Hey. Hello. It's me, tyler. I've been a DJ at CHIRP Radio since 2013, because I believe in independent, non-commerical broadcasting dedicated to showcasing music that sounds good, even if it doesn't sell well. I'm also a big fan of the community that we've built around our station, and the fellowship we bring to Chicago's music scene. It's always better to go to a show with a buddy, right?

I wrote this a year ago, and it still applies today. I hope you'll give, at whatever amount is comfortable, and I hope we can repay the favor.

It's 2018. Most days, the world, at least on a geopolitical scale, still feels like compressed trash. With so much uncertainty and turmoil afoot, getting through another day in this timeline feels like cause enough for celebration. There are plenty of things about the world that we don't have the power to change. However, the reverse is also true.   

I've been raising money for CHIRPradio.org since 2014. In that time, no matter what was going on in the news at the time, I've always found an outpouring of wonderful, generous support from friends and family across the country. That means you. Whether you've given because you like me, or because you're also into the idea of commercial-free independent media, you've made a statement with every dollar you've given:

I believe in this thing, and I'm going to help it succeed. 

Last fall, you made that statement louder than ever; in 2017, we set a station record (now, happily, surpassed) for the most donations brought in by a single person in the history of CHIRPradio.org.

Last fall, we also launched our broadcast signal at 107.1FM here in Chicago. We did that with your help. We did that because you looked around and said "this is a place where I can make an impact, and so I will."

We're only getting started with our mission to bring commercial-free, community-centric radio to the city of Chicago. We've got more shows to broadcast, more Record Fairs to run, and more First Time events to produce. We've got podcasts, blog posts, and sponsored shows, each one of which helps knit together our community of passionate music fans. Each one of which helps all of us carve out our own community here in Chicago. 

Even volunteer-run radio isn't cheap. That's where you come in. 

Your contributions add up to serious money. As a nonprofit organization, CHIRP derives nearly half of its annual operating budget from the monetary support from listeners and supporters like you. That's the only way this station can exist.

At a time when a lot of the good things in the world seem to be disappearing, it's more important than ever to support things you believe in, even if it's just your favorite radio station. 

Thanks for taking part of your day to read this, and to think about community radio. Whether I'm someone you talk to every day or just a friendly voice from the far shore of the past, I speak for all of CHIRP's 250 volunteers when I say: I appreciate it, and I appreciate you.

Cheers,
Tyler

Support CHIRP for Ten Years of Great Independent Radio Programming! Make a "Sound Investment" in the station's future today!

CHIRP is a a listener-supported, volunteer-driven station. You make everything we do possible, whether it's supporting local artists, introducing you to tons of new music, throwing great events, or providing an outlet for your favorite DJ. As we celebate our tenth anniversary as a station, please help ensure we begin our second decade on strong financial footing!

In this era, it's more important than ever to support independent media. No commercials. No voice-tracking. No algorithms. Just great music brought to you by true music fans.

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 CHIRP's main donation page to make your contribution (and don’t forget to enter the name of the CHIRP Volunteer or DJ in the “How did you hear about CHIRP” section so they can receive credit for your gift).