Radio station changes music
format, attitudes
By Sarah Szczepanski
Assistant Features Editor
Hip hop music has recently found its niche in the
Lafayette radio music scene.
On March 16, radio station WAZY 96.5 FM changed
its music format from soft adult contemporary to Top 40.
A Top 40 format includes hip-hop music and artists
such as Pink, Britney Spears and 'NSYNC, in addition to alternative
and light rock.
"We changed the entire music collection,"
J.J. Davis, the station's program director, said. "There are new jingles,
new imaging and promos designed for the new audience. There has been
a whole attitude adjustment; everyone from the on-air personalities
to the receptionist."
The change was initiated Feb. 22 when Davis entered
his new position.
"We felt the need to play music that 18- to
24-year-old adults wanted to hear," he said. "It wasn’t
being done in this market. The music has mass appeal; it appeals to
a lot of age groups."
He said WAZY has been receiving lots of positive
listener response, and Purdue students are among these listeners.
"I've listened to it and it's much better," said
Kelli Spurlock, a junior in the School of Education.
Although Spurlock appreciates the change, she said
most of the radio stations around the area still don’t offer enough
variety. "It's all '80s music; it's not up to date," she said.
Caleb Zwar, a freshman in the School of Technology,
agrees. He said a person has to drive close to Chicago before he or
she can get a station that only covers music interests such as techno
or R&B.
"The radio stations here should play more music
that appeals to students," said Zwar.
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