What's new on the college radio

[softmachine]

What do you have against college radio? Were you kicked out of your college station? Does it play music you don't know? You bashing college students is like football fans booing a college quarterback for throwing an interception. It could be the first time in their life on the air. What if the students you bashed find your post on this board, then decide to quit radio because of it? I am going to listen to those shows you mentioned and call in to show support.

I have nothing against college radio when it is done with a degree of aptitude. The examples I gave featured songs I am all too familiar with.

If someone quits as a result of my comments, that's on them and the faculty advisor.

If you really have an axe to grind with Brett, why don't you just take a drive over to Burlington County College and say it to his face. Or better yet, Z88.9 doesn't need listeners like you to succeed, so just change the station. Your iPod never plays music you don't like and doesn't have "annoying" DJs so go listen to that.

I have no 'axe to grind' with Brett specifically, but he happens to be the one who chimed in about the show placement, experience, etc. and all the stuff about awards. I described an encounter I had while driving.

WBZC doesn't need any listeners to be a 'success', quite frankly. Just keep those plaques on the wall, and the administration willfully consigned to the idea that everything is fine.

 

[dkocolin]

I'm going to stay out of the degrading flame war with softmachine, I'm just here to plug my alma mater 89.7 WGLS. I like to think we have very solid production and presentation at the station. In fact, I'm pretty sure some of the folks from WRRC came down a summer or two ago to look at how they could improve their station.

WGLS is a great example of a very successful, well run college station in a department that has all but killed the "radio" portion of its radio/tv/film program (but that's another story for another time).

I think part of the reason for that is that all new DJs had to go through their first semester after training doing a daytime show with a predetermined 60s-90s playlist. Learn to be on air, then worry about putting your own stuff together. Most people hated it and complained about the playlist, but some take it as an opportunity to actually learn their presentation and to do more than backsell and read the weather.

 

[instigator]

Softmachine I was the Program Director at 91.5 WDBK for 3 years in the mid 90s..i interned at BOSS 97 ..I then had weekends and swing shift on air at 95.1 WAYV in Atlantic City...I worked at Z889 for a year before I had a child and didn't have the extra time to pull the shift. There is my resume...running a college station, working on Commercial ,and working at Z889 which you have a problem with. So here is my take:

When programming a station it is very difficult to train students because they are all there for different reasons...some for a hobby, some for a later career, some to play music they like, some just for the experience..ect. Students have different talents and rates of improving. Some are fine with ,unfortunatly, sounding bad. Some improve the more they are on, some need specific training on grammer and being concise and so on. Every student is different some never "get it"...some "get it " without your help. You can't keep someone off the air in the begining for sounding bad because they need to practice..Once i kept a student off the air at WDBK for a semester ,we had our students make air checks before they got on the air, because the student just wasn't ready to be on the air. The student went to the communications board at the college and complained and our head administrator forced me to put the student on the air....SO you may not know what is going on behind the scenes.

As for Z889 and Brett...he does indeed help his students, his hands are tied with the volunteers a bit. When I joined the station Brett had many students sit with me, because I had commercial experience not that I'm perfect on the air, and watch. Some were interested in learning..some were not as enthusastic. When Glen Kalina , how on earth do you not know who he is, was the assistant PD he was coaching and helping many of the students. They have a production guy that worked with Kid Chris on YSP that helps the students as well..Furthermore "kiebler" the student you were refering to actually has improved a great deal. He needs more work but he is getting better. Not that it matters but he is very professional behind the scenes and is a total class act.

On another note I think programmed stations tend to hold students back. Its a catch 22 if you want an audience for your station a format that is not represented can work well, Z889 with dance or DBK with alternative. However your students don't always know or particullarly like the format. I feel the students will perform better playing music that the actually know and like...That being said its hard to gain any noise in the community when you hear dance from 1 to 3 rock ,3 to 5 80s ,5 to 7 ect. Its hard to decide what's more important a successful station or successful jocks...I do feel ,however, if the phones are moving and people show up to your remotes it may be an easier sell to students.

 

[nd2023]

If HD radio were more widespread, we would have college stations like this: strict format on the HD1, freeform on the HD2
It's hard to strike a balance between formatted radio and freeform radio. I like the Z88.9 approach, dance format in the day and in automation, freeform at night. Most stations use block programming. My station has (mostly) indie rock during the day 8AM-6PM (except when a local high school is on in the afternoon, their format is usually CHR). News from 6-7. And varied formats from 7-whenever. Mondays is rock, Tuesdays is hip hop, Wednesdays is rock and a talk show, Thursdays is metal, Fridays is dance. The weekends are completely freeform. However, I could sub a show in the middle of the day and play dance music, or play metal on my Friday night show, the formats aren't set in stone. And the nightly formats change every semester depending on DJs availability.

