Changing Frequency
Newly formatted Black college radio stations work to jazz up their image, while serving campus and community
NASHVILLE, Tenn.
Before Fisk University’s radio station recently began using the tagline “Smooth Side Up” to refer to its new smooth jazz format, the station’s broadcasting image was upside down. At best, it played a hodgepodge of music, with no connecting format, and was known more for its somewhat low-brow syndicated programming and local talk shows, many of which were nothing more than fillers, according to the station’s new boss.
In an attempt to achieve some local market share, the station, WFSK, aptly tried to appeal to Nashville’s growing international community — with locally produced programs directed toward Latinos, Ethiopians and East Indians. But such attempts appeared to get lost amid the station’s overall disorganization.
