Rookery Radio waddles to Kilcawley

Last spring, the student-operated online radio station Rookery Radio could be found in the armpit of the Youngstown Business Incubator in a 15-by-9 room.

After a successful launch and enormous campus community support, the rookery of students involved exceeded the amount of space allotted at the YBI, which forced the radio station to find a new home.

That home is on the second floor of Kilcawley Center adjacent to the information desk.

"We outgrew our space," said Rookery Radio adviser Adam Earnheardt. "We felt like it was the right time to do it."

The YBI serves as an outlet downtown for startup companies and organizations. The aim is that they grow larger, which is exactly what happened with Rookery Radio, Earnheardt said.

"We got everything we needed together, and we had a successful start down there," Earnheardt said. "What the YBI kinda used us as is another successful launch of a portfolio company."

When Rookery Radio moved into the YBI, the hopes were that once it grew it would be given a large space overseeing downtown with speakers set up outside so anyone nearby could hear what was being aired.

While that didn't happen downtown, Earnheardt said they have that luxury in Kilcawley Center. Next to the console table in the studio sits a large window that allows students walking by to see YSU's rookery as they air live shows.

"It was kinda like the perfect storm," Earnheardt said. "We were expanding too fast down there … and at the same time, Kilcawley, the renovations, were going offline."

Senior Jay Horkey is host of the Jay Evans Show, and he said Kilcawley Center couldn't be a better place to house a college radio station.

"I thought it was great. There's no better place to be for a college station then right in the heart of campus," he said.

Horkey added that he would be able to use the larger space to his advantage because he'll have more room for guests.

"I'm passionate about my city. I'm passionate about radio. I love Youngstown State University, and it's just my radio program is a perfect outlet to get information out," Horkey said.

Once Earnheardt heard that the Kilcawley renovations were being postponed, he jumped at the opportunity to find a space there.

"We begged for space here, anywhere, in part of the student center," Earnheardt said. "And, man, did the people in Kilcawley jump all over this."

That support led to the new space, which led to a new look.

After the space was approved, the walls were painted, carpet was laid and the Rookery Radio logo was placed in wall panels.

However, Earnheardt said the initial early September relaunch has been pushed back to late September because of equipment issues. They're also waiting for two professional soundcards to be shipped.

While Rookery Radio is offline, Earnheardt said the main focus is marketing. They've done so on campus through many Welcome Week events.

Because Rookery Radio has grown so fast, there are talks of it having its own operating budget. Earnheardt estimates it to be around $30,000. Money would be used to pay staff members and royalty fees, and to maintain equipment.

Senior Anthony Melone, Rookery Radio's general manager, said the move to campus is what the radio station needed.

"We were relieved and excited … because we were so much closer to campus," Melone said. "The Youngstown Business Incubator was a great experience. We are closer to students, which is what we want … it's a great experience that we're having so far."