Touchy, Touchy, Touchy

It seems that we zinged a very sensitive nerve when we reported on the upcoming changes at WUTK, namely the loss of nonstudent DJs. The email has simply been flooding in, full of scorn and invective for poor, naive Zippy. To be honest, we're not sure what all of the fuss is about. We did say that "you might have to find a new place to hear Modest Mouse and Sleater-Kinney" and "the loss of many of the more music-savvy veterans is liable to bring about a more maintream play list." Nowhere, however, did we include an intentional dig at assistant music director Brian McKendry's ability to choose nonmainstream music nor did we in any way imply that the station was switching to a Top 40 format and would soon begin programming blocks of classic rock.

Still, we may have unduly slammed some WUTK workers and lovers. Just for the record, Zippy is actually quite fond of this little radio station with a nose for new music and simply wants to see it become the best station that it can possibly be. With that heart-warming sentiment out of the way, it's time for some good old-fashioned hate mail:

To whom the hell it may concern:

It would seem like WUTK can never get a break. The old saying is that any press is good press, but this does not seem to be the case for New Rock 90. I remember in my tenure there that WUTK would get those little jabs in print reminding everyone that it is a nonprofessional working environment. It's an extension of the university really, so you really shouldn't expect those fabulous sounding guys from commercial radio on 90.3 (please, read into the sarcasm). Just to snottily correct your Eye on the Scene blurb from the 5/28/98 issue: Just because nonstudents are no longer going to be on the air does not mean that WUTK is going mainstream. Sure, this means that the jocks will have very little clue of what is going on with the music selections (or much at all if I do recall the quality of instruction from the Department of Broadcasting), but this does not mean that WUTK will be spinning the Spice Girls. Brian Mc-Kendry assured me recently, in contradiction to your blurb, that WUTK will be sticking to the left-of-the-dial programming. Thanks for mentioning the station anyway. Commercial radio is not about spinning records anyway; it's about selling cars. WUTK is a not-for-profit station that needs outside/community support to augment the lackadaisical support from UT, so don't always bash poor college radio. It needs your help!

Thanks for the opportunity to bitch,
Mark Murdock
ex-WUTK slave

"You wouldn't know if the sun was up unless you got a press release on it."
—Mark E. Smith

Imagine my surprise when the program director of New Rock 90.3 leans over his slice of Stefano's pizza and asks me if I've read the Eye on the Scene in this week's Metro Pulse. I had just gotten back from NYC the day before and my conversation with a Metro Pulse staffer the day before I left was not the first thing on my mind. Could you insult me a little more next time? As music director, I select the music that the DJs build most of their playlist from and I have been at New Rock 90.3 longer than all but two of the nonstudents who are leaving. But I guess since I don't get any ink in the local press I surely don't know what I'm doing.

We are not going mainstream. The Department of Broadcasting that I malign in your fine publication has come to the conclusion that the format that we have is the only logical conclusion given our wattage and target audience. I do not support their policy barring nonstudents, but it should have little effect on the music that you hear on New Rock 90.3. Only eight DJs are affected by the enforcement of the department's policy. Club 90 will remain on the air as it is a mix tape. A student will board-op the show and Sterling will continue to produce the show at his own studio. Col. Bacchus will no longer have his own show if he opts not to take a class, but I'm sure he will continue as a guest on the Mr. Livedog Show as he did during his corporate hiatus from New Rock 90.3. Unfortunately, Cap'n Jim will no longer have a shift on New Rock 90.3. We were happy to have him for so long. If you really want to lament the loss of nonstudent DJs, why don't you give some props to the departing local music director Ben Savage?

Modest Mouse and Sleater-Kinney will break-up or sell-out long before New Rock 90.3 stops playing them. I called Sub Pop today and they are sending us a copy of the Modest Mouse 7" that is part of the newly revamped Sub Pop Singles Club. You can't buy it in stores or get it in the mail. It is only available to subscribers, and even if you subscribed today you wouldn't get it. All of them are gone. But you're gonna hear it on New Rock 90.3. Do we have enough cred for you now? We are one of the best college radio stations in the country, and we don't appreciate are [sic] reputation being sullied, but thanks for the free publicity anyway. I told you not to write the story, and now look what you've gotten yourself into.

Oh, and like Columbo, I've got just one more thing to add. Maybe Wind-Up didn't want to comment because they don't like to be made to look like huboons by the press. I spoke to someone at Wind-Up while I was in New York this weekend, and he said that Creed [Eye on the Scene, June 4] wants to play here. Or maybe that was just the vodka tonics and the pink elephants talking.

Brian McKendry
Music Director, WUTK, New Rock 90.3