Friday, OctoW
N)
'^ME tVlI, Number 6
Serving the Mars Hill College Community
Friday, November 11,1983
1/FM R^f^ROUTH
sette pi
Complaints Over WVMH Investigated
Sequent
Sthe
sounds of “WVMH:
1X,l s\V\l)t'i.
:600 VQ
•Jiusic of tomorrow, today,”
one to most Mars Hill stu-
this is followed by a song
®ldom been heard, or has yet to
charts.
format is called “progressive
ich connotes a brand of pro-
® that promotes songs that are
L^f^es predicted to
{tent ^ ** programming that is
ij. primarily of one style,
j honest reflection of what the
fe 'vants to hear?
jthat ^ WVMH
styf ^ range of different
the highest rating any one
j . cd was only thirty percent.
Poll taken by WVMH last
Ho iT nearly the same re-
(jj. l®d the charts as being the
learly fifty percent of the
hstening audiences, the choice
receiving the most votes
ijj y a majority (more than half
but rather a plurality
"^cceiving the most votes when
The
than two choices),
radio station in history
c^ns ^ Percent of its audience.
I'hke J'^^'cing a choice: to be con-
5, j ^MH is now and play one
c r>f music, or to play a
everything. This, how-
Jge of
, ^ problem: if one chooses
‘**^tent, what style will one
^ that
_ .
!8 Sug. Osjp [°gressive style that WVMH
to most of the student
95S^
71 Value j.
plyatiojj fairly well-received.
'^’'tial^ releases at
- y ^^vings in cost. According
pya^^^Ssment, it is an easier style
■ BHl attracts large appeal from
^ ®i*dience. Of those polled
however, over seventy
F
dges
h
T enjoy WVMH, it
fie .
, i//ifir^Cep,'''®rse range of interests.”
inksy K *ta{: - “I basically enjoy the
"Ufv
tligj, ^ except for the people who
^Hd tall^ FVifO/a Vti-viifc
Perhaps it’s because when
' “I listen to WVMH only
I It
ay!
^ H o UCCaUbC WllCll
„ ^®cl like my ears are being
%0
~ don’t like it when I
ejto ^ '"cquest and the DJ gives
>. '■USP , . .
lopping pi? another about why
arc Mill *Py song.. .1 can’t stand
ars Hill
iday - Satitf
6 Sunday
song,
he rattles on and has
percent felt that improvements could be
made.
WVMH does have a good variety of
music, mostly progressive during the
week, with a mixture of Jazz, Classical,
and Contemporary Christian on the
weekend. However, one student noted
that “It (WVMH) appeals to only one
type of people (during prime time). They
need to play what appeals to the majori
ty during prime time and fill in the off
hours (10 p.m.-l a.m.) with different
styles like soft rock and mellow music.”
When the management was asked if
they thought their programming was a
good reflection of the interest of the col
lege, they responded by saying that what
is important is to play what the majority
likes. But some have alleged that
WVMH is a reflection of what its man
agement prefers. To answer this ques
tion, several disc jockeys were inter
viewed.
There have been accusations that the
station does not play Crossover Country
(Alabama, Kenny Rogers), Beach Music
or Mellow Music (Air Supply, Neil Dia
mond). For the most part this is true,
but according to the management it is
because of their goal of a consistent
style.
Several D.J.’s, however, have said
that this is because the management does
not like these styles of music. The
management did say that a lot of these
styles of music have been pulled from
the shelves, but they will return them
later. It is a part of their effort to be con
sistent and at the same time keep a pleas
ing amount of variety without a lot of
repetition.
One D.J. said, “The management has
built a great radio station through dicta
torship, and now they are reluctant to
ease up.” This comment was supported
by five other disc jockeys.
As far as sports programming is con-
IZ3
Having trouble getting your requests played? The above scene may not be too far
from reality as the HILLTOP looks into WVMH management policies and prac
tices.
cerned, WVMH has been accused of be
ing lazy and negligent in giving good
coverage to the college. Derwin Wil
liams, President of S.G.A., stated, “I
think it is a shame that in the last two or
three years there has not been anyone
who has taken a big interest in sports,
and done it the way it should have been
done, done a good job of it, and tried to
do it right. I do not understand why
someone will not take charge to bring
the students good coverage of Mars Hill
sports.”
The station management replied that
they have a new sports director, that
they have suffered from bad internal
communication problems, and that they
plan to get sports coverage off the
ground with the up-coming basketball
season.
Whether or not the management is
guilty of enforcing their own preference
Students Comment on WVMH
Willis Moore - “I think the student
DJ’s should have more say in what goes
on, what is played, etc.”
Terry Willet - “If you took a survey,
you would find out that WVMH was not
the top station listened to on campus...
They should concentrate more on pop
music and less on the innovative stuff.”
Becky Hayes - “No consistency in
programming. I’m never sure what will
be on WVMH when I turn it on, so 1
usually listen to some other station.. .A
schedule of programming should be
published.”
Jim Cheek - “They play the same
commercials over and over and some are
from last year.”
Connie Stillman - “I think the com
edy with Dean Wilson is funny.”
Rob Gray - “I would like to see the
station go stereo and then I would listen
to it more often.”
James Rice - “I would like to see the
DJ’s play the requests when they are
asked for.”
George Jarrett - “They need to play
music that is more updated.”
in a dictatorship form is a relative ques
tion, but the student body is partially at
fault too. With any freedom there is re
sponsibility. WVMH has the responsi
bility to present programming reflective
of the interests of the student body.
The students have the responsibility to
make their interests known to WVMH.
To help in this effort, the HILLTOP is
sponsoring a poll? this is not intended to
be a scientifically accurate poll, but
simply a rough idea of student ideas and
opinions.
If you, as a concerned student, want
to express your feelings and preferences,
write:
Music Poll
HILLTOP
P.O. Box I148-C
Be responsible and let us know how you
feel.
Phil Rector - “I don’t listen to the
radio that much, but if I did it wouldn’t
be WVMH. (Why?) It’s not done very
professionally, there is wasted air time
.. .too much cutting up.”
Tammy McGuiness - “The variety of
music is pretty good.. .there is room for
improvement.”
David Julen - “More update news is
needed, I didn’t learn about the invasion
of Grenada until the next day in the
newspaper.”
Laura Annis - “I think it is very good
and 1 really like it. It has improved over
the years.”