WBAR is the campus radio station of

Barnard College Barnard College of Columbia University is a private women's liberal arts college in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It was founded in 1889 by a group of women led by young student activist Annie Nathan Meyer, who petitioned Columbia ...

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...

. Currently streaming online-only, WBAR was developed as a freeform alternative to

WKCR-FM WKCR-FM (89.9 FM broadcasting, FM) is a Radio broadcasting, radio station licensed to New York City, New York, New York, United States. The station is owned by Columbia University and serves the New York metropolitan area. Founded in 1941, the s ...

on the

Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...

campus. In addition to an eclectic array of shows, WBAR hosts several live concerts per year in Morningside Heights, including the WBAR-B-Q, a free, all-ages, day-long showcase of bands and food, as well as a Winter Formal concert event in December. Recent performers have included Palehound,

Japanese Breakfast Japanese Breakfast is an indie pop band headed by Korean-American musician Michelle Zauner. Zauner started the band as a side project in 2013, when she was leading the Philadelphia-based emo group Little Big League. She has said that she name ...

Sammus Enongo Lumumba-Kasongo (born March 20, 1986), known as Sammus, often stylized as SΔMMUS, is an American underground rapper, former teacher, and record producer. Early life Enongo Lumumba-Kasongo was born in Rhinebeck, NY to an Ivorian mother ...

Ravyn Lenae Ravyn Lenae Washington (born January 22, 1999) is an American R&B singer-songwriter from Chicago who is currently signed to Atlantic Records and the Three Twenty Three Music Group. She is also a member of the musical collective Zero Fatigue. H ...

, and more.

History

WBAR launched in the early 1990s, and was formerly located in Barnard College's McIntosh Hall before it was moved by the administration to the basement of Sulzberger Hall in the spring of 2007, pending demolition of McIntosh. WBAR used to host Radiothons, a fund-raising week-long series of live shows, interviews and give-aways, held in the WBAR studio. Alcohol was served.

Dirty Projectors Dirty Projectors is an American indie rock band from Brooklyn, New York, formed in 2002. The band is the project of singer-songwriter David Longstreth, who has served as the band's sole constant member throughout numerous line-up changes. The ...

headlined 2005's Radiothon closing show, supported by Akron/Family, Other Passengers,

R. Stevie Moore Robert Steven Moore (born January 18, 1952) is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter who pioneered lo-fi (or "DIY") music. Often called the "godfather of home recording", he is one of the most recognized artists of the cas ...

and The Shot Heard Round the World. The show was held at The West End Basement. WBAR and

NYU New York University (NYU) is a private research university in New York City. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded by a group of New Yorkers led by then-Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin. In 1832, the ...

also held a Battle of the Bands on October 25, 2002.

Notable shows

WBAR has a history of putting on shows that feature up-and-coming live acts, as well as on-campus talent. Among past performers include

Ari Up Ariane Daniele Forster (17 January 1962 – 20 October 2010), known by her stage name Ari Up, was a German vocalist best known as a member of the English punk rock band the Slits. Biography Ari Up was born in Munich, West Germany. Both her pare ...

Bikini Kill Bikini Kill is an American punk rock band formed in Olympia, Washington, in October 1990. The group consisted of singer and songwriter Kathleen Hanna, guitarist Billy Karren, bassist Kathi Wilcox, and drummer Tobi Vail. The band pioneered th ...

, and

Daniel Johnston Daniel Dale Johnston (January 22, 1961 – September 11, 2019) was an American singer, musician and artist regarded as a significant figure in outsider, lo-fi, and alternative music scenes. Most of his work consisted of cassettes recorded a ...

WBAR-B-Q

WBAR puts on its annual WBAR-B-Q each April. Held outdoors on Barnard College's Lehman Lawn, the day-long show is free, all-ages and open to the public. Food is usually available, and in the past, alcohol has been served. Past line-ups have included

Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend is an American rock band from New York City, formed in 2006 and currently signed to Columbia Records. The band was formed by lead vocalist and guitarist Ezra Koenig, multi-instrumentalist Rostam Batmanglij, drummer Chris Tomson ...

, Liturgy,

Cold Cave Cold Cave is the moniker for the music of Wesley Eisold, described as a "collage of darkwave, noise, and synthpop." A number of reviewers note the affinity with early 1980s post-punk and early synthpop, in particular Joy Division and New Orde ...

and

Real Estate Real estate is property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this (also) an item of real property, (more general ...

. 2006: Fixations, YACHT, E*Rock, Bobby Birdman, King Kong Ding Dong, O'Death, Lucky Dragons, Midnight Hours, Man Man.
2007: ONEIDA, Dark Meat, caUSE co-MOTION!, Public Record, Soiled Mattress & the Springs,

Nat Baldwin Nat Baldwin (born February 21, 1980 in Rochester, New Hampshire) is an American bassist, improvisor, and songwriter. He's released several solo albums since 2003 and is also known for being a former member of Dirty Projectors. In 2020 he released ...

& Sam Rosen, The Shot Heard Round the World, Yan Yan.
2008: Wizards of the Coast, Bear, Food Will Win the War, Liturgy, Thee Yetis, Les Sans Culottes, MegaFaun, Takka Takka, Tickley Feather,

Crystal Stilts Crystal Stilts is an American post-punk band from Brooklyn, New York City, United States, though their founding members, Brad Hargett and JB Townsend, were originally from Florida. History Crystal Stilts was formed in 2003 by Brad Hargett and JB ...

, Cause Co-Motion, Awesome Color, The Skaters, Videohippos, Japanther.
2009: Fitz, Jerome Ellis, Acrylics, Liturgy,

Metalux Metalux is an American noise band consisting of M.V. Carbon and J. Graf, both members of Bride of No No. They are occasionally joined by Nautical Almanac member Twig Harper. Early material was released on the Hanson Records label, while t ...

