New transmissions from the underground
Radio station adds new hosts; now broadcasting five nights a week from Manor basement in hopes of attracting more listeners.
Corilyn Wagner
Issue date: 10/13/09 Section: Entertainment
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"You couldn't listen to it on campus. It was blocked. You had to go off campus to listen to it," Anna Toegel said. Toegel is one of three hosts for a Thursday evening show, "Pablo and the Glambitchin'."
Hamline Radio has fixed this problem this semester and has seven shows scheduled Sunday through Thursday totaling about 12 hours per week. According to Lewis Mundt, treasurer of the radio and co-host of the show "The Mid-Morning Drive," this amount of broadcasting activity is substantially larger than in recent years.
"They used to have a full schedule but it's been pretty quiet for the past couple years," Mundt said. "We have quite a few shows as opposed to one. We've grown exponentially. This year we need to build back up and consider being more legitimate."
Sophomore Kyle Betlach is a co-host with Mundt on "The Mid-Morning Drive." He, too, said he felt positive about the broadcasting this year.
"Already, a month into school, it's looking up," Betlach said. "I see an optimistic and bright future for the HU Radio because our number of shows and show hosts have more than doubled since last year."
Despite the increase in the amount of shows, both radio hosts said they still seek a larger listenership.
"As small as we are now, it's mostly our friends listening," Mundt said.
Betlach agreed. "The problem is no one knows about it. It just doesn't have exposure," he said.
Mundt said that with increased audience comes more opportunities to do different events.
"We'd like to start sponsoring live performances and maybe broadcast from the HUB," Mundt said. Additional plans he said include getting a faculty adviser and possibly having listener gatherings at Ginkgo Coffee House.
The radio's new undertakings have generated some response, according to Mundt. The organization held a meeting at the beginning of the year in order to garner more members and Mundt said the meeting was a success.
"Clearly people want to get involved and we want them to know they can," Mundt said.
He said even though the year has begun, there are still many opportunities for student to get involved.
"We can broadcast 24/7. Whenever you want to have your show you come down and do it," Mundt said.
Betlach agreed with his co-host.
"There are no requirements to doing a show-we want all we can take," he said.
The hosts said that another way for students to get involved is by becoming a guest on one of the shows. Toegel said that they are also open to the idea and that interested students should speak with one of the hosts.
Whether they become a guest host or make a musical appearance, according to Betlach, is up to them.
"They can make their own playlist, roughly four or five songs and we'll showcase them for the evening," he said. Or, as they have allowed in the past, they can perform as a musical guest.
"It was really fun and we're going to try to get more this year," Betlach said.
Toegel, one of three hosts said, "I attempt witty banter because I think that's what a radio DJ should have."
Mundt said he enjoys playing both songs he loves and others people might not be aware of.
"We play new music we found, at the same time, we play old favorites; it's really a source of anything. We try to publicize artists that don't have a lot of publicity," Mundt said.
"It's raw; we can play uncensored songs and say whatever we want. It's a vocal free-for-all in a sense," Betlach said.
In discussing her hopes for the HU Radio's future, Toegel said she would like wider listenership.
SHOW SCHEDULE:
Sunday 7-9 p.m.: The Nights We Can't Remember
Monday 8-10 p.m.: Spend the Night with John and David
Tuesday 9-10 p.m.: Hip Hop (Music for Earthworms)
10-11 p.m.: City Love
Wednesday 8-10 p.m.: The Mid-Morning Drive
Thursday 8-9 p.m.: David Bowie's Package
10-11 p.m.: Pablo and the Glambitchin'
To tune in, visit hamline.edu/radio
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