Wake up, go to class and jump on the air is a typical daily routine for a select group of music mixers as DJs at the All-Campus Radio Network.
ACRN is a 24/7 student-run radio network out of Ohio University. First airing in April 1971, the radio has welcomed new Rock Lobsters, a term for the station’s members, into its ranks for over 50 years.
ACRN’s studio is located in Baker University Center, at the heart of student activity. Emma Hocter, a senior studying interdisciplinary art, joined the station as a DJ last Spring.
At the station, Hocter is better known as DJ EJ. Every Friday at noon, she holds The Twiggy Maine Show.
Before going on air, Hocter is in the studio making sure the levels, sound and microphones sound right.
“Sometimes they'll go crazy on the air, which is not what you want,” Hocter said.
ACRN is a live broadcast, so any mistakes are heard by listeners. DJs will typically plan their shows about a week beforehand and, while sticking to Federal Communications Commission restrictions, which regulate interstate and international communications by radio, TV, wire, satellite and cable in the U.S., play whatever they want.
“I like getting to play my music every week and then having friends and family listen to it,” Hocter said. “It's fun, and it's no pressure or stress.”
Eli Beard, a junior studying computer science, has been an ACRN DJ for three years. Beard visits the station every day, even when not scheduled to DJ.
“A lot of people come in here to hang out or do work,“ Beard said. "I come in here to do homework or to work on the website or do my radio show.”
Beard, who goes by DJ Infirmary on air, is also the station’s engineering director. In this role, Beard oversees the station’s technology and equipment and does website development for acrn.com. Thanks to Beard, ACRN even has a live chat room for listeners.
Beard has a show every Monday at 2 p.m. To begin a show, DJs use the Broadcast Using This Tool interface, or more hilariously known to DJs as the BUTT interface.
“I guess the person who made it was a little cheeky or something,” Beard said, laughing. “But that's what it's called, and that's sort of the interface between our audio mixer and the internet stream.”
The BUTT interface allows DJs to bring in physical media to play on-air, including tapes, CDs and vinyl.
“We're seeing a rise in the use of physical media, and people owning physical media,” Beard said. “It's a good opportunity for people to come in and use the stuff they buy for their radio shows.”
Each DJ brings a different quality to the station. Whatever’s playing during a DJ hour is completely up to the individual behind the controls. Sometimes DJs have themes based on genre or artist, but it isn’t required.
“ACRN is really catered to the individual,” Beard said. “I feel like radio and DJing is definitely a form of self-expression or art. It really depends on the person. I like to play experimental music and ambient music, and not everyone f----s with that. But it's my radio hour, and I like that fact.”
Anyone can become a DJ for ACRN, even without prior radio experience.
Quinn Carmichael is a freshman studying music production and recording industry. He joined ACRN last fall and has since become a regular DJ at the station. Known as DJ Busty n’ Wild, Carmichael has DJ’d around seven radio shows.
“It seemed so daunting at first before I was a DJ,” Carmichael said. “I was like, ‘Man, I bet I would need extensive training on that.’ I think I completed my training in like two days because I found every possible time to do it within those 48 hours.”
Carmichael got to begin his radio show right out of training and started making connections as a result.
“I started off really just not knowing anybody in the program,” Carmichael said. “And (now) I feel like I know everybody in the program.”
Carmichael recently took on the role of chart reporter. His work will help the station keep track of what’s trending among the DJs.
“It's really simple, it's not daunting,” Carmichael said. “I hope anyone who reads this would be able to sign up really and instantly go for that.”
ACRN streams live 24/7 here.
