Policy on Requests

This statement needs to be made after these last few weeks. While I'm flattered that people listen and call in for requests, all listeners should note that all requests may not be fulfilled. Please understand that although I appreciate the great requests that I receive, rap music is a genre that requires extensive editing in order to be deemed FCC safe. Our policy at WRAS is that DJs actively listen to the music that is being played on the air while in the studio, in order to prevent any accidental broadcasts or to prevent the exacerbation of situations in which FCC unsafe songs are aired. Thus, it is extremely difficult for me to concurrently edit new music while listening to the music being played on air. Moreover, each set list is specifically tailored in a fashion that allows each track to transition smoothly into the next. While I'd like to play some of the tracks that listeners request, it may force the transitions to be very abrupt and sonically unpleasing. Due to this complication, many of the requests that I receive are usually forced to wait until the subsequent week, after I've had a chance to thoroughly edit the tracks and place them in a reasonable position on the playlist.

 

Also, please realize that I—and I alone—have full discretion over what is played on the show. In the past, I have refused to play several requests, either due to extremely explicit content, or due to the fact that I simply do not like the song. If I refuse to play a song, this is not a personal matter at all and it does not mean that I have anything against a listener or his/her personal taste in music. However, please do realize that I reserve the right to refuse to play any song at my whim; constantly calling to request the same song after the initial request has already been refused WILL NOT change my mind. With this being said, I do enjoy receiving requests for the show, and I've been introduced to several new artists from listeners' requests.

 

Additionally, although I do accept track submissions from new artists, sending me a track for the show IS NOT A GUARANTEE THAT IT WILL BE PLAYED. I try to respond to the e-mails that I receive in regards to tracks, but I may forget on occasions, for which I apologize. In those instances that I do not personally like a track that is sent to me, I tend to be as candid as possible, while not attempting to be abrasive. Telling your fans to request a track after I've explicitly stated that I do not wish to play the track will not change my mind. Once again, the selection of tracks for the show is up to my sole discretion. If I personally do not wish to play a track, that track will not be played regardless of whether I receive one call or one hundred calls. My show is not based upon a format in which tracks are played based on their popularity. In the event that I do wish to play a song, I will notify the artist via e-mail and attempt to fit the song on the playlist when time permits.

 

As always, if you have any comments, questions or concerns, feel free to contact me via e-mail at themessagewras@gmail.com.

 

Thank you all for listening.