Should WRAS and WREK merge?

[jal41]

I think that WRAS 88.5 (Georgia State) and WREK 91.1 (Georgia Tech) should merge their operations to allow one of them to be a 24/7 classical music station.

All that the students that run WREK program on their station these days is the sounds of fire and dot-matrix printers printing. (Every time I go by that station on the dial, that is what I hear -and my radio is not broken).

Since both schools are USG (University System of Georgia) schools, and they already share student housing, they can share a station. Time could be divided up 50/50.

As for whatever station that would be vacated, I would suggest turning it over to the Atlanta Board of Education to program classical music 24/7, freeing WABE 90.1 to go 24/7 news/talk (with H. Johnson's jazz on Saturdays).

There is a group, the Atlanta Public Radio Initative, calling for more news/talk on WABE, and they would be pleased if this were to happen. WABE would get more pledge money, and the 24/7 classical station would not have to worry about a big NPR budget.

I am a student at Kennesaw State (a USG school), and KSU is in the process of starting a student run radio station that will use a radiating cable FM (or Part 15) and an Internet stream. Given new mediums (Internet and satellite radio), and fewer people listening to terrestrial radio, I think that the loss of one OTA student station will cause minimal damage to the spirit of the college radio community.

I think that the powers that be at the two schools, the Board of Regents, and the Atlanta school board consider this option. While students might grumble, the benefit to the community as a whole would be greater.

 

[taylorengineer]

More classical music for Atlanta is a good idea.....turning yet more spectrum over to the school board is not the solution.
Look at WABE and WPBA. The FM is "Top 40" classical and the TV is duplication of GPTV programming. They sell commercials on the FM....they have a sales department with sales weasles and they speak weasle words....just like at the commercial stations. The have managers who make six figure incomes and drive new Lexus and Mercedes automobiles.....just like managers at commercial stations! NPR programming is psudo-intellectual for the "wannabe" thinker....... "A Prarie Home Companion" is the only redeeming program.....well, maybe we can include H. Johnson's Jazz show.....
If I hear "Flight of the BumbleBee" one more time on FM90 I will puke!!!!
I admit that student radio, at first glance, might seem to have little importance today. But think about this.....the media is the real power in American society. It is much more powerful and persuasive than any political or religious group....the media sets the agenda for all people and what we deem important. Walter Kronkite was once said to be the second most powerful person in the WORLD!! Second only to the POPE!!!
Communications/media skills empower people and learning to use the media gives ordinary people influence. Student stations give kids a chance to learn how to communicate effectively(in theory, at least) using radio as the medium. These are the future leaders of tomorrow's world.....we need to do all we can to empower them and make them better communicators. Yes, at WRAS and WREK, we could/should do a better job.
Today, with the changes in the radio business model, there is a great need for "new voices" and innovation.....you hear the griping on this list constantly about the lack of programming/talent. And yet there are not many small stations for young people to work at and learn the "art/science" of radio communications.
We do, indeed, need student radio and I hope and pray it remains healthy for generations. Let the WABE sales weasles buy a commercial frequency and do the top40 classical format there. Let our students learn....unencumbered by corporate radio( or the elitist school board types)....they are the future!

 

[MisterDaisy]

As a Georgia State Alum, I would like to correct the misinformation about shared student housing. Student housing is not shared, the GSU dorms that were donated by the Olympic Committee just happen to be located next door to Tech's campus. However, only GSU students stay in them, as only Tech students stay in the Tech dorms. Those dorms will likely be sold upon the completion of the new GSU dorms on the former site of Beaudry Ford closer to the GSU campus in the fall of 2007.

 

[monkeymanmoi]

I totally disagree with changing either of these stations. They both serve a purpose as is. Of course, the purpose of WREK is to drive my wife insane while in the car.

 

[OgOgglby]

If WABE is smart, they'll do 24 hr. classical on their HD2 channel. I'd personally like to hear H. Johnson 24/7, but there is a place for classical in Atlanta.

 

[deadman]

It's hard enough to get a show on either stations... Why take opportunity away from students who want to learn the craft?

 

[ssnake]

I think that WRAS 88.5 (Georgia State) and WREK 91.1 (Georgia Tech) should merge their operations to allow one of them to be a 24/7 classical music station.

All that the students that run WREK program on their station these days is the sounds of fire and dot-matrix printers printing. (Every time I go by that station on the dial, that is what I hear -and my radio is not broken).

Since both schools are USG (University System of Georgia) schools, and they already share student housing, they can share a station. Time could be divided up 50/50.

...

I think that the powers that be at the two schools, the Board of Regents, and the Atlanta school board consider this option. While students might grumble, the benefit to the community as a whole would be greater.

Not gonna happen. WREK's license is held by the Radio Communications Board of Georgia Tech, not the Board of Regents. Everything at WREK is student and alumni driven; our current 40kW facility was the result of an upgrade application prepared by students; it's not something that is available to trade. Moreover, WREK has a deal to broadcast Georgia Tech athletics which would otherwise not have an outlet or would lack nighttime coverage in the metro.

