Wednesday, March 31, 2010
On The Edge with Andrew Bolin
Contact for more information:
Jennifer Theriot Administrative Associate News & Information Services 812/465-7005 According to Bolin, planning the sequence of the song list is the most challenging aspect of radio. "It's an art," he says. "As a program director, it's my job to think like an average listener, not like a person who knows a lot about music. The average listener will tune in to their favorite radio station because they like and know the songs that are currently in rotation. At The Edge, we typically add 10 new songs a week, which means you are likely to hear a new song (never heard before) twice an hour. The other 10 to 12 songs per hour are songs that are on the charts now or songs that have been in our library for months or even years." The Edge offers an alternative rock lineup, broadcasts of USI athletic events, public affairs programming, and a variety of talk shows. Last year, The Edge was named the Indiana Association of Student Broadcasting (IASB) Radio School of the Year. Bolin won the IASB First Place On-Air Personality in both 2008 and 2009, and won Second Place On-Air Personality at the 2010 Broadcast Education Association (BEA)'s national competition. In an effort to stay on the forefront of radio technology, The Edge recently began broadcasting on a high definition frequency, offering a sharper sound and extended broadcasting time. "Part of what makes radio an exciting field is that it's constantly re-inventing itself to keep up with developments in technology, " says Bolin. Technology has not only revolutionized how people listen to music, but also how they obtain music for their own personal collections. Rather than hurting radio, new technologies such as iPods/mp3 players and online music stores have provided a new, more accessible way for people to get the music they're interested in. "There is a lot of interaction between sources of music, and that is huge. People will turn to radio for the newest music out there, and then turn to the internet to download the full album," says Bolin. "That makes it even more important for on-air personalities to talk about the music they play and provide information about artists, songs, albums, upcoming concerts, and latest music news. It's our job to help the listener feel connected to the music." He says that ultimately the local radio station's goal should be to act as a bridge between the music world and the listener. Radio stations can also use the web to their advantage by offering online listening and providing additional content online. In addition to his work at The Edge, Bolin is also in the National Honor Society and Dean's Advisory Council. After graduation, he hopes to obtain a job at a local nonprofit radio and plans to pursue a Master of Arts in Communication degree at USI. |
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