The Death of (Campus) Radio
Posted by estranged_parts at 02:40 PM on February 4, 2008.
Taken from:
http://bigbadjamman.blogspot.com/2008/01/r-i-p-campus-radio.html
"R . I . P . Campus Radio
With the unceremonious termination of 97.1 Barangay LS's on-air staff, comprised of former Campus Radio Air Force crew members The Triggerman (Boseramo), Jimmy Jam (Atong Bomb), John Hendrix (Johnny Baby), Joe Spinner (Boy Tisoy), Braggy (Barako Jones), Master T (Tito Papito), Jaybee (Istrowberi) and May-Anne (Mystery Girl), the complete and utter demise of Campus Radio 97.1 WLS-FM is official.
The abovementioned staff chose to remain at WLS, even after the equally unceremonious reformat of Campus Radio into Barangay LS, in spite of massive changes the station underwent, swallowing their pride and marching on like the professional troopers they are. With an all-new, all-sucky, all-masa format, replete with all-tagalog adlibs and mediocre jokes ala WKC, they bravely followed suit and performed their tasks to the fullest of their abilities, which brought the fledgling new format from its #6 rating position in early 2007 to #4 by the end of that year. Not bad for a station that did not offer big prize giveaways nor large cash prizes as come-ons to listeners, but merely by the music and its new personas. Not bad for a bunch of broadcasters not really like what they had to do, but did it all anyway.
But it was all for naught.
By now it's all moot point, decisions have been made and plans have been executed,
and though January 16, 2008 marked the end of an era in Philippine radio history, it is just that.. history. It is now chalked up as another one for the ages. But history is the past. And it is meant to be left there, in the past. For there is still the future to look forward to. A very bright, promising and better future ahead. Much like the legendary Phoenix, which dies a fiery end, much like Campus Radio did, shall rise from its ashes, to live once again.. so shall Campus Radio.
In time."
This sad, sad news really moved me. I was really hoping that LS would resurrect its previous format Campus Radio since the Barangay LS movement is not doing so well with its competition. The birth of yet another boom-tarat-tarat-ispageti-pamela station is not healthy for the industry. They eat up airwaves for good music, and gives more room for money-making-lito-camo "hits" which are force fed to the masses' ears until their eardrums pop loud enough that their brains get shaken and get hipnotized due to the shock.
And now, they fire the jocks. The good jocks. The best jocks. I guess now, as long as you're the bungangera type loudmouth who throws double-meaning, sexually-suggestive comments on air, you can be a jock. Seriously, do you guys enjoy commuting to your school or work and start your day with these voices? I don't even want to get started with the music, but aren't you sick of 20, 30 yr. old songs being sung all over again by entertainers (i'm not gonna even call them artists) who just swim with the waves of the passé successes of the songs they're singing?
As an artist, we strive to make good, sensible, original music. I know we can't please everybody. We're not even trying. Just expressing ourselves, our skills, and talents, and not joining any bandwagon for that matter. OPM is what we do. We write songs. We perform them. Sometimes we pay homage to our idols and we play their songs for our own pleasure. Give us a break. Give us some credits. We even have more chances on winning in the lottery than getting fuckingly rich and famous for what we do.
But we don't have all the power to sustain this cause. We don't own the airwaves. We also have to rely on corporate suits to be promoted, to be heard.
To the big bosses up there: Have a sense of social responsibility. You have media to influence the people. You know what's right. I bet you're not cruising around town in your gas guzzling, sound set-upped SUVs and blast around tunes of Itaktak mo. You're in there, comfortable, singing to your favorite pop, or jazz, or favorite band that you claim "didn't sell out", or heck even classical music. You know what's good for yourself, share it with us, with the masses. Don't be too greedy.
I am ranting. Let me get my cello and practice my classical pieces.
Currently listening to: Sherwood
Currently feeling: Just finished ranting