National Student Media Convention

'35000 WATTS' charts the wild journey of visionaries and rebels on college campuses across America who changed the course of music history and made an indelible imprint on our culture. 

This is the untold story of college radio brought to life by the students behind the mic and the bands they made famous. It’s the story of the youth and music culture that originated, and later flourished, on the airwaves of American colleges and universities, establishing a new generational voice and a new path to success for many alumni and artists.

Highlighting an era where college radio’s influence was at its peak, "35000 Watts: The Story of College Radio" also examines its humble beginnings and how it evolved to create hugely impactful experiences for local and regional communities, students finding their voice, and the musicians seeking their shot at hitting it big.

The film dives deep into the music that was the heart of college radio programming, exploring the symbiotic relationship between artists creating music that did not fit into commercial radio formats and the student-run radio stations that were more than happy to play it. The film features interviews with iconic big-name acts and smaller regional bands who lived their rock-and-roll dream for a short while, as well as discussions with former college radio alumni who spin on about their role in college radio and why college radio is still relevant in today’s media-saturated landscape.

Full of music, humor and energy, "35000 Watts: The Story of College Radio" is an electrifying journey through an aspect of American culture that is often overlooked but has made an undeniably loud impact on society.

About the Director
Michael Millard began his broadcasting career at KTXT-FM in Lubbock, TX in 1992, eventually becoming the station manager in 1994-95. His time at KTXT was a life-changing experience, as it was for thousands of college students over the last 75 years. This shared experience and love for college radio has united DJs, musicians and listeners all over the United States.

After leaving Texas Tech, Michael worked for several years in commercial radio, and later as a resident DJ at one of the largest clubs in Texas. In the early 2000s, he founded two internet radio stations, and also began exploring an interest in video production and documentary filmmaking.