WSBF from Top 40 to Progressive
"WSBF to change"
Never let it be said that WSBF, Clemson's student radio station, has anything at heart other than the interests of its listeners.
"After all, we are a student radio station and if the students decide they want a change, we're eager to give it to them," station manager Woody Culp insisted.
"That's the reason behind WSBF's decision to change to what Culp called a "progressive station." The results of a telephone poll conducted several weeks ago by the station showed that the majority of the student body definitely wanted a more "progressive" format, and WSBF is already in the process of changing to a more "heavy" station.
Beginning next semester, music played in the afternoons will be of a hard rock nature. Selections will be played from lesser known groups such as Wichita Falls and Wishbone Ash. The night programs will be "light rock" music with artists like James Taylor and Elton John. However, Culp stresses tha the evening programming will not be entirely soft music but will "feature some louder, heavier groups such as Three Dog Night.
There will be several other revisions in WSBF programming. The comical adventures of Molar Marauder (alias the "Tooth Fairy") will be a daily feature. "This Tooth Fairy should be really sharp," Culp promised.
Mutual News and the popular "oldie hour" will be continued, and plans are already underway for an "Oldie Day", scheduled for the Saturday before exams.
The change to a progressive station is not a particularly easy one. "Jocks have to be progressively oriented, and they must adjust to a 'more music-less talk' type of show. The problem that we had before in experimenting with progressive music was that the disc jockeys simply didn't know the music. It's quite a change from the 'Top 40' type show," Culp explained.
Culp assures listeners, however, that the station will not deviate entirely from "Top 40" music. "We will concentrate on playing only the more progressive Top 40 recordings," he added.
"It is important that the students know that we are not going to be a hard rock station for only Northerners and long-hairs. We will not play entirely acid music. Since we are the first progressive station in South Carolina, we hope that the students will give us a try. After all, this is what they wanted," elaborated Culp.
The Tiger, November 19, 1971, Volume LXV, Number 15, page 3.