Xeno & Oaklander Xeno & Oaklander is an American electronic music group formed in 2004, consisting of musicians Sean McBride and Liz Wendelbo. Originating from Brooklyn, the band is considered to be among the cold wave revival scene of the 2000s and 2010s. Histo ...

, Free Blood,

PackFM Omar Rogelio Tull (born June 11, 1977), better known by his stage name PackFM, is an American Underground hip hop artist and producer from Brooklyn, New York City. As a teenager in the mid-1990s, PackFM began his battle career, winning numer ...

Soft Circle Soft Circle is the project of New York City based musician Hisham Bharoocha. His debut album, '' Full Bloom'', was released January 23, 2007, on the Eastern Developments Music record label. His sound is characterized by looped guitar riffs, drums ...

Gang Gang Dance Gang Gang Dance is an American band based in Manhattan, New York City. They are known for their distinctive sound which blends elements of psych-rock, ambient electronics, hip-hop, and Eastern music influences with the vocals of singer Lizzi ...

.
2010:

, Blues Control, Liturgy,

Burning Star Core Burning Star Core is the experimental music project of violinist C. Spencer Yeh. Originally conceived 1993 in Cincinnati, the project is currently based in Brooklyn, New York. Composing music that's driven by his violin, Yeh's Burning Star Core ...

, Jana Hunter, Twin Stumps, U.S. Girls, Think About Life, Prince Rama Of Ayodhya, Old Men.
2011:

, Blondes, The Crystal Ark, Arp, Laurel Halo, Big Troubles, Grooms, Beige,

Julianna Barwick Julianna Barwick is an American musician who composes using electronic loops. Her first album, '' The Magic Place'', was released in 2011. Music career Barwick has said that her music is influenced by her participation in church choir while gro ...

.
2012: Dam Funk,

Bush Tetras Bush Tetras are an American post-punk band from New York City, formed in 1979. They are best known for the 1980 song "Too Many Creeps", which exemplified the band's sound of "jagged rhythms, slicing guitars, and sniping vocals".Widowspeak, Mike Slott, Pete Swanson (ex-

Yellow Swans Yellow Swans were an American experimental music band from Portland, Oregon. The duo were renowned for their improvisational approach to noise music, creating a unique experience for each live performance. They described their music as "a const ...

), Forma, Archie Pelago, Night Birds, Midtown Dickens

Notable staff

Chris Baio Christopher Baio (born October 29, 1984) is an American musician, best known for being the bassist for the New York City-based indie rock band Vampire Weekend. He also releases as a record producer under the mononym Baio, and his debut solo albu ...

, former WBAR College Rock Music Director and current bassist of

* Woodrow 'Bo' Boyer, Program Director and morning drive personality who placed the station in the Arbitron Ratings for the first time in decades. * Shirley Braha, creator of New York Noise * R. Luke DuBois, experimental composer, artist, and member of the

Freight Elevator Quartet The Freight Elevator Quartet (FEQ) were a music performance group specializing in improvisation, improvised electronic music active in and around New York City. They performed and recorded continuously from 1996 to 2003, and collaborated extensiv ...

. WBAR Technical Director 1995-1997. *

Joseph Gordon-Levitt Joseph Leonard Gordon-Levitt (; born February 17, 1981) is an American actor. He has received various accolades, including nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for his leading performances ...

, actor who attended

Columbia University School of General Studies The School of General Studies, Columbia University (GS) is a liberal arts college and one of the undergraduate colleges of Columbia University, situated on the university's main campus in Morningside Heights, New York City. GS is known primarily ...

Charlie Kubal Charlie Kubal, better known by his stage name wait what, is a San Francisco music producer specializing in mashups, most notable for his creation of ''the notorious xx''. The album paired the music of The Notorious B.I.G. with the debut album of ...

, music producer, created 2010's ''Mashup Album of the Year''

the notorious xx ''the notorious xx'' is a mashup project that pairs the music of Notorious B.I.G. with the debut album of The xx, xx. It was released on the web March 25, 2010 and at a San Francisco listening party. Since its release, the album received one mi ...

Raphael, Louis.
Show Preview: Zyles at the Brick and Mortar
, Music in SF. June 24, 2019. Retrieved March 9, 2020. * Shana Ting Lipton, former WBAR DJ host of 'The Highrise' (1993), later pop culture journalist LA Times * Amy Phillips, News Editor at

Pitchfork Media ''Pitchfork'' (formerly ''Pitchfork Media'') is an American online music publication (currently owned by Condé Nast) that was launched in 1995 by writer Ryan Schreiber as an independent music blog. Schreiber started Pitchfork while working ...

* Adam Shore, First WBAR Music Director and former General Manager of

Vice Records A vice is a practice, behaviour, or habit generally considered immoral, sinful, criminal, rude, taboo, depraved, degrading, deviant or perverted in the associated society. In more minor usage, vice can refer to a fault, a negative character tr ...

Gideon Yago Gideon Yago (born February 19, 1978) is a writer and former correspondent for MTV News and CBS News though he is most recognized for his contributions to MTV. Background Yago was born in Madison, Wisconsin to a German-born, Roman Catholic moth ...

, MTV News and CBS News correspondent

References

External links

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BAR Bar or BAR may refer to: Food and drink * Bar (establishment), selling alcoholic beverages * Candy bar * Chocolate bar Science and technology * Bar (river morphology), a deposit of sediment * Bar (tropical cyclone), a layer of cloud * Bar (u ...

Freeform radio stations Barnard College Columbia University student organizations Radio stations established in 1993 1993 establishments in New York City

Unlicensed radio stations in the United States