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.

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 like R.E.M. SONIC YOUTH, THE REPLACEMENTS, and the B-52s.

Highlighting an era where college radio’s influence was at its peak, the film 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 including Mark Mothersbaugh (DEVO), Joey Santiago (THE PIXIES), Allison Wolfe (BRATMOBILE) plus THE TOADIES, APPLES IN STEREO and many 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.

2024, 72 minutes, Directed by Michael Millard, Unrated

Preceded by

WPRK: The Documentary

WPRK has been serving the greater Orlando community since 1952. From talk shows and punk rock to world music and heated political debates. The number 91.5 on your FM dial exemplifies what non-commercial radio is all about: broadcasting what people want to listen to. With more than 80 weekly shows, WPRK broadcasts the best in basement radio 24/7 all year long.  This documentary looks at the history of WPRK including Dave Plotkin’s 2005 Guiness World Record attempt at the “Longest on-air broadcast by a single DJ”.

2014, 17 minutes, Directed by John Berggren, Rich Higgins and Drew Henner