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Ralph Haselmann, Jr. Interviewed by Soylent Zine on the LUVeR Questionnaire
May 28, 1999 Hi, this is Ralph Haselmann Jr from Lucid Moon poetry magazine, Hampton New Jersey. I thought I'd answer your Luver interview questionnaire. I have two shows on Luver, Lucid Moon Potpourri on Mondays 6-8 pm EDT and RalphaBeat Radio with Dave ands Ana Christy from New Hope, PA on Tuesdays 7-9 pm EDT. I play mostly mainstream rock with some alternative bands, some jazz and blues and motown. I'm having a blast doing this! Okay here goes... 1. Please give a brief history of LUVeR as you are aware of it, particularly your involvement with its creation or how you became involved with it. I learned about Luver Radio through Frank Moore 2. What are the technical requirements needed to pull off an internet radio station, including the equipment and software necessary to broadcast. Frank lists the technical requirements for a website radiostation on his Luver website. Click on "DJ" and he lists the requirements. I don't have the equipment for live broadcasts so I just make 30, 60, 90, or 100 minute tapes. Any longer tapes might not play as well. 3. Would you say there are still technical obstacles to overcome? For instance, as far as bandwidth is concerned? Would you say the audience is currently limited at all because of technical limitations like slow internet connections? And how do you see that changing over time? The internet connections are slow and there is the occasional 5 second dropout, but technology will improve. 4. Do you have any specific focus as far as the programming? There seems to be no restrictions on the DJs as far as the content goes. What are some benefits and possibly drawbacks to this? I try to make each show interesting, to keep the pace and conversation lively. I focus on music, poetry, comedy and fun conversation. I play mostly mainstream because all alternative might be interesting for some but boring to others. I try to play some alternative bands but they have already becoome mainstream -- Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers, U2, REM, Porno For Pyros, Janes Addiction, they all have become mainstream in a way. I try to play rare cuts and stuff you don't hear on a normal commercial radio station. I have a lifetime 3rd class broadcast licence from grade school! I think the no-restriction format is great, it expands the synapses in your brain when you listen to new things! Again, the benefits are that you hear new things you'll never hear on regular radio, but the drawbacks are that you might bore someone with two hours of the same band... 5. Another unique thing about LUVeR is that all the DJs seem to be spread across the world geographically. That's pretty incredible. How do you think this affects the organization and its content, and what are some of the benefits and drawbacks? I think it's great that the dj's are from all over the world -- you get a taste of local Aussie or European bands that you would never hear otherwise. Because the shows are grouped in two hour time blocks, you can search out fare you would like to hear, once you get the flavor of each show. You can look forward to the show each week. I think two hours is just enough time to establish an identity for the show, any longer and you might lose listeners if the program is too esoteric. 6. Compare and contrast LUVeR and internet radio stations in general with traditional radio stations as they are today. Was there a specific reason why LUVeR went with internet broadcast? Traditional radio stations have a strict playlist to attract the maximum listeners and advertising dollar. The playlists do no no take chances and play safe radio fare. If I were doing a playlisted radio show I would base the playlist on mostly listener requests and I would throw in an oldie, a new hit, a rare cut, and an album cut that necessarily isn't a hit, I would have a variety of interesting songs, but regular radio plays it safe too often. Anal retentive djs keep playing 60's and 70's classic rock, which is boring after a while. Luver and other internet shows afford the dj and listener total freedom to play whatever, and that's healthy. Luver and other internet shows are commercial free and don't have to suck up to the advertisers! Total freedom, radio anarchy! 7. Do you think internet radio will ever replace traditional radio in the future? I think internet radio will eventually be so widespread that it will surpass regular radio as a means of entertainment. It will never replace regular radio, but it will be a welcome change of pace. Regular radio sucks with all the commercials. 8. Do you have any way to guage how many people are listening and who these people are? What kind of feedback do you get? I have no idea how many people are listening to Luver Radio and my shows in particular. I invite people to e-mail me with requests and comments but haven't heard anyone send any e-mails yet. I'm sure the technology exists to count the number of hits on a program, how many people log on. 9. What's the best thing you've personally done (or heard) on LUVeR? I enjoy hearing both my own shows, it's fun listening to my drunk self on tape, and I am starting to check out other shows as well. The possibilities are endless. |