What's 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.

Murray said being a DJ has opened his mind to new types of music.

"Just by playing songs from the rotation, you are constantly hearing new music," Murray said.

Sophomore art history major Emily Keidel believes the music the Buzz plays this year is especially good.

"The music directors (this year) have a lot of good tastes of music, and a lot of the music that they put in rotations are good . a lot of students haven't heard it before," Keidel said.

Sophomore journalism and mass communication major Lauren Kearney thinks the rotations help the DJs choose what to play by having constructive comments about what each band sounds like.

"Because of rotations, they have a bunch of different bands that you have never heard of," she said. "(Rotations) have 'it sounds like .' or 'if you like this ."'

By comparing the newer bands to more well-known bands on the rotations, the DJs are able to get a feel for what the songs will sound like.

Senior marketing major and DJ Andrew Brown said he is convinced The Buzz opens up student listeners' minds when it comes to music.

"I think that we try to appeal to everybody's likes. I think that it opens up a lot of peoples' varieties of music." Brown said. "People listen to the Buzz and think 'I have never heard this song before, and I really, really like it.'"

Brown said he has opened up his own mind since freshman year.

"I like a lot more variety of music now than I did when I came in as a freshman," he said. "A lot more indie, alternative and jam bands."

The Buzz's flexibility of being a non-commercial radio station allows DJs to play what they like because the station is not forced to play current popular music.

"Not only does it open up students to new music, but we are not forced to play anything in regards to what is popular and what is not popular," Murray said.

Some Buzz DJs are considering a job in the music industry, and The Buzz provides real experience for them.

"I wanted to write for a music magazine freshman year, and it's still a possibility for me, so I joined The Buzz for the experience and for it to be on my résumé," Kearney said.

Both Brown and Zambito are interested in the business side of the music industry.

"I have always thought it would be interesting to get involved in promotions and advertising with radio," Brown said.

Something about The Buzz makes some students return year after year to continue DJ-ing.

"Just hanging out, being up at the station, being able to play songs that I really enjoy," Murray said. "The general atmosphere - I love being here. It's my favorite place to be on campus."

Brown agrees about the laid-back atmosphere up at the station, but he said the perks have something to do with his returning semester after semester.

"The atmosphere up here and the people (are why I return) and just being able to hear new music as it's just coming out," he said.

Kearney likes that she can express her love for music at the station.

"I think that it's a place where students who love music can come. It's a place where kids who love music can get together and have something in common," she said.

The Buzz DJs encourage all students to listen and share their love for music. Students can call the station at (716) 375-2332 and make requests that are guaranteed to be played.

"There's always new music here, and if you listen in you'll discover something," Kearney said.