Looking for some guidance

[collegeradio]

I am the student manager of the campus radio station at Ole Miss. For years, the station has been known as the one that plays crap. Ole Miss is not a very "college radio" type campus. For that reason, I decided to go mainstream. We play a mix of Alternative, Hot AC, and Triple A. It is actually working here. We can pick up some Memphis stations in Oxford, but out main competition is the "Classic Hits" station in town and the "Best Mix of the 80s, 90s, and today" station in town.

My idea is to continue to play the mainstream stuff, but also mix in some of the college/local music. My thought is that if a listener recognizes MOST of the music we are playing, they might stick around and listen to some college/local music.

I should mention--that we are a commercial station...That's why I'm posting here instead of in the college section.

Here's where I need some help. This is going to make me sound very inexperienced in radio (which I am--I'm just feeling my way through this)... How do Music Directors select the music that is played on the radio? In the past, the music directors here have played what they like...and that can really screw up a station...Here's what I'm doing. We subscribe to Mediabase. I am playing the top 40 songs from the Alternative chart, the top 40 songs from the Hot AC chart, and the top 40 songs from the AAA chart. Using MusicMaster scheduling software, I break those into 3 categories--Heavy, Medium, and Light. The way the schedule is working now, the average turnover for a Heavy song is 6:33, Medium is 10:08, and Light is 20:49.

I also have a category of Local/Indie music that cycles about every 1 day and 15:28 (according to MMWIN).

All of our other music (about 600 songs--including everything from old 90s Grudge alternative to stuff that has just recently fallen off those other charts) is in a category that cycles about every 4days and 17hours.

My plan is to allow the music director to choose whatever she wants to put in that large 600+ song category and whatever she wants to put in the local/indie category... but the Heavy, Medium, and Light songs are decided by the charts and the charts only.

Music Directors: Is this how it's done?? Am I just crazy??

Remember: We are a college station (completely run by students), BUT we are also a commercial station--we have to sell ads to support ourselves...so please don't flame me too much on the whole "college stations shouldn't be playing Kelly Clarkson and Nick Lachey"

Any suggestions? Any music directors or program directors interested in a free lunch in Oxford in exchange for a Q and A session with my staff? Or any of you guys wanna let us come up to your place and see how it's done??

Any suggestions and/or comments would be appreciated...


Thanks!

 

[radio_head]

I'm curious to how you are a commercial college station? Just remember anything on the FM dial 92 and down (88.1 fm -92.1 fm) is STRICTLY non-commercial in the eyes of the FCC. Yes, non- commercial stations can generate revenue, but only through underwriting, sponsorship, and grants..Watch out for your station and the wording of your "spots" in non-comm. radio..

As for your music theory, I'm a music director for a station here in town. You're taking the station into the right direction, by looking at Mediabase and checking the charts (Billboard.com, Allaccess.com, R&R online..etc.- they're free!) Research and trends play a large role into successfully programming music. Know your target audience that you are appealing to, is it the Ole Miss student body? If so, go after what they like and want to hear.. Perhaps grab a few ppl. on campus and ask them what would they prefer to hear? It's they're station- they make the choice to listen- you only serve as programmer. "Gut feeling" and good keen music ear also plays a large role in a music directing..Don't play everything that comes to the stations front door!

That's what they DON'T teach! =)

 

[collegeradio]

Thanks for the advice. Yeah, we are one of very few commercial college stations...very rare. We are 92.1, I think the lowest on the dial for commercial...

 

[DeadElvis]

I'm curious to how you are a commercial college station? Just remember anything on the FM dial 92 and down (88.1 fm -92.1 fm) is STRICTLY non-commercial in the eyes of the FCC. Yes, non- commercial stations can generate revenue, but only through underwriting, sponsorship, and grants..Watch out for your station and the wording of your "spots" in non-comm. radio..

WUMS is on 92.1 (Channel 221A). The "Reseved Band" only goes as high as 91.9 (Channel 220), so WUMS is in the Commercial Band. They can play ads to their hearts' content.

Now, there are some non-commercial allocations outside the Reserved Band, but these were allocated on very rare occasions, and this ain't one of 'em.

DE

 

[mikl73]

i've noticed the changes for one thing the station certainly sounds better at times it had gotten back.. cd on shuffle, hissy stl link to the tx, the anoying buzz etc...

technically the station sounds better...

i think you have a good idea... you see there may be an opportunity and i would say the format now is quite unique but your filling to needs now rather than one... i doubt your running off anyone by playing some top 40... I would rather hear it on 92.1 rather than on they voice tracked dull sounding neighbor you have up the dial plus half the time the are so undermodulated i can't bear hearing the cracks in the signal when i'm driving up and down 55.. they have definatly screwed the processing up on that station miserably just like on the other stations they operate.