I’m not sure when, but the other morning as I tuned in to DWNU 107.5 FM I heard DJ Trish (the host of the First Show) shockingly reading out loud a text message from one of her listeners. The SMS goes on saying how Trish lacked the wit of her predecessors and how some of her comments on the air are deemed inappropriate.
Trish dared the text sender saying that if he or she could do a better job at playing songs, queuing commercials, talking and hosting a show then he or she should simply bring it on and come over to the station. Things got a little ugly after that. Poor Trish tried in her best effort not to let it show, but the criticism completely blew her concentration. She got really upset and eventually walked out of the booth (or so it seemed from what I heard) leaving nothing but dead air for a few seconds.
NU 107.5 is the only radio station I have listened to since highschool (circa late 1980’s). Disk jocks I remember during those days were Gerry Y and Major Tom. I’ve been listening to this station when it was “The Cutting Edge”, when they played British New Wave standard, to the time it became “The Rock of The Nineties” which was about the same time spandex glam rock was gallantly stepping aside for the short lived grunge era.
I remember the time the same morning show was "Twisted in the Morning" hosted by Jessica Zafra. Then later, it was hosted by Jake and Joey (Jake and Joey in the Morning, circa 1990). They had this segment called “Reality Check”, where they ask listeners to call in and participate in the show by providing feedback on the open topic of the day. People who called in called in at their own risk because if you weren’t quick on your toes Jake would be all over you with his smart-ass comments like a labor law professor during a graded recitation.
And that was half the fun, listening to callers just eat it on the air. I even bring a small radio with me going to school so that I get to hear the show during my bus commute to Manila. The music during the show was good and it was just supplementary to the actual discussions.
Now I don’t have anything against the current host of the First Show. And though I feel that Trish could have definitely handled the situation more maturely slash professionally, I don’t completely blame her either. Being a disk jock probably isn’t as easy as it looks (or sounds).
I love this station and I appreciate how it has stood the test of time being the only ballsy frequency to broadcast in an all rock (or predominantly rock) format. Still, I do think that there are areas of opportunity to better things from a listener’s perspective.
I know I can’t do a better job at hosting a show on the radio. For one, my speaking voice sounds like a flushing toilet even when it’s modulated. Nobody wants to tune in to listen to that! But just because I can’t do a better job at something it doesn’t negate my right to provide comments. So here’s me pitching a few ideas for a NU and better morning show:
- Bring back the phone calls. I know deejays and listeners appreciate the convenience of just having to read and send text messages for comments and requests. But it’s just so impersonal. If you are going to have surveys and topics open to listeners, opening the phone lines is still the best way to go. Reading text messages should be limited to brief comments and song requests because it’s interesting (and unpredictable) to actually hear listeners participating in the show by calling in. Not only that, but because it takes a bit of balls to be on the air to speak what’s on your mind, it discourages unintelligent feedback. Well at least to some extent.
- Bring back the guests. It’s not always about the music. Rock enthusiasts are also students, lawyers, doctors, teachers, young professionals, business people, etc. Bring back the portion where guests talk about topics outside of music. Open the phone lines and get a good conversation going. Have a gynecologist, a former drug junkie, and an ear doctor for starters. Because sometimes, it’s still about sex, drugs and rock and roll.
- Nuke the Horoscope. I don’t know if the show is still doing this, but the bogus horoscope you guys do every Monday just has to stop. Apologies to the person who writes them, but it’s sometimes about as funny as a toilet seat cover. Nobody believes in actual horoscopes and it doesn’t say a lot of good things about people who do.
- And lastly, ban annoying ambiguous words on air. If I were a deejay, I would ban comments from listeners that contain any of the following Tagalog words: astig, bangis, kulit, galing, malupet, ayos, etc (I would translate these words in English for all you non-Tagalog speaking readers, but I don’t want to be held responsible if they one day get fused into your own language). Do these words actually mean anything anymore? If listeners send text messages containing any of these mentioned words, they will be shift-deleted from the computer database and will be blocked forever. If listeners call in and use any of the same words they will be automatically cut off the air. If guests come to the booth and use any of these annoying words on air, they will be beaten senseless to a bloody pulp. I’m sorry; it’s a zero annoying rock expression tolerance policy.
I want to say more actually, but I am holding back because not only is it not right to hurt this other lady deejay’s feelings (who is in another time slot) by saying that she should just keep quiet and play more music rather than make irritating and annoying comments in between songs, but more so because the local music industry definitely owes a lot to this radio station.
NU has single handedly carried the burden of housing the best of what the local rock scene has to offer. From Christian rock to blues, to reggae, hard-core and punk music; the station definitely caters to a wide variety of listeners. When budding rock bands dream of one day having their original songs heard on the radio, they think NU. When established rock bands dream of one day having been voted as best artist, they think NU Rock Awards, because they know it’s a recognition that really means a lot in the local rock community.
I need my entertainment while driving to work every morning. I need something to distract me from the traffic. Most of all, I want to feel safe even if I forget to bring my favorite CDs in the car. So, how about it guys?