Here are some quick answers to commonly asked questions.
Our station manual has more detailed information, but hopefully this will
whet your appetite and put a few dying questions to rest. If not, feel free to email webmaster [at] bsrlive.com and ask.
What's on the air? Why? Whatever our staff wants to program, within the bounds of legality and good taste, as long as it educates and/or entertains the curious listener, and is not mimicking what can be easily heard on other locally available stations. BSR prides itself on including the best of all radio formats. Music of many genres, styles, and cultures is constantly coming to the station and being played on air by DJs. Musicians perform live in-studio and over the phone lines on a weekly basis. We have features shows that showcase such diverse elements as documentaries, current events, news, public affairs, comedy, radio theater, interviews, call-ins, sports live from the courtside, politics, debates, panel discussions, found sound, experimental noise, and anything else creative programmers can come up with. We are 100% non-commercial and freeform; our programming is an excellent alternative for listeners who want to be surprised, challenged, and excited by music and informational programming unavailable elsewhere on their radios. You can hear this for yourself in our archives.
I'd like to be on the air at BSR; how do I get a show? How long will it take? To get a show of your own, you need to become a programmer. Becoming a programmer involves two months of at least 12 hours a month of volunteer work at the station in addition to a two-month-long training process, which generally happen simultaneously. You must also continue to keep up the volunteer commitment once you become a programmer. The training prepares you to run your own show by ensuring that you're aware of policies and procedures at BSR and how the studio works. We make a new schedule every semester, but there's no absolute guarantee you'll get a show right away. Before having a regular show, though, and after being approved as a programmer, you can be a substitute DJ or help out on any of the other programming at BSR. For more details read this programmer training information.
What's the difference between WBRU and BSR? Why does Brown have two stations? Technically, Brown doesn't own either station. WBRU and BSR come from the same roots, the Brown Network. You can read more about the history of those earlier days here. WBRU is a fully commercial radio station owned by the Brown Broadcasting Service, an independent corporation, and it is run by Brown students and a few paid professionals. Since they are a modern-rock 'alternative' formatted station, their DJs don't make the playlists. BSR is student and community-run, but does not own a license, something we have been working to change for 5 years now. For more info on our license situation, click here. Our programmers produce all of our programming (except Free Speech Radio News). WBRU is financially and legally independent from Brown; BSR is funded mostly by the University, grants, and alumni & listener support. You can help support BSR, too. WBRU and BSR have completely different goals and offer very different opportunities, which is why there are two stations in which Brown students participate.
Why can't I get BSR on my radio? What should I do? Our signal is broadcasted from a tower in Seekonk, MA at a fairly low power, so it just barely manages to get most of downtown Providence covered. In huge concrete dorms, on the tops of hills, or down in valleys, FM radio reception is hard to come by since there's so much interference between your radio and the tower (FM is line-of-sight; if you can see the radio tower, you'll get itÉ). You can most likely get our current signal if you're in your car, but not as well at home or work. We're exploring options for better reaching Providence, but that kind of change is a slow process. In the meantime you can do a few things: 1.) Listen here on the web. The webcast also means you can listen anywhere in the world, so BSR can be your travel buddy even if you normally listen to us on the radio. You'll also find our archived shows here, so if you miss your favorite show one week, you can check it out later online. 2.) Improve your reception by either getting an antenna (about $5) or buying a reception booster at your favorite audio equipment supplier (about $15-$20). If this doesn't work, then move!
I want to get involved with the station but I don't know what to do. How can I help? There are countless ways to get involved at BSR. Even if you're not on the air every week, there are always a variety of tasks needing volunteer assistance. The volunteer director is the best person to talk to for help finding volunteer work. If you know you'd like to help in a particular area such as publicity/ promotions, tech, business, or programming you might also approach the appropriate E-board member. Volunteers keep BSR afloat, doing everything from database entry to reviewing music to sitting on the programming board. Other volunteer activities include processing new music, reviewing programming, graphic design, office staffing, street team, technical help, audio editing, interviewing, media activism, helping out on existing shows (including live music, call-ins, music shows, documentaries, news, and others), being involved in decision making, fundraising, community outreach, training, contacting record labels, planning & organizing events, selling underwriting, library organizing & cleaning, and anything else that needs a hand. For more detailed information, click here. If none of it interests you, then maybe you shouldn't be in radioÉ
