Gen Z is bringing college radio back (and they’re telling the story on TikTok)
While streaming platforms are running out of ways to create real music moments — especially this summer — college radio in the U.S. is quietly making a comeback.
That’s the story Manon Mariani explored in Zoom Zoom Zen on France Inter.
The journalist is referencing Emily White’s deep dive in her newsletter White Noise: “Gen Z’s College Radio Revival”.
A new generation raised on Spotify, TikTok, and algorithmic feeds is tuning back in to analog radio — to take back control of how they discover music.
And their reasons say a lot about how Gen Z wants to experience culture today.
Of course, that doesn’t stop them from making content about it.
When Gen Z Unplugs the Algorithm
A report from MIDiA Research spells it out: 16–24 year-olds now discover fewer new artists than 25–34 year-olds.
Platforms that promised “all the music in the world” have ended up flattening discovery — serving more of the same hits to everyone.
So hundreds of students are choosing the mic over the algorithm « For You ».
From Michigan to Cornell, campus radio stations are bursting with applications. Some have jumped from 30 to 120 members in just a few years. Others are building training programs to keep up.
“We’ve experienced one of the most exponential growth periods in our station’s 37-year history.”
— Aidan Greenwell, WRFL (University of Kentucky)
The Return of Slow Media
Les étudiants décrivent la radio comme un espace humain, lent et For these students, radio is the opposite of the infinite scroll: it’s slower, human, and collective.
“You can’t scroll Reels and host a radio show at the same time. You have to be present.”
— Aidan Greenwell, WRFL (University of Kentucky)
Their relationship to sound is tactile — vinyl, CDs, cassettes, and handwritten notes cover the studio shelves.
That analog feel isn’t about nostalgia — it’s about authenticity and effort, a reaction to the frictionless experience of algorithms.
Radio as the Anti–Social Network
On campuses overwhelmed by screens, college stations are becoming micro-communities — places to reconnect, share ideas, and build something together.
They’ve turned into what sociologists call a “third place” — not class, not home, and definitely not the algorithm.
According to Emily White’s research, 94 % of student hosts cite creativity as their main reason for joining a station, and 79 % mention community.
These young broadcasters aren’t chasing virality; they’re chasing connection.
“When I was alone in my first year, listening to someone talk at night on the radio is what reassured me.”
— Aidan Greenwell (WRFL)
What If Radio Took Back the Lead?
For media professionals, this revival should be a wake-up call.
Radio isn’t just another stream — it’s a social medium itself, and it’s regaining relevance as audiences grow weary of endless scrolls and shallow content.
In a world where the music industry bets everything on AI-generated playlists and instant virality, college radio reminds us that discovery is still a human, emotional experience.
“Labels need college radio to reconnect young people with music.”
— Aidan Greenwell
How U.S. Students are Telling the Radio Story
Scrolling through #StudentRadio on TikTok, you quickly see how this new wave is documenting radio life in 2025.
It’s visual, spontaneous, and proudly unpolished — exactly what makes it work.
Here’s what stands out :
- Make it embodied. Hosts show up on camera — usually in dimly lit, slightly messy studios. You see the mic, the stacks of CDs, the post-its, the stickers. That raw, analog aesthetic keeps the spirit of radio alive.
- Speak as yourself, not “the brand.” Few student stations run active official accounts; most of the buzz comes from hosts posting through their own profiles. What matters is that people talk about the station. Keep the main account clean and factual, let the personalities do the storytelling.
- Let the vibe speak. Sometimes, no words are needed — a song, a glance, or a studio mood says everything.
- Show the moment. Many videos are shot right before going live — quick, behind-the-scenes glimpses that capture excitement, nerves, and teamwork.
