Re: An argument for Class D

["Bill O'Neill" <billo@erols.com>]

> Well, Sean, I really don't know where you got this.  WUMB is the only
> station to program 13 hours a day of contemporary folk music, perhaps
> something you don't care for, but which is quite popular with both
college
> age and many of us older folks (pun intended!).  
<snip>
>I'm tired of the people who keep
> sending messages thinking that no one listens to a particular station
just
> because the sender doesn't, and who thinks that all stations the sender
> doesn't care for personally should be taken off the air.  Long live
variety
> and choice!!!> 
> Larry Weil

When you look at what broadcasters to the right of 91.9 have done to their
signals, personally, it's the left of 92.1 that I find refreshing (not
necessarily "more professional" or "better packaged.")  A whole chunk of my
car pre-sets are non-comm/ed ms.  I know many are like a patchwork quilt,
niche-ing like crazy, (intentionally or otherwise) but what damage is done?
 What if WUMB said, "Okay, let's blow out folk..we're going Triple A and
we're going to show BOS how it's done and breed a whole new generation of
talent (yadda yadda)...."  What gain?

I must admit, college radio jocks do need a reminder that *few* care about
their math final tomorrow or their roommate's hangover, but, at worst, it's
local color and there is opportunity for maturity for the station and a
button to push for the listener.  

One person was listening, and that was enough: In 1980 one overnight shift
at WJUL (ULowell 91.5, 1.7 kW) playing jazz at 3 a.m., (Art Tatum, to be
precise)  I got a call from a woman who said she was contemplating making a
very bad mistake, and wanted to talk.  I did the best thing I could think
of and gave her the Samaritin's number and listened for a while through a
few sets.  I am sure you may have similar experiences with that one
listener versus the big masses - I have not been able to match that sense
of overall connection outside of the non-comm. FM band, to the music or to
*the* listener (singular).  

Unfortunately, I think alot of college stations have neglected the fact
that never again in their radio future (if there is one) will they ever
have such an opportunity on or off the air, and with broad changes to
commercial radio, the rift widens.  

My 4 cents.  Bill

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