Atlanta is blessed with WRAS from Ga. ST. J.B. Fuqua endowed this college station years ago. Consequently, WRAS has a 100,000 watt transmitter and can compete with the commercial stations only they could play anything they wanted. They helped break many of the artists you mention including REM,B-52's, Guadalcanal Diary, Love Tractor,Pylon, Let's Active, the Connells, and others. My favorite story was back in the day I was listening to WRAS and they played "Freebird" 14 times in a row. Finally you heard this SCRATCH and the DJ said "Never call and ask for that song again. This next song is by the Sex Pistols." It was an exciting time for music as the new bands were interesting, fun, and the death knell for corporate commoditized hair bands.
Rembering the 80s: College Rock
For those too young...a brief history...before indie and alternative rock...there was college rock...an 80s genre that was simply named after what college radio stations were playing at the time...as a former college DJ...I have a soft spot for the genre...it was a fun time...and a simpler time... with a laid back vibe and a diversity of artists ranging from the Smiths, Bad brains, to Love tractor...U2,.Rem, and the cure all got their start during thus era...and were the few bands that broke out and penetrated the mainstream...a few like Sonic Youth and the Flaming Lips flirted with the big time...but most like Lets Active, Dumptruck, and Christmas had minor careers which is not a knock...just facts...MTV also played a role with their show 120 mins...the genre included seminal artists like Husker Du, Replacements, the Church, the Fall, Echo and the Bunnymen, Jesus and Mary Chain, Wedding Present, Meat Puppets,etc...anybody have any faves or college radio stories to share?