Station programming

[VAXman(Admin)]

Originally Posted by MrMagoo

There's been more discussion in black of late regarding requests, over-requests, more DJ-ing, etc. So here's some personal observations & ideas, fueled by lack of sleep & coffee.

Avian, you mentioned in black last week that you could list the SAM/etc rules. Could you post them so we know what we're working with/against?

Over time, the 2 biggest complaints I've noticed are about repeated requests for the same track and/or artist, and lack of diversity. The latter seems to come from the more knowledgable folks. No slight there, some are more edoomakated, newbies both want to hear their favorites and learn the AM system, and others just want what they want. A distant 3rd complaint (guilty!) is that shows interfere with requests.

The days that seem to have more black box discussions, diversity, and overall fun & mayhem are to some extent Request Free Wed, shows with DJ interaction, and overwhelmingly Themin' Thursday. From this I read that 'stuff' that actively or passively encourages exploration & diverstity - that causes user to think - is what make the Moon go 'round. No big suprise, so how can we encourage more? How can we stimulate (legally!) the old timers/wizenheimers/jaded, whilst bringing the newcomers into the fold - aka programming them the AM way?

Passively the SAM rules could be made more strict: 48 hours between tracks, 24 hours between albums, 6 hours between artists, etc. But that's rather draconian & frustrating IMO. OTOH proactive solutions might entail another theme'd day, adding a group DJ'd show, forum postings on discussions/suggestions by the smart folk, etc. Any other ideas, have at it!

Now back to my regularly scheduled work...

PS: I think that a sticky forum thread of FAQ for newbies or even a permanant news item would go a long ways towards indoctr^H^H^H^H^H^Hinforming newcomers about the basics & the benefits.

FAQ:
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I've been pushin for a FAQ for some time now. How about a FAQ thread. Post some of the things you found you didn't understand and/or learned about the operations and then a FAQ tab can be added to the main page.

Over-Requests:
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There was a time I removed some over-requested tracks. VAX got his wrists slapped after the requester complained about it.

The web server is now running from my basement data center/office. The moon streams there 24 hrs a day as well. I'm listening enough to know when a track has played and when it plays too soon after I've heard it. I would LOVE to curtail some of those requests.

Shows:
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On the otherhand, I've always LIKED the request nature of AM and would hate to see that disappear. I'm personally not fond of the shows -- Gags being the exception. Gagliarchives is a radio show. He presents interviews, noteworth information, in station (or virtual in station) live performances and, after 15 years of doing so, has a very polished professional show. AM's other time slots here are really glorified playlists in comparison. No offense intended. 2 hours, IMO, should be the upper time limit for a show. Sean's show at 2 hrs length is great!!! especially for things like Greenland prog! How much can you find to fill some of these slots.

Requests:
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I like that listeners can drive the content. A little intervention once in a while so those listeners don't drive in circles might be in order but to take that away would destroy one of the great features of AM.

New Music:
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As for new additions, perhaps they need to be listed in a special "catagory" when added so that they are played. Adding new music to this enormous library will mean that it will have as much of an impact on the playlist selection process as pissing in the ocean will have on tidal flooding. Roger had been listing new additions to the playlist in a forum thread... it's inexorable and easily lost amongst all of the forum postings. Maybe a "new music" tab with the week's latest adds.