne, Venn Diagram, Sabre, Mount Mariah, Ziggy Waters, and Coffee Black to celebrate the official birth of the project. (Carly provided the XDJ, Elijah the turntables, and Jonah the sound.) After the launch party, we took a break to heal personally, and reflect on what our community needs first.
WE look forward to creating new and lasting memories together as the project continues on. Until we meet again…
