Radio Free Ian, an FCC part-15 terrestrial and internet radio station, is headquartered in Denver. It stands out with its unique format, playing a diverse range of music genres, including 80s and 90s college rock, blues, funk, punk, classic rock, and new “indie” music, all from the personal collection of author Ian Shane.
3wE (2003-2005)
Radio Free Ian is the fourth internet radio station that Ian Shane, a passionate music enthusiast, has created. The first, 3wE, was born in 2003 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Ian, with his love for music, hosted a two-hour live show every week and curated multiple playlists. Musically, 3wE reflected his previous radio station, WTTS, in Bloomington, Indiana, showcasing his evolving taste and passion for music. 3wE signed off in 2005 when Ian was tapped to launch an internet radio station for Brown College. The Voice of Brown College was a training ground for radio students and remained on the air until the school closed in January 2017, nine years after Ian left the school.
I-82 (2014-2018)
In 2012, Ian started planning to create a new internet radio station. It was initially going to use the previous 3wE branding. However, another internet station used that identifier, so the new station was scrapped. Ian started to put together a new plan focused on 80s and 90s college rock. He used the long vacated name of his college radio station, I-82. Ian spent a year compiling a sufficient library for a limited era. At 7:00 a.m. on January 17, 2014, the new I-82 officially launched with the song “Radio Radio” by Elvis Costello. I-82 continued to stream until May 31, 2018, after a dispute over royalty payments between I-82’s music license manager and ASCAP. While I-82 was short-lived, it inspired Ian’s second novel, Postgraduate.
Radio Free Ian
After Ian published his memoir, Sundry Notes of Music, he wanted to create a new radio station. He still had the entire library and the music playlist manager software from I-82. Ian also wanted to add other music that was not considered “classic alternative.” The goal was to reflect the highlights of his collection, even if the total outcome doesn’t fall under a traditional radio format. The slogans “Music For Music’s Sake” and “Radio Without Labels” attempt to prove that music doesn’t fit into neat little boxes and never the twain shall meet.
Radio Free Ian signed on as a terrestrial radio station on April 27, 2024. It operates under the FCC’s unlicensed Part 15 rules and regulations. While unlicensed radio stations are not required to have call signs, Radio Free Ian’s signal identifier is KI82, a tribute to the previous internet radio station. Radio Free Ian broadcasts at 91.9 kHz with an output power of 500 milliwatts (0.5 watts). Radio Free Ian would go live on the internet via Live365 on August 17, 2024.
Radio Free Ian has two unique features each hour. The featured B-Side is a live version, tribute cover, song done specifically for a movie soundtrack, or alternate version of a song. Radio Free Ian has also resurrected the Hoosier Spotlight, a former feature Ian hosted on WTTS. While the station is located in Denver, it still pays tribute to its Indiana roots by playing a song from the 19th state once an hour.
