Russ Egan, the nighttime host at Phoenix classic rock KSLX 100.7 FM wanted to start playing an actual vinyl record on a turntable each weeknight, the way disc jockeys did a generation ago.
His boss liked the idea. But there was a problem: The station had no albums.
Like most every other radio station in America, KSLX-FM had long ago ditched its record collection in favor of a digital system that cues up songs by keyboard. Egan would have to dig into his own stash of vinyl.
According to azcentral.com, Egan got the go-ahead from the program director at the station on a Thursday, telling him he could start playing the album sides at 10 p.m. every weeknight beginning the next Monday.
Now all he needed was to do was install a turntable in the studio and find a collection of records.
At home, Egan tore open a box of vinyl, one that had been long packed away and never quite unpacked.
Egan found a turntable stored in a station closet and took it into the KSLX studio, finding a spot for it to the right of the large console and set of monitors that make up the heart of the station’s operation.
He introduced the segment without much fanfare on a February evening. Egan said reaction to the segment since has been overwhelmingly positive.
“I have not gotten a bad phone call, or e-mail, or Tweet or Facebook comment yet,” he said. “Which also scares me. Is it because they went away, or because they truly enjoyed it?
Egan has worked at radio stations in New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, Ohio and Arizona, as a disc jockey and program director for classic rock, Top 40, adult contemporary, country, news/talk and smooth jazz formats.
One month in, Egan began running out of records from his own collection. The sales department at the station found a sponsor for the segment: Zia Record Exchange.
Egan would provide a list to a store and they would let him borrow the vinyl. H said he isn’t isn’t picky about whether the albums he gets will be new or used.
No comments:
Post a Comment