FatCat Radio Network

Infobox Radio station
name = FatCat Radio Network


area = Worldwide
slogan = "Click on the Cat"
airdate = 2001
format = Internet Radio
owner = Privately owned
website = [http://www.fatcatradio.com/ www.fatcatradio.com]

The FatCat Radio Network (commonly called FatCat Radio) is a critically acclaimed internet radio station that's billed as "your source for today's best independent music". FatCat Radio broadcasts a variety of music genres (including rock, blues, punk and metal) by unsigned and small label independent artists from around the world.

History

FatCat Radio, based in Rockford, Illinois, was founded in December 2001 [ [http://www.indieshows.net/blog/?m=200703 IndieShows Blog: "Step Into The Litterbox 3/31/07"] ] by an indie music fan known online as 'One Angry Swede'. The station started as a modest playlist on the original MP3.com. Additional playlists on other online music distributors quickly followed. The first version of the FatCat Radio website was launched in April 2004. While rudimentary in layout and graphics, it served as a catch all for the various playlists and helped to increase the station's profile. A complete overhaul to the station website in August 2006 led to the removal of all music hosts other than Soundclick, a cleaner more organized layout and most importantly, brought with it the addition of live programming. The newly christened FatCat Radio Network, now co-managed by Swede and his wife Jennifer, went live for the first time with The BIG Show on September 6, 2006. [ [http://www.bannedpromotions.com/fatcatinterview Banned Promotions Interview w/ FatCat Radio 3/3/07] ]

The Logo

Listeners are encouraged to 'click on the cat' in reference to the cat head on a radio tower logo featured prominently on the website, various advertising material and all [http://www.zazzle.com/fatcatradio merchandising] . The model for the logo is the station owners' cat, 'Big Fat G' (Born April 1 1999), a domestic long hair adopted from a local animal shelter. She is, in fact, overweight. [ [http://www.bannedpromotions.com/fatcatinterview Banned Promotions Interview w/ FatCat Radio 3/3/07] ]

The Name

While grammatically incorrect, the proper spelling and capitalization is FatCat. No spacing between the words fat and cat. It should be written as one word. Capital F. Capital C. [ [http://www.fatcatradio.com/faq.htm FatCat Radio: Frequently Asked Questions] ]

FatCat Live

Live webcasts (cd quality 128 kbit/s) of the following programs:

The Indigo Lounge (blues)
Center Stage (cd spotlight)
The BIG Show (rock)
A'Swepe Hour from Somewhere in Texas (prog rock)

[http://www.fatcatradio.com/schedule.htm Broadcast Schedule]

Listeners interact with the program hosts, artists and other listeners by posting on the station's message board. The FatCat Phone is available 24 hours a day to allow for on air requests and audience participation. Contests and other promotional giveaways (cds, t shirts, concert tickets, etc) are a popular feature on The BIG Show. [ [http://www.bravewords.com/news/91063 Bravewords.com : News Archives June '08] ]

Other programming includes:

FatCat Auto-Pilot - randomly played songs from the various shows as well as exclusive tracks.
Play It Again Sam - rebroadcasts of each of the live programs.
The Dark Alley - rock/metal program that aired live from Sept '06 until Nov '07 (on hiatus).
The Little Big Show - various genre program that featured music 'a little less loud, a little less angry'. (Oct '06 - Jan '08)

As of September 2008, listeners from 68 different countries have been confirmed. [ [http://www.ip2location.com/default.aspx IP2Location] ]

FatCat On Demand

FatCat On Demand is composed of three separate unmanned music streams powered by the online music distributor Soundclick. Listeners have the option to stop, skip, repeat, download or purchase songs.

On May 19, 2007 FatCat On Demand 1, 2, and 3 held the top three positions on Soundclick's Rock (General) stations [http://oneangryswede.angryhosting.com/FC123.jpgchart] .

Sampling of FatCat Radio Network Artists

Nashville Pussy, Rhino Bucket, American Dog, Broken Teeth, Nine Pound Hammer, Sean Costello, Dave Rude Band, The Last Vegas, Crucified Barbara, Dave Evans, Sideburn, Johnny Mohawk and the Assassins, Thirty 2 Life, Rockets To Ruin, Rawmania, Reverend Blue, Dave Arcari, Alvin Jett and the Phat Noize Blues Band, Ray Schinnery.

Awards, Recognition

-- 2007 Winner Best Internet DJ [ [http://www.iommagazine.com/IOMAs/fame.html IOMAs Hall of Fame 2004-2008] ] [http://www.iommagazine.com/IOMAs International Online Music Awards]

-- Six total IOMA nominations including Best Internet Station, Outstanding Contribution to Online Music [ [http://www.iommagazine.com/IOMAs/fame.html IOMAs Hall of Fame 2004-2008] ]

-- 4 star rating [ [http://www.radiotower.com/cat-independent-unsigned.html Radiotower.com - Indie/Unsigned Radio Listings] ] from [http://www.radiotower.com Radiotower.com]

-- 4 star rating [ [http://www.iheard.com/stations/rock/indie/fatcatradio iheard.com - Internet Radio Listings] ] from [http://iheard.com iheard.com]

External links

* [http://www.fatcatradio.com Official FatCat Radio Network website: www.fatcatradio.com]

* [http://www.myspace.com/fatcatradionetwork FatCat Radio Network on MySpace]

See also

List of Internet Stations

References