You may think the "benefit" to the community would be greater to have a 24/7 classical station, but if there were such a clamor for the format, no doubt that some commercial station would take it up. What happened to WGKA? Why isn't Joe Weber putting classical on 1160? If all you hear on WREK are fire and printer sounds, obviously you don't turn to the station often enough to make your opinion an informed one. FWIW, WREK already broadcasts classical music (both traditional and avant-garde) from 6-9 am when WABE is in Morning Edition.

You bet students might grumble, but also would our alumni. And we have lawyers! Other of our alumni have gone on to own FM stations, host morning shows in NYC, develop a leading digital automation system, and design transmitters (thereby winning an NAB Achievement Award). That KSU students didn't have the foresight in the 1960s to apply for a class C station doesn't give you license to suggest that Tech students ought to be limited to low-power alternatives or time sharing.

WREK also has plans to start broadcasting in HD Radio soon. No idea as to what we'll feature on our subchannels. Maybe the "All Wes Durham, All the Time" channel.

Likewise, WRAS has been well noted for its achievements with the "college radio" format, and with communications-related majors, they have no problems filling their airtime. I'd say that WRAS is one of GSU's top assets.

 

[Mr Winston-Salem]

While WRAS is great and I listen often, WREK does sound like students recording tin cans falling down the stair-wells of their dorms. I was once scanning the radio, looking for good music, when I heard what sounded like an Emergency Alert tone. I left it there waiting to hear where the storms are and where are they going, but no message followed. Just EAS tone. I looked down and saw 91.1 FM and said, oh... WREK and hit scan. ;D I would love to know who is listening to this? The students friends and family? Replacing the student operation with a public broadcasting classical format isn't a good idea though. They should try to fill a needed format hole in the market with a student-run operation, like WRAS does. I know WREK has a standards show (frequently taken off the air for Tech sports), but a 24-7 standards format would be great. Maybe lost 80's and 90's classics format (like the 80's hair bands) with local bands (past and present) on the weekend? That would have more listeners than recording their roomate's alarm clock for 3 hours. And yes, everytime I scan past it, it's "Tornado sirens of metro Atlanta: Cobb County Sirens" or "Nails on Campus Chalkboards." The 40k is needed for the sports, but if not for that, I would say downgrade it to class D or use the campus cable network, so (something people actually listen to, like) Victory 91.5 can upgrade. ;D Student radio is great. When student radio is nothing more than annoying sounds, it is horrible and should be stopped. Maybe student run classical with Tech sports could work?

 

[ssnake]

Maybe lost 80's and 90's classics format (like the 80's hair bands) with local bands (past and present) on the weekend?

You're not looking at our program schedule. Though we don't program well known music, there are shows similar to that. "Personality Crisis", Sundays 10pm-midnight, features obscure new wave, etc. from the 80s and 90s. "The Underground Recordings", Tuesdays 7-8pm, features repeats of classic 1980s and 1990s Live at WREK performances of mostly local Atlanta/Athens bands.

Our Saturday standards programming has expanded when not preempted by sports. The "DeSoto Hour" (big-band jazz) is now 7-9, and the "Saturday Night Cocktail Lounge" (other standards), is 9-10 pm.

Almost none of the music frequently complained about is recorded by students. It's sent to the station by artists. Just as some people might like to listen to the Christian programming on 91.5, others (see eyedrum.org) want to listen to noise. Most Tech students don't listen to noise, but most don't listen to gospel either. WREK is not nearly as "noisy" as it used to be.

 

[DashRiprock]

Don’t change a thing.

RAS and REK are for college students, so let them do whatever they want and have fun. Even old farts like me listen every now and then to hear the latest indie stuff. I like some of the specialty shows like Psychobilly Freakout, Martinis Con Queso, and Big Band Jump.

 

[PaulBWalkerJr]

I think college radio that is run, programmed and hosted BY students for students is a WONDERFul learning tool. Keep it up and DON't change a thing!

 

[ssnake]

I think college radio that is run, programmed and hosted BY students for students is a WONDERFul learning tool. Keep it up and DON't change a thing!

Thanks for your support. Remember also, the students running these stations do care about what listeners think. The general managers and other student staff members enjoy getting constructive criticism, and every serious comment is considered seriously. A few classical fans comment on our classical morning show, and we adjust our production accordingly. Comments along the line of "please play more X" are better received than "please stop playing Y."

 

[Mr Winston-Salem]

Tell those at WREK The DeSoto Hour is great. When I'm near a radio during that time, which unfortunately isn't often, I check for it. I've also told others about it. I'm glad to hear they are playing more of that music.

I don't check schedules when listening to music on the radio. I just scan. I do have some shows I listen to on the radio, but when it's music, I scan until I find something I like. It's just unfortunate that I only scan past WREK when they have something extremely unusual (like random noise) or sports. I have noticed changes in the past year. WREK sounds better! College radio does have a big role to play in every community. There are so many bands that aren't on commerical radio. So many formats that are passed-up, because they are seen as a tough sell or less profitable. I was in Charlotte five years ago, which lacks student run radio and it is horrible to not have that alternative choice on the radio. Atlanta is fortunate to have good college radio. It does add to the quality of life in a city.

 

[monkeymanmoi]

WREK should get at least 50 years of carefree radio for having the Minutemen live in their studio in the early 80's.