What: KnotRadio, an Internet radio station

Why: Interactive and independent deejays, plays mostly indie music

Where: www.knotradio.org

One of the most difficult aspects of being an independent musician is being unknown. Being discovered is just as hard as creating the music. Today there are many more ways for artists to get their music out to the public. Among the frontrunners is KnotRadio.

KnotRadio is the latest invention from the creative team behind indie record label Knot Known Records. Chris Richardson founded the Internet radio station to give independent artists that he was unable to sign to his label a chance at success.

KnotRadio is unlike Internet jukeboxes. Its online deejays interact with listeners via interactive request lines, chat rooms, and e-mail requests. The station is trying to set itself apart from others.

“College radio stations have become very corporate,” KnotRadio station manager Hotchy Kiene said. “We don’t play anything from major labels – only independent artists.”

In fact, KnotRadio won’t play any artist that’s a member of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). A list of bands that are members can be found at www.riaa.com.

“On major radio you’ll hear the same 40 songs over and over,” Kiene added. “Listen to us and you’ll be a step ahead of everybody else – you can hear an artist before they become famous.”

KnotRadio was founded about a year ago and its future is looking great. The KnotRadio team is hoping that the independence of its DJs and the diversity of its programming will create more popularity. And being online gives it a much broader audience than the typical radio station.

“I think [KnotRadio] has a very good chance of succeeding,” senior design major Andrew Sobol said. “The great thing about Internet radio is that the DJs have a lot more freedom. They don’t necessarily have a set playlist – they play what they want and what the listeners want.”

The KnotRadio team feels the same way.

“We started a year ago and our numbers have gone up since,” Kiene said. “In March, we were reaching 200,000 people. We’re expecting 250,000 [this month].”

The ultimate goal for KnotRadio is to create enthusiasm for the independent music scene. KnotRadio’s unique programming makes it worth checking out. Unlike other radio stations, it has regularly programmed poetry shows and emo shows. The station can be found online at www.knotradio.org.

Richardson founded the Knot Known Records in 1997. He began by driving to colleges across the country looking for young, undiscovered talent. Among the bands he has signed include Knee Jerk Reaction, a Colorado pop band, and Brother Jed, an Illinois jam band. For more about Knot Known Records and its artists, visit www.knotknown.com.