MICHAEL SWAN: LET US BE THE FIRST TO CONGRATULATE THE TACOMA RADIO STATION >>>

College radio can be an uncut gem - a diamond in the rough. College towns throughout the nation have embraced the aura of this media outlet where students can uncover and share a whole world of music, opinion, and news with as many people as their signal towers can reach.

The "gem" tag certainly fits the University of Puget Sound radio station KUPS. Today, as the students behind the North Tacoma radio station were busy filing records and socking each other in the arm arguing over the best Elliott Smith song, an MTV cameraman burst into the studio and New York DJ Matt Pinfield slapped a big winner sticker on their microphone.

Yup, KUPS won the 2009 mtvU Radio Woodie.

According to a press release, "KUPS beat out about 300 of its peers as the top U.S. college radio station, after it garnered the most votes from college students nationwide. The award from MTV college television network mtvU recognizes college radio stations for their role in championing independent artists before they achieve mainstream success. Quite a number of artists who made their first breakthrough on college radio have later found national fame."

That's so snug. Congrats to the entire staff behind KUPS. Tune in to MTV on Friday, Dec. 4 to watch the students score the award.

Enjoy these links:  

LINK: Previously on Spew

LINK: What the hell is mtvU?

LINK: KUPS is boss