Kyler Zaenali and Tyler Ward are the two U of M students behind The Weekly Y-lers, a UMFM radio show that explores different musical themes and the history of musical genres.
It all began when the “Y-lers” met in a Zoom class during the pandemic, noticing their similar names. Zaenali eventually approached Ward about starting a radio show after learning about volunteering at UMFM, and The Weekly Y-lers was born.
“We [wanted] to explore different genres, especially niche genres [like hauntology or city pop] and then go into the history of that genre, where it started, listen to some of the tracks as it’s progressed and see how that genre is really taking hold in the modern day,” Ward said.
The Weekly Y-lers also airs episodes that revolve around a single idea, like songs by artists whose names end in “yler” or music Ward’s father would enjoy. Other broadcasts include professional wrestling music and revolution and protest songs.
The duo recently tabled in University Centre in celebration of World Radio Day on Feb. 13, spreading awareness about UMFM and the opportunities it has. The U of M radio station is a platform for students to share their voice and express themselves, but it is also a community hub that is “underrepresented and underused,” according to the co-hosts. Apart from four staff members, UMFM relies on over 135 volunteers to host shows, maintain the music library, write scripts and more.
“The most powerful thing [about radio] is discovering the human aspect of it. This is local people playing local music about local events around you […] It’s people that you see every day. It’s not people that sit up in a high tower. It’s not an algorithm,” Zaenali emphasized.
Ward added, “Even when it’s not local music, it’s usually local people sharing their perspectives and their ideas, building on that community.”
It is no secret that the radio industry has changed in past several decades. According to Made in CA, radio listeners in Canada have a median age of 53, and operating revenues in the Canadian radio industry have been steadily declining in recent years. However, Ward believes this is what makes radio shows that persist more special.
“Due to the nature of the industry right now […] the people that are staying [in radio], they really care about radio, and they put in that extra effort. When we get on air on Mondays, we have something fun, we have something usually fresh, I would say, that we want to present,” Ward stated.
Zaenali also pointed out that having more young people involved will revitalize the industry by bringing in new ideas and perspectives on what their generations want.
If there is one thing Zaenali wants to tell people about UMFM, it is to tune in, as maybe you will find something that matches your wavelength.
“There’s just such cool stuff there, and it’s so community bonding. You learn about so much,” he said.
The Weekly Y-lers is broadcasted on 101.5 UMFM on Mondays from 1 to 2 p.m. Tune into UMFM by visiting umfm.com. To volunteer for the radio station, visit umfm.com/volunteer.