 

[PSTChrisP]

We're a high school station, but people seem to enjoy the fact that we try to sound professional. The students have to follow the playlist and have to play songs they don't like, but they also get to learn exactly how a real station works. We have music meetings in class just like a real station and decide what to play by looking at charts and other stations. Because they don't choose the songs they play (when they are on), they have more time to focus on interesting things to talk about on the air. This is a big high school....over 3000 students, and I fill 13 2 hour shifts with 2-3 students every week, no problem. If I could have more student shifts (they have to be supervised which costs $) I would fill more with interested students. No student is forced to do a show, yet I get plenty of students who still WANT to do one after they have finished the radio class...even though they don't get to play what they want. When students played whatever they want, very few people listened...When the format came, the question was asked "Do you want to play music you like but have barely anyone listen, or play songs you don't like, and have many people in the community listening?" They answered the latter.

Oh and Glenn Kalina's a dedicated pro of many years...you have to understand the legitimacy he brings to a college station by his involvement. Doesn't matter if someone doesn't know who he is...pretty much every radio professional who's ever been in Philly does. It would be like talking baseball with someone, and you say you don't know who Chase Utley is, and you don't have to know who he is to have a reasoned discussion about baseball. You're right, you don't have to, but it says a lot about your depth of knowledge and expertise that you don't....


Chris Puorrro
www.wcvhfm.com

 

[bigtom101]

If HD radio were more widespread, we would have college stations like this: strict format on the HD1, freeform on the HD2

Problem is, the license to operate a HD Radio transmitter is around 25k (at least for a noncomm like us). Thats almost double our budget at WRRC - I looked into getting IBOC for the station (to provide Westminster Choir College with a channel to program...and maybe a HD3 for me to have fun with ) and the sheer startup costs are astronomical. New transmitter, new antenna, etc. Maybe in a few years when equipment costs aren't astronomical it can be looked into again - and when endowments aren't all shot to hell.

 

[softmachine]

WGLS is a great example of a very successful, well run college station in a department that has all but killed the "radio" portion of its radio/tv/film program (but that's another story for another time).

At least Rowan is in tune with the job market-I'll give you that.

How do you (and WGLS) measure success?

 

[softmachine]

Softmachine I was the Program Director at 91.5 WDBK for 3 years in the mid 90s..i interned at BOSS 97 ..I then had weekends and swing shift on air at 95.1 WAYV in Atlantic City...I worked at Z889 for a year before I had a child and didn't have the extra time to pull the shift. There is my resume...running a college station, working on Commercial ,and working at Z889 which you have a problem with.

My sympathies on all counts.

Just kidding, of course

So here is my take:

When programming a station it is very difficult to train students because they are all there for different reasons...some for a hobby, some for a later career, some to play music they like, some just for the experience..ect. Students have different talents and rates of improving. Some are fine with ,unfortunatly, sounding bad. Some improve the more they are on, some need specific training on grammer and being concise and so on. Every student is different some never "get it"...some "get it " without your help. You can't keep someone off the air in the begining for sounding bad because they need to practice..Once i kept a student off the air at WDBK for a semester ,we had our students make air checks before they got on the air, because the student just wasn't ready to be on the air. The student went to the communications board at the college and complained and our head administrator forced me to put the student on the air....SO you may not know what is going on behind the scenes.

Even David Lee Roth did 'practice runs' of his radio show. What behooves anyone to give a student a live mic besides the fact that they 'paid for it'? Put them in a studio and let them practice. Even a 'hobbyist' improves.

As for Z889 and Brett...he does indeed help his students, his hands are tied with the volunteers a bit. When I joined the station Brett had many students sit with me, because I had commercial experience not that I'm perfect on the air, and watch. Some were interested in learning..some were not as enthusastic.

OK...you can screen volunteers, and I have no information on those shows.

When Glen Kalina , how on earth do you not know who he is,

Easy-I'm not a 'radio fetishist' or aircheck collector. I don't listen to top 40ish radio. I haven't been at an event hosted by Kalina. Plus, I grew up closer to New York City. I'm sure if I dig deep enough into the vast interstitial folds of my brain, i could pull out names and call letters that would send you running to goggle. Which, by the way, Mr. Kalina isn't listed in. Again, no judgments, I just don't know of the guy. Sorry.

...was the assistant PD he was coaching and helping many of the students. They have a production guy that worked with Kid Chris on YSP that helps the students as well..Furthermore "kiebler" the student you were refering to actually has improved a great deal. He needs more work but he is getting better. Not that it matters but he is very professional behind the scenes and is a total class act.

Kidd Chris? Really? Who?

He could rid himself of those awful sounding drops immediately.

On another note I think programmed stations tend to hold students back. Its a catch 22 if you want an audience for your station a format that is not represented can work well, Z889 with dance or DBK with alternative. However your students don't always know or particullarly like the format. I feel the students will perform better playing music that the actually know and like...That being said its hard to gain any noise in the community when you hear dance from 1 to 3 rock ,3 to 5 80s ,5 to 7 ect. Its hard to decide what's more important a successful station or successful jocks...I do feel ,however, if the phones are moving and people show up to your remotes it may be an easier sell to students.

I think it's better if 'the kids' are thrown into unfamiliar waters and made to swim-opens the mind a bit, develops alacrity. No student should be so comfortable-will they be able to pick and choose what jobs are available in the future? For the majority, the answer is no. Plus, there are so many options available today for minimal or no money: The posdcast, webcast, youtube, etc.-flesh out the 'personality' there. School should be school-a training facility. Build 'fun' in that context.

Forget any idea of success. If it happens, bonus. That is not what college radio is there for. The music the audience wants will be found one way or another-if they have a fave jock/show/type they will seek; These days, it's mostly on iPods. Add to the challenge that most of the stations you list have odd coverage areas to begin with. How do you build an audience without a full signal covering a wide area of population, or a small one that covers a city well? 'Success' is kinda moot-until you can be received in car web devices.

 

[softmachine]

Oh and Glenn Kalina's a dedicated pro of many years...you have to understand the legitimacy he brings to a college station by his involvement. Doesn't matter if someone doesn't know who he is...pretty much every radio professional who's ever been in Philly does. It would be like talking baseball with someone, and you say you don't know who Chase Utley is, and you don't have to know who he is to have a reasoned discussion about baseball. You're right, you don't have to, but it says a lot about your depth of knowledge and expertise that you don't....


Chris Puorrro
www.wcvhfm.com

Chris,

I hate sports analogies. I could care less about baseball. Let's not talk 'depth', OK?

He seems like a good enough fellow, but I still am at a loss. There is a wider world than Philadelphia, and I'm sure Mr. Kalina's ears are burning.

OK-here I go with an attempt to dazzle: David Sarnoff, Howard Stern, Pat St. John, Tony Pigg, Mark Chernoff, Zacherely, Mel Karmizan, Norm Pattice, Denny Somach. Nothing pro or con, just I HAVE HEARD THESE NAMES BEFORE IN THE CONTEXT OF RADIO-EITHER WORKING IN OR READING ABOUT SAME. .

I hope I passed the test.

 

[mjb1124]

I do three shows per week on WRSU - two regular music-based shows, and a full-service (or at least trying to be) morning show with two co-hosts. I don't like to describe what I do as "commercial" per se, but I definitely try to go for a professional sound. I talk up songs (usually every other song), play a good amount of sweepers, talk about the station, and I throw in trivia and concert information that I think will interest the listeners. The music itself is largely alternative, going for a similar sound to the late G-Rock, but a bit more progressive with new music. And I make sure the music is sequenced in a way that makes sense. I'm sure there are plenty of things I could be doing better, but I'm definitely giving it my best effort. There are a number of other DJ's here taking a similar approach, and it's working very well for them as the number of calls and emails have increased considerably.

I feel that the station as a whole is getting a lot better. Our schedule now consistently features Alternative-driven programming from 8 AM to 6 PM on weekdays, our imaging has been spruced up considerably, we have a stronger promotional presence, and we are starting to expect more accountability from our DJ's. Plus we still have many popular and long-running specialty shows on evenings and weekends, including our traditional Sunday cultural lineup.

As a side note, I strongly disagree about CMJ being "garbage". I think they're a great resource, both for finding new music, and for getting the word out about your station and the bands you play.

 

[KEB]

Dudes

I feel I had to say something considering it is my show that started all this; I do want to work professional in radio, but if you’re not into me or my show that is cool, everyone has an opinion. But I am kinda flattered that everyone is talking about a post that’s about me, that’s pretty freakin sweet, and maybe I will get more listeners!!!! And as for this Drew dude, as the late Bradley from Sublime, of 90's rock says, lovin is what I got. But come on Drew there is no reason to go after Ren and Stimpy, who doesn't love a fart joke, and hopefully bro I can catch you around and we can go get a brew, and chat about radio.

Kebbler

p.s. thanks Drew for calling me Mr. I have never got that before, and try not to get so worked up, you will live longer 8)

 

[instigator]

Keebler(rick) You have improved a lot and keep getting practice and go for what you want..Do as many shows as you can ...the more you're on the better you will get. Making connections and networking is important as well( you have Brett (WIP) and Glenn(NOW 975 and everywhere else). Keep meeting radio people and pick as many brains as you can. Good luck I thought you were cool and a totl class act when I was at Z.....Keep it up!

 

[instigator]

Soft machine I don't want to start a war . Could I ask what is your radio experience? Are you on the air currently? I'm just curious.

 

[softmachine]

Soft machine I don't want to start a war . Could I ask what is your radio experience? Are you on the air currently? I'm just curious.

No to both questions.

I have worked in commercial radio.

I am a sound engineer, and it's kinda my job to listen.

My criticism is made as a listener.

What I heard is disappointing. And since I have production and presentation knowledge, I thought I'd share.

Has anyone else been able to reconcile Mr. Kebler/Keebler/Kiebler's post? I see a lot of enthusiasm there,
but a bit of a 'recognition issue'. Seems like a nice enough guy.

I hope he gets better. And well.

 

[amfmsw]

Here's a four letter "word" for everything that is right with College Radio: WGLS.