Germantown radio

The cultural heartbeat of a neighborhood

By Len Lear
Posted 12/21/24

In an era of corporate radio and algorithmic playlists, one Philadelphia neighborhood has cultivated something increasingly rare: its own voice. G-Town Radio, broadcasting from a small studio in Germantown's Maplewood Mall, has become more than a radio station – it's a cultural hub where neighbors share stories, local musicians find their first audience and community issues get the attention they deserve.

"We're like a public park," says Tom Casetta, who has managed the station for five years. "Listening to the station is like eavesdropping on a conversation – only you can …

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Germantown radio

The cultural heartbeat of a neighborhood

Posted

In an era of corporate radio and algorithmic playlists, one Philadelphia neighborhood has cultivated something increasingly rare: its own voice. G-Town Radio, broadcasting from a small studio in Germantown's Maplewood Mall, has become more than a radio station – it's a cultural hub where neighbors share stories, local musicians find their first audience and community issues get the attention they deserve.

"We're like a public park," says Tom Casetta, who has managed the station for five years. "Listening to the station is like eavesdropping on a conversation – only you can engage if you want."

This hyperlocal approach to broadcasting began in 2006, when Jim Bear, frustrated by the closure of the Germantown Courier newspaper and the corporatization of radio, started streaming music from his apartment computer. Despite having a day job and being in the midst of moving to a new house, Bear was driven by a vision of what community radio could be.

"The major radio stations were owned by big corporations that do not want to take chances or rock the boat," Bear said in an interview before his death in 2022. "It is all about money. On the all-music stations, the DJ has no freedom whatsoever to pick a song they would like to play. You might as well have robots playing music."

Bear's vision harkened back to radio's golden age. He often spoke about how in the 1950s, DJs could express their personality on air, and select music that reflected their distinctive taste. He cited the example of Buddy Holly, who got his start playing original music live on a local Texas radio station – an opportunity that's virtually impossible on today's corporate stations.

"I was really motivated by the power of community radio to reach diverse groups with under-represented sounds and ideas," Bear said. 

A simple start

The station's founding was remarkably humble: Bear held a meeting at a Mount Airy church and offered radio shows to anyone interested. What started as a modest streaming operation grew steadily, eventually broadcasting 24 hours a day. In 2015, the station achieved a milestone when it was granted a low-power FM license at 92.9 FM.

Today, Bear's legacy lives on in G-Town Radio's eclectic programming – with shows ranging from grassroots reggae to discussions about gun violence, pet care and environmental issues.

"Jim started this station basically as a hobby, and we are still here at the same location, 24 Maplewood Mall, 18 years later," Casetta says.

One popular program, "Skywave," revives old-time radio theater with performances of classic scripts from "The Shadow" and "The Lone Ranger." Another offering, "Save Our Ancestors," provides a platform for indigenous voices, while "Grief Journey" with Janet Tosto offers support for those dealing with loss.

Hyperlocal and independent

Unlike commercial stations, G-Town Radio operates without advertising, relying instead on grants and donors. Its 100-watt signal reaches listeners within a 3-5 mile radius, covering neighborhoods from Chestnut Hill to parts of Roxborough, Manayunk, and both West and East Oak Lane, while streaming online at gtownradio.com. 

The station's impact on the community became particularly evident during Covid, when program director Joanna Wikander transformed the station into an essential information hub – constantly updating residents about available services and vaccination locations.

Jill Saull, a 14-year volunteer at the station, says even she is frequently surprised by the audience reach.

"We had our fifth annual 92.9 Community of Joy Day Festival on Sept. 28, and even in the rain people came out," she recounts. "People came up and told us how much they love the station, and we met our fundraising goals."

A photographer and floral designer, Saull has witnessed how the station nurtures local talent, including her son, Reuben Dickstein, who at just 16 hosted his own music show "Out of Sight" on Fridays from 10 p.m. to midnight.

"I love the community aspect and the network connection," she says. "We give people a platform for their ideas and voices. It's a place to learn about your neighbors – and people get a chance to do something they've never tried before."

The station's success still depends on volunteers – about three dozen, in fact, who keep it running. They prove that even in the digital age, there's still room for radio that prioritizes community over commercials.

"Commercial radio is not as much fun as community radio," Casetta says. "One satisfies your soul, and the other one eats it."

In Germantown, that soul continues to broadcast loud and clear, one volunteer-hosted show at a time.

Find G-town radio at 92.9 FM or gtownradio.com.