REC Networks

REC Networks started on July 20, 1984 in Chatsworth, California under the name California Comments (also referred to as "CalCom"). CalCom was a telephone entertainment commentline where callers would leave a message on an answering machine and then a few days later, they would hear their "comments" played back in a pre-produced program. In many ways, it is like talk radio over the telephone.

==The story behind where the name "REC" came from==

The name "REC" was derived from the name of the host of the CalCom recordings,
Rich Eyre who used the name "Rich E. Calcom" on the CalCom line as well as other lines operating in the San Fernando Valley during that period. Between 1984 and 1986, CalCom produced 99 episodes (called "output tapes"). In August 1986, the name of the line was changed to REC407. The "407" referred to the first three digits of the telephone numbers that were in use at the time.

History

In 1987, the first of a series of interactive voice mail systems. The REC Conference Voice Mail and Information Access Service allowed callers to be able to send private voice mail messages between each other and produce their own entertainment programs. Some versions of the REC systems had the ability to bridge callers together for real time conversations and in later versions of the system, a public message system called The Public Side was established.

In 1992, the format of the interactive system was changed to a new concept called REC MegaCity where callers navigate around the system using their phone like a compass (1-North, 4-West, 6-East, 8-South) and the map was laid out using the streets of the San Fernando Valley including landmarks. Callers were able to establish "houses" which were individual public message boards. Some callers could also choose to have "private houses" where they can control who can access the room. In late 1992, all REC lines in Chatsworth went down.

In 1993, REC resurfaces in Palmdale, California with a line called REC805, which was the Palmdale area code at the time. REC805 was a comment line program similar to the original CalCom format.

In 1994, just after the Northridge Earthquake, REC moves the line to Van Nuys and operates another interactive system. This system also included a "CB Mode" where callers can record short messages and they would be heard by all of the other callers who are "tuned" into the same channel.

In 1996, REC moved to Tempe, Arizona where a commentline called REC602 was started. The commentline was eventually eliminated and converted to an interactive voice mail and public message system. The system went down later in the year.

In the late 90's, REC has operated several websites including the Arizona Transportation Information Page (AzTIP) which provided Phoenix bus schedules before Valley Metro placed schedules online. In addition, a website that was devoted to the Cartoon Network television series "The Powerpuff Girls" was started.

In 1999, REC started to engage in webcasting. Through the facilities of Live365, REC operated POWERPUFF-FM, a broadcast of cartoon and novelty songs intended to be a companion to the Powerpuff Girls website. A second broadcast of anime music called Powerpuff Hardcore was added.

In 2000, banking on the Powerpuff Hardcore name, REC expanded broadcasts even further by spinning off Powerpuff Hardcore into Anime Hardcore Radio. To support the amount of music that would be played, three different versions of the network were established. Powerpuff Hardcore was repositioned as Hardcore 1 with the slogan line "24 hour a day anime". Hardcore 1 played mainly uptempo music. Hardcore 2 had the slogan line "the lighter side of anime" and featured easy listening music from anime series. In addition, Hardcore 2 featured an overnight (in the United States) show called "Yarai". Yarai was positioned as the "lightest side of anime" and featured a lot of down tempo music and background music. Hardcore 3, positioned as "music too good for words" played strictly karaoke tracks and background music (BGM).

On Memorial Day weekend 2001, REC created a new network in the Hardcore family. This network would play Japanese popular music (JPOP) and have a weekly chart. Since the digit "4" translates in Japanese as "shi" (death), the decision was to use a different name. The network was named Hardcore J with the slogan line "Your JPOP Station".

The person behind REC

REC was founded in 1984 by Richard Eagles when he was 14 years old. During the time, Richard was involved also with other audio experimentation including small Part 15 radio stations and related projects. In the early 90's, Richard took on a female persona named "Buffy" on the recordings and in some cases in real life. In 1992, Rich changed his name to Richard Eyre-Eagles through marriage. In 1998, he came out as being transgendered and started to work professionally under the name Michelle Eyre. In 2006, Michelle (formerly Rich) had her name legally changed to Michelle Andrea Eyre. Today, Michelle is involved in all the business aspects of REC but when it comes to the entertainment aspect of REC, she sometimes performs under the stage-name Michi-chan.

REC Today

REC still operates Hardcore J on Live365. Anime Hardcore Radio was , and was replaced by Hardcore XTRA, a new webcast featuring anime, cartoon and live tech talk shows from W0KIE Radio Alliance.

REC was also involved in various activities of the Federal Communications Commission for the creation of a low power FM (LPFM) radio service. REC started the first free online LPFM channel search tool.

REC remains actively involved in broadcast issues to help assure an individual's access to the airwaves. REC provides extensive FCC broadcast data through its website at no charge to users.

REC provides broadcast data to Sirius Satellite Radio to assist their customers on how to properly tune their satellite radio receivers to be heard over the FM radio dial.

In 2005, REC started to get involved with the W0KIE Satellite Radio Network by providing occasional special programming ("wild feeds") as well as pre-produced bits for various show hosts ("motivations"). REC also started a phone service called "Dial A Stream" which allowed callers to listen to webcasts, such as W0KIE over the telephone.

REC and founder Michelle Eyre are supporters of the sport of roller derby and the Arizona Derby Dames league by providing various creative services as well as a couple of parody songs by Michi-chan.

Listen

*Hardcore J - Japanese Popular Music and Anime Hardcore Radio home page.
*Dial-A-Stream - Telephone service to hear webcasts.
*Telephone Entertainment Archives - Also includes former line "Observatory", which REC obtained the rights to in 1994.

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