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JONATHAN FISCHER: Finding a radio fix
The station has "something for everyone," but some say WBRS' long-existing format breeds inconsistent programming
by Jonathan Fischer
Deputy Editor
Columnists | 4/24/07
Posted online at 1:01 AM EST on 4/24/07
Ask most students what they think of WBRS, Brandeis' 30-watt student-run radio station, and the responses aren't pretty: If the informal polling I've conducted in recent weeks is even somewhat accurate, then the common, "Oh, I never listen" is about as generous as the responses come.
It's a shame. A number of programs -- Andy Nagy's "Black Jack Davy" celtic and roots-music show, Bob Weiser's folk programs, several blocks devoted to new music and most of the sports programming -- are excellent listens, their hosts both knowledgeable and impassioned by their formats.
The same can't be said for much of the station's programming, which despite its eclecticism -- there is everything from a Yiddish hour to electronica to music from all corners of the world -- finds some of its disc jockeys lacking background in their shows' formats, uninterested in observing them, or both.
Block formatting, the type of radio that describes WBRS's programming, means that a given day is divided into mostly one- or two-hour shows, each centered on a specific genre, style or theme. Currently, a large number of shows are heard year after year regardless of DJs' interest in them.
Alongside complaints that WBRS' block formatting both restricts and repels DJs, a quiet debate has persisted for at least the past several years over whether WBRS ought to become a freeform station.
"Ever year we have the discussion of maybe going free-form, or really updating our programming," Hadar Sayfan '07, the station's general manager, told me last month, "but someone [always brings up] our historical legacy."
Freeform radio means that DJs have limitless control of their shows: If you've ever tuned into WBRS between 2 and 6 a.m., the "All Genre, All Night" blocks, freeform is essentially that style spread over an entire day. With freeform radio, the onus for producing a high-quality show lies solely on the DJ.
But WBRS doesn't need to become a freeform station to improve. Its problem isn't its "all-genre" programming. It's that its commitment to eclecticism far outstretches the diversity in its DJs' expertise. That is to say, there may not be four DJs each term interested in hosting a blues show, yet, semester after semester, there are four blues shows -- that's eight hours of blues! -- a week.
It's a shame. A number of programs -- Andy Nagy's "Black Jack Davy" celtic and roots-music show, Bob Weiser's folk programs, several blocks devoted to new music and most of the sports programming -- are excellent listens, their hosts both knowledgeable and impassioned by their formats.
The same can't be said for much of the station's programming, which despite its eclecticism -- there is everything from a Yiddish hour to electronica to music from all corners of the world -- finds some of its disc jockeys lacking background in their shows' formats, uninterested in observing them, or both.
Block formatting, the type of radio that describes WBRS's programming, means that a given day is divided into mostly one- or two-hour shows, each centered on a specific genre, style or theme. Currently, a large number of shows are heard year after year regardless of DJs' interest in them.
Alongside complaints that WBRS' block formatting both restricts and repels DJs, a quiet debate has persisted for at least the past several years over whether WBRS ought to become a freeform station.
"Ever year we have the discussion of maybe going free-form, or really updating our programming," Hadar Sayfan '07, the station's general manager, told me last month, "but someone [always brings up] our historical legacy."
Freeform radio means that DJs have limitless control of their shows: If you've ever tuned into WBRS between 2 and 6 a.m., the "All Genre, All Night" blocks, freeform is essentially that style spread over an entire day. With freeform radio, the onus for producing a high-quality show lies solely on the DJ.
But WBRS doesn't need to become a freeform station to improve. Its problem isn't its "all-genre" programming. It's that its commitment to eclecticism far outstretches the diversity in its DJs' expertise. That is to say, there may not be four DJs each term interested in hosting a blues show, yet, semester after semester, there are four blues shows -- that's eight hours of blues! -- a week.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Aaron Read
posted 1/26/09 @ 8:45 PM EST
There are freeform stations in the Boston area. WMFO is the only FCC-licensed station that claims the "true freeform" status...where DJ's are expected not just to play what they want, but instead are SUPPOSED to play from wildly divergent genres from track to track. (Continued…)
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