Independent. Volunteer-run. Fun.

One of the things I love about living in Chicago is volunteering at CHIRP Radio (107.1 FM here in town or broadcasting everywhere online at chirpradio.org/stream): a real, live, local radio station where human beings do everything. Imagine a college radio station but bigger and better organized. Imagine KEXP or KUTX but run by volunteers on a fraction of the budget. I had my eye on volunteering here before I even moved, because as anyone who knows me knows, I love music and I have a lot of opinions about it, and I figured that if I was going to meet like-minded individuals anywhere, it would be here. Well, I was right.

CHIRP puts music first, on the air and in the community. Just one example: Both Sides Now, a live vinyl listening event where a DJ picks three albums, writes a little about them and why they chose them in context, and then 10-50 people shuffle into an upstairs bar to sit in monastic silence and listen to the records. There's an intermission so anyone who needs to can order from the bar. It's inspired by listening rooms in postwar Japan, when not everyone who wanted to listen to records had a hifi, and just describing it sounds unhinged in today's environment, but it works. It's amazing. It's exactly the sort of thing I would organize, but I didn't have to. It was already here waiting.

I've just gotten started volunteering here, mostly listening to records and writing up reviews to assist the DJs (no one can listen to all of this music, much less remember anything about it), and it already means a lot to me. The other volunteers are dedicated, interesting people who also love music and have a lot of opinions, and we all pull together to make this a great station and a great part of the Chicago community. In addition to picking and playing music 24/7, we table at festivals and street fairs, partner with venues to bring in and promote shows, organize an entire music film festival, and do events that no commercial venture would touch. I'm coming in at year fifteen, and I'd love to see the station turn thirty. To that end, I'm asking for whatever you can give: any amount helps, and a recurring donation of five, ten, or twenty dollars a month makes a real difference when factoring up the monthly budget.

Everyone I've met who knows about CHIRP loves it, and when I meet someone who doesn't know about CHIRP, I get to introduce them to their new favorite thing about Chicago that they can enjoy anywhere in the world. Help keep CHIRP on the air, in Chicago, and online. Thanks.

Help us celebrate fifteen years of CHIRP!

It's hard to believe that it's been a decade and a half since we launched the station! Some things have changed a lot, but what's stayed the same is our commitment to bringing you live, local, commercial-free music programming lovingly curated by our DJs every single day, plus dozens of events that showcase our city's diverse music, arts and cultural scenes.

In 2025 we're celebrating our history while looking to the future, including rebuilding our website and mobile app into a sleek integrated web app that we know you'll love.

We are a truly independent, listener-supported station. Your generosity has helped us thrive over the past fifteen years, and will keep us going for decades to come.

If you believe CHIRP contributes meaningfully to the musical and cultural life of Chicago and want to make sure the station stays strong, please make a donation to show your support today. 

IMPORTANT: If you would like to become a sustaining member by making a recurring donation (monthly or quarterly), or if you want to select a thank you gift, please visit chirpradio.org/donatenow to make your contribution (and to give in support of the person making this post, be sure to type their full name in the "volunteer to credit" section so they can receive credit for your gift).

And if you're interested in joining CHIRP's major donor program, The Vinyl Circle, with a gift of $500 or above, please use this form.