It is hard to know what to make of today's developments regarding WBRU. Certainly, I am quite conflicted. I agree with many of your posts speculating on this format change being a stunt. On the other hand, there are aspects of the flip to "Buddy FM" that appear to be quite real.
First off, the new format is unclear. While it seems to be a Jack-type of format, some of the voiceovers are muddying my interpretation. The music variety seems to indicate Jack (however, one qualifier is in order - there seems to be very little post-2000 music). However, I have heard one voiceover that promotes Buddy FM as "music for the whole family," seeming to indicate some sort of Christian/"Positive Music"-type format (although the vast majority of artists certainly have not been Christian Rockers). Another voiceover has promoted Buddy as featuring "Light Rock," making the station seem like an AC of some sort. And speaking of the latter, minus Coast's current music, Buddy does not seem all that different from WSNE.
There are several factors that make me believe that this is a stunt. First, the production, voiceovers, and even some of the song transitions have sounded highly unprofessional. While Jack-type stations across the country feature no jocks, I have never heard a voiceover "talent" as weak as the one currently on WBRU. Second, during a commercial break that I just heard, the "BRU Crew" was promoting an event for TONIGHT, after WBRU had been dead. The promotion is currently taking place at the ALT Vault in Providence. Thirdly, over the past couple of days, many comments from WBRU's jocks have been qualified with words such as "could" or "maybe." Rarely did I hear a jock say, "This WILL be the last time..." The terminology sounded more like the following: "This COULD BE the last time you hear Nirvana on this station."
On the other hand, there are factors pointing to a real format change. The talent from the world of music that called into WBRU during its final hours was impressive. Most of these artists, particularly the lead singer of Mighty Mighty Bosstones, decried the loss of the station and even complained about so many stations selling out to the corporate world. Additionally, the format change garnered serious media coverage, as WJAR has reported on the format change on newscasts each of the past two days. Finally, deeply emotional listener tributes were aired throughout the afternoon, making WBRU's demise appear to be real.
With all of this said, if we assume that this format change is real, it happened with far less fanfare than one might expect. WBRU was one of the only Heritage Alternative/Modern Rock stations in the United States. Moreover, it was surrounded by an active student base at two universities that are by and large supporters of both the station and its musical format. Finally, the station did not seem to make an effort to bring back former jocks, or even do much on-air introspection.
If WBRU is gone, it is a sad day for radio in general and for Providence in particular. WBRU was a force for good in Providence, with its music, its promotions, and its good will. If Buddy is indeed WBRU's successor, let's hope that it can grow to become more than a run-of-the-mill, jockless, personality-less, boring Jack station.
What are your thoughts? Is this for real? Or will WBRU make a return on Monday?
First off, the new format is unclear. While it seems to be a Jack-type of format, some of the voiceovers are muddying my interpretation. The music variety seems to indicate Jack (however, one qualifier is in order - there seems to be very little post-2000 music). However, I have heard one voiceover that promotes Buddy FM as "music for the whole family," seeming to indicate some sort of Christian/"Positive Music"-type format (although the vast majority of artists certainly have not been Christian Rockers). Another voiceover has promoted Buddy as featuring "Light Rock," making the station seem like an AC of some sort. And speaking of the latter, minus Coast's current music, Buddy does not seem all that different from WSNE.
There are several factors that make me believe that this is a stunt. First, the production, voiceovers, and even some of the song transitions have sounded highly unprofessional. While Jack-type stations across the country feature no jocks, I have never heard a voiceover "talent" as weak as the one currently on WBRU. Second, during a commercial break that I just heard, the "BRU Crew" was promoting an event for TONIGHT, after WBRU had been dead. The promotion is currently taking place at the ALT Vault in Providence. Thirdly, over the past couple of days, many comments from WBRU's jocks have been qualified with words such as "could" or "maybe." Rarely did I hear a jock say, "This WILL be the last time..." The terminology sounded more like the following: "This COULD BE the last time you hear Nirvana on this station."
On the other hand, there are factors pointing to a real format change. The talent from the world of music that called into WBRU during its final hours was impressive. Most of these artists, particularly the lead singer of Mighty Mighty Bosstones, decried the loss of the station and even complained about so many stations selling out to the corporate world. Additionally, the format change garnered serious media coverage, as WJAR has reported on the format change on newscasts each of the past two days. Finally, deeply emotional listener tributes were aired throughout the afternoon, making WBRU's demise appear to be real.
With all of this said, if we assume that this format change is real, it happened with far less fanfare than one might expect. WBRU was one of the only Heritage Alternative/Modern Rock stations in the United States. Moreover, it was surrounded by an active student base at two universities that are by and large supporters of both the station and its musical format. Finally, the station did not seem to make an effort to bring back former jocks, or even do much on-air introspection.
If WBRU is gone, it is a sad day for radio in general and for Providence in particular. WBRU was a force for good in Providence, with its music, its promotions, and its good will. If Buddy is indeed WBRU's successor, let's hope that it can grow to become more than a run-of-the-mill, jockless, personality-less, boring Jack station.
What are your thoughts? Is this for real? Or will WBRU make a return on Monday?