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:
===
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:
==========
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:
=====
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:
======
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:
=======
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.

[Rick and Roll]

Originally Posted by VAXman

FAQ:
===

Shows:
=====
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.

New Music:
=======
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.

Magoo has some cogent points...that should be discussed...I'm not sure if your "shows" comment addresses this. It seems like you're complimenting one show by taking a swipe at the others. Since I have one of the "playlists" I'll respond by saying I am not offended. I've found the vast majority of listeners like the show, and Magoo did mention "shows with DJ interaction". None of us are paid for our work, and if I found the listener number dwindles when I am on, I adjust accordingly. But they do not. Same with Interzone and Fusion Reactor. We all get the same or more listeners than usual. And they've done many shows by the way.

It's great you like Gags, a lot of us do. But don't say limit shows to 2 hrs then not say that his show is ok at 4 hours.

I never did or want to do a "radio" show - I take requests and advice and try to make it a community show. We do fun shows for the listener. Enough on that.

As for new additions, I didn't see where Magoo addressed that. I think what Roger Lee does is fine. I thought it was linked to the front page (or it should be). Usually Jim or Dot will DJ a bunch of the new songs. And I try to play as many as I can on the show also. A lot of "new" additions are really just filling out the playlist.

Magoo, good thread. I have really no opinion on SAM rules, or any format suggestions, I'll leave that to everyone else (come on everyone, opinions!). But I AM big on communication and presenting the station in the easiest format and best way possible. We're growing, and the geographic range of listeners is expanding. I am trying to market the show on the my space (it does work), and will talk up ALL the programming.

[VAXman(Admin)]

Originally Posted by Rick and Roll

It's great you like Gags, a lot of us do. But don't say limit shows to 2 hrs then not say that his show is ok at 4 hours.

Tom's show is a regular FM radio show that AM just happens to retransmit. There's no control over its content.

Originally Posted by Rick and Roll

I never did or want to do a "radio" show - I take requests and advice and try to make it a community show. We do fun shows for the listener. Enough on that.

Understood.

Originally Posted by Rick and Roll

Magoo, good thread. I have really no opinion on SAM rules, or any format suggestions, I'll leave that to everyone else (come on everyone, opinions!). But I AM big on communication and presenting the station in the easiest format and best way possible. We're growing, and the geographic range of listeners is expanding. I am trying to market the show on the my space (it does work), and will talk up ALL the programming.

The "marketing" is great. I only wish we had more streams to bring on the potential new moonies. The web server has had as many as 150+ people on it. I doubt all the listeners we have also hang on the web page; I'd bet there's probably more that don't. I can handle the web site without issue in terms of the bandwidth but I just don't have the bandwidth it takes to handle all the streams -- I wish I did. Verizon is supposed to be stringing fiber here by this time next year. Maybe then I could take on the streaming server.

[Rick and Roll]

Originally Posted by VAXman

The "marketing" is great. I only wish we had more streams to bring on the potential new moonies. The web server has had as many as 150+ people on it. I doubt all the listeners we have also hang on the web page; I'd bet there's probably more that don't. I can handle the web site without issue in terms of the bandwidth but I just don't have the bandwidth it takes to handle all the streams -- I wish I did. Verizon is supposed to be stringing fiber here by this time next year. Maybe then I could take on the streaming server.

Definitely not, I'd estimate a little less than half don't. We got to figure out a way to share the burden of cost.