The Bona Venture

Issue date: 10/24/08 Section: Features

Media Credit: Becky McKeown DJs Mike Murray, junior English and French major, and Andrew Brown, senior marketing major, prepare for their radio show at WSBU FM 88.3 The Buzz.

Although www.dictionary.com defines a disc jockey, or DJ, as a person who announces and plays popular recorded music on the radio, the DJs at WSBU FM 88.3 The Buzz don't always play by the rules.

"It's what you want to play when you show up," junior English and French major Mike Murray, a Buzz DJ, said.

Since 1948, St. Bonaventure has broadcasted from the on-campus radio station. The Buzz is nationally ranked at No. 2 by The Princeton Review, a collegiate ranking system.

The station plays a wide range of music, including modern rock, classic rock, alternative and hip-hop. The student-run radio station recruits student DJs who pick and choose their favorite music to play.

A radio DJ has access to many different genres of music. DJs are exposed to music other than their favorite kinds and can also be exposed to more music in their favorite genres.

"I like music a lot more. I get to dig deeper into the music I like, and I can expose people to (it)," freshman undeclared major Tony Zambito said. Zambito's radio show features classic rock and blues.

History major CJ Norman said he has broadened his musical tastes since becoming a Buzz DJ.

"I definitely listen to music much more and different types of music," Norman said. "I pay attention to different styles."

Norman has a hip-hop radio show but said his iTunes library consists of anything from Dave Matthews Band to Lil' Wayne.

Murray found he has paid more attention to music since he became a Buzz DJ.

"I am more attentive to new music because we are playing it on the shows," Murray said. "So if I hear something that I really like, I know that I will want to play it on the show."

The music department at the Buzz receives dozens of CDs every few weeks from music labels, and individuals in the music department listen and review them. Songs from these CDs are then added to the rotation in the music studio for DJs to pick and choose from.

Rotations feature songs by artists on the rise who many people have never heard of before. By featuring brand-new music, the DJs, along with the listeners, are exposed to different genres.

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