Martin Cranks The Radio Up
By Nene Wallace [Staff Writer]
originally appeared in the Mary Washington College Bullet on October 5, 2000
When Adam Martin chose to become involved with Mary Washington College's radio station, WMWC, it was for a very simple reason.
"It just sounded like something cool to be involved with," Martin said Sunday, while sitting in the WMWC office.
Martin, a senior English major from Richmond, is now a veteran of WMWC. Martin started as a disc jockey for the radio station two and a half years ago.
"I started during the second semester of my freshman year," Martin said. "I didn't have a specialty show, I just played what was on the play list."
Martin's current show, which he called a jazz/punk mix, can be heard on WMWC 91.5 FM Wednesdays from 6 to 9 p.m.
According to Martin, WMWC hasn't changed very much since his freshman year.
"The radiating cable broadcasting is the only big change, as far as the station goes," Martin said.
Aside from being a disc jockey, Martin is also the station's general manager, the equivalent of the president in other clubs. Martin's duties include staying in contact with those outside the station and proposing new ideas to the administration, such as Internet broadcasting, to improve the station. He writes the station's budget and proposes it to the finance committee. He also oversees the other departments in the station.
Martin became general manager during the spring 2000 semester.
"I just applied for it and they needed somebody," Martin said. "So I got it."
But working at WMWC has not been all work for Martin. He has enjoyed the perks of being an officer of WMWC, such as attending the College Music Journal conference.
"I think going to the CMJ conference last year was one of the best weekends I've ever had. We got to go see all sorts of cool bands and meet lots of interesting people," he said.
Martin said his Mary Washington College radio experience has had both funny and odd moments.
"One time I walked into the station early to pick out some CDs and stuff before my show. The DJ before me and his girlfriend were making out on the couch," Martin said. "After they left I about died laughing. It was all I could do to not talk about it on the air. The kid had a classic rock show, so I guess 1970s power chords does that to people."
Martin said he's definitely had his own slipup. "Whenever I play a Billy Idol song I always say, "That was Billy Joel with...." It happens every time, it's some weird mental block.
Another memorable radio experience involved a confrontation with the college administration, Martin said.
"I was filling in for another DJ in the mid-afternoon. I was used to having a night show, so I had Faith No More's "Falling to Pieces" cranked all the way up, and someone from the administrative offices down below called the station and yelled at me. They had to call a couple times before I actually heard the phone; I think that's why they were mad."
Martin's best memory of his WMWC experience has involved his friends.
"I think my best show memory is when I had my friend from Richmond come up. He can do all sorts of impressions, so I did some beat-boxing and he rapped like a 'little German girl' about chocolate and all sorts of wacked out stuff. Then my girlfriend started scolding us in a Mary Poppins voice. I taped it; maybe I should put it on the cart replacement machine."
Though he has enjoyed working at WMWC, Martin does not intend to go into radio after graduation.
"After I graduate I'm going to become the most rockin' high school English teacher ever," Martin said. "I doubt I'll do anything in radio, though I've loved it in college. I think the music industry is sort of shallow, and the beauty of college radio is that you can play anything without a corporation controlling the program format through commercials. I would love to be in a band though. I'm a decent guitar player, and it would be fun to goof off and play some punk 'rawk'!"
According to Martin, overall his experience at WMWC has been a good one, but he does have one regret: the lack of an audience for the radio station.
"I wish that more people would listen to the station," Martin said. "I think we play a lot of good music that you wouldn't hear anywhere else along with popular stuff. Plus, the DJs work hard to make their shows really good, and I think they deserve the support and admiration of the student body."