By Zach Collier
For more than two decades, 3hive has quietly become one of Utah’s most trusted guides for music discovery. What began as a passion project between friends has grown into a beloved Provo institution, expanding from an influential music blog to the (recently relocated and expanded) 3hive Record Lounge and an online radio station – Radio 3hive.
Now, 3hive is gearing up for its most ambitious chapter yet: bringing its carefully curated indie music programming to FM radio.
While launching a new radio station may sound straightforward, the reality is far more complicated. 10 years ago, I reported that Utah was ranked among the worst in the country for radio. The FM and AM radio spectrum is a finite resource, and in Utah there are currently no open full-power frequencies available for new stations. Federal regulations require broadcasters to protect existing signals from interference, making it impossible to simply apply for an unused spot on the dial. And science says you can’t just make some new frequencies (sorry, I don’t make the rules).
Most (not all) of the current stations are owned by Broadway Media Group, iHeartMedia, or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints/Bonneville Communications. The only truly local radio stations with music offerings that are operating with autonomy are KPGR and KOHS (operated by Pleasant Grove High School and Orem High School respectively) and KRCL.
(There are other independent stations, but many of them focus on news or talk radio.)
Scarcity is precisely what makes 3hive’s effort so noteworthy. Rather than building a station from the ground up, the project represents a rare opportunity to bring independently curated, community-focused programming to an established FM frequency – creating a lasting opportunity for local artists, emerging musicians, and adventurous listeners across Utah Valley.
Founded in 2004, 3hive built its reputation by introducing listeners to overlooked artists from around the world while championing the idea that great music deserves to be shared. Long before algorithms dictated playlists, the site’s contributors were combing through label releases, artist pages, and emerging streaming platforms to spotlight music they genuinely loved. That same philosophy carried into the opening of the 3hive Record Lounge in 2018, creating a physical gathering place for Utah’s music community, and later inspired the launch of Radio 3hive in 2022 – a streaming station dedicated to music selected by real people rather than recommendation engines.
These guys have clung to dated (but important) analog mediums and have refused to let go. And in the midst of an algorithm-controlled, chronically online AI slopfest apocalypse that’s hollowing out our cultural memory and interpersonal relationships – 3hive just might save us all.
An FM station represents a natural next step. Broadcasting over the airwaves would give independent artists, local musicians, and adventurous listeners another meaningful platform at a time when commercial radio playlists (and streaming platform playlists) continue to narrow.
The organization is now inviting the community to help make the FM launch a reality. Supporters can make an immediate impact by signing up for Kickstarter updates ahead of the campaign launch, sharing the project with friends, artists, and fellow music fans, engaging with @radio3hive across social media, and tuning in to Radio 3hive through its app (or online here).
Every new listener and supporter helps demonstrate the demand for independent, human-curated radio in Utah